Planning Your Trip: When Should You Go?
Looking to get away? Here's a month-by-month breakdown of what to expect in weather, prices, and holidays.
Even in winter, Greece will often have sunny or partly sunny, fair days. Larger islands and coastal Greece will be more pleasant than inland or mountain Greece. However, it's hard to predict when these will occur in months otherwise filled with rain. Winter Greece is a great impulse trip - check the weather trends and, if they look good, go!
JANUARY
Mainland Weather: Cold and wet; snow in the mountains.
Island/Coastal Weather: Cold, wet (sometimes even snowy), and windy. Sunny, pleasant days very limited.
Prices: Low
Events: Many events, mainly aimed at Greek aficionados of the arts. New Year's celebrations, then Epiphany on Jan 6th. Plays, concerts, etc. in Athens and Thessaloniki, many other locations.
Facilities: Hotels and restaurants on many islands will be closed. Ski season is in full swing, though bad weather may interfere. Port visits by tender from cruise ships may be cancelled due to rough water.
FEBRUARY
Mainland Weather: Cold and wet; snow in the mountains
Island/Coastal Weather: Cold, wet, windy. Sunny, pleasant days appear sporadically.
Prices: Low/moderate in carnival areas
Events: Many events, mainly aimed at Greek aficionados of the arts. Mardi Gras/Carnival can occur in February; it does in 2001.
Facilities: Hotels and restaurants on many islands will be closed. Towns with a strong carnival season will be lively. Ski season slows down. Port visits by tender from cruise ships may be cancelled due to rough water.
MARCH
Mainland Weather: Cool and wet
Island/Coastal Weather: Cool, wet, and windy, more fair days.
Prices: Low/moderate in carnival areas
Events: Mardi Gras can occur in March, and does in 2002 and 2003.
Facilities: Hotels and restaurants on many islands will be closed.
Towns with a strong carnival season will be lively. Towns and islands with famous Easter celebrations will be jammed, primarily with Greeks.
| Greece can have a spell of sunny, clear weather any time; but in winter months, count on several wet days a week. |
Mainland Weather: Temperatures push into the pleasant range, rain still frequent, but many days are sunny or partly sunny.
Island/Coastal Weather: Temperatures begin to warm, winds lighten.
Prices: Low, rising in some places to moderate toward the end of the month
Events: Local festivals; Easter may occur in April, and does in 2001 (April 15th) and 2003 (April 27th)
Facilities: Island hotels and restaurants begin to open again. Boat schedules begin to be more frequent in some areas. Around Easter itself, "expect" unexpected closures, crowds, and delays; avoid any major travel on that weekend (Fri-Mon).
MAY
Mainland Weather: Warm, sometimes even hot.
Island/Coastal Weather: Terrific - pleasantly warm, light breezes.
Prices: Low/moderate
Events: Local festivals; May 1st is a national labor holiday. Easter can occur in May, and does in 2002 (May 5th).
Facilities: Island hotels and restaurants all open. Boat schedules, air schedules increase. Budget/Independent travelers: Great time to go.
JUNE
Mainland Weather: Warm to hot
Island/Coastal Weather: Warm
Prices: Low/moderate first part of month; moderate/high last half of June.
Events: Local festivals, arts festivals aimed at tourists, sound and light shows. Athens and Epidarus theater festivals begin and continue through mid-Sept.
Facilities: Everything open. Most frequent flights, ferries, start around the 15th of the month. Many facilities will have activities aimed at children; waterparks open.
Go on to Page Two: July - December
Resources:
Events Calendar
Detailed Weather Links
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