Greece in winter suffers from competition with its summery self - but cooler weather is great for sightseeing and gives travelers to Greece a unique look at the "real" Greece - and the real Greeks who aren't frazzled from seven months of summer tourists. While some of the smaller Greek islands are a little challenging to get to with more limited ferry and flight schedules, mainland Greece and the bigger Greek islands are well prepared for year-round visitors.
1. Trafalgar Tours
Trafalgar Tours runs its "Best of Greece" coach-based trip year round. This tour explores Athens and the Greek mainland, including Meteora.
2. Brendan Vacations
Brendan Tours also offers a mainland-based trip of Greece throughout the year, with "Super Value Season" savings on the winter dates.
3. Greece - The Acropolis to the Meteora - John Overbeck Tour
Picture of the Lion of Kea copyright by deTraci Regula; licensed to About.com
Professor John Overbeck leads archaeological tours of Greece, usually in January. This itinerary is the one offered for January, 2011. Pictured is the Lion of Kea on the island of Kea, where Overbeck was part of the excavation team. This is more of a specialist, expert-led trip designed for those with a healthy interest in Greek archaeology.
4. Mediterra Tours
Mediterra provides a couple of tours in Greece during the winter months - the "Famous Blue Raincoat" Tour which facilitates island hopping along with a stay in Athens, and a mainland tour visiting Meteora and other locations. These tours allow for some customizaton; however, they won't quote "average" prices on the website - you need to contact them for your specific date, number of people, level of accommodations, and so on. They call it a "warm winter" in Greece, which can be true - but that also depends on where you normally winter!
5. Rhodes Hotels Open in Winter
Planning your own independent trip to Greece in winter? Here are some hotels open year-round on the sunny Greek island of Rhodes, sacred in ancient times to the sun god, Helios.
