APOPLOUS GUIDE
Your cheat sheets for visiting Greece.
I am a Greek expat living in London with my English fiancé. So, I am well verse to all the questions you have but don’t know who to ask! Is it cold in October? Why are there so many chapels in the islands? Souvlaki or gyros? Drive or take a boat to the beach? What is the iced coffee everyone is drinking? Which islands are easiest to get to and how do I get there? Let’s dive in!
in a nutshell
planning the best trip to Greece, ever!
Start at…
Step 1: When to go to Greece
or jump straight to…
Step 2: Where to go to Greece?
Step 3: How to get there?
…or read the latest post:
Top 3 alternatives to Mykonos for those who love or hate the famous isle
Best Greek islands to go instead of Mykonos. Comparing alternatives to Mykonos for landscape, beaches, nightlife, glitz & value for money.
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STEP 1: WHEN TO GO TO GREECE?
Weather, events & calendar
Greece is a country of four seasons, yet the temperate Mediterranean climate ensures that one can experience winter, spring, autumn and summer without extreme weather phenomena. Even though rainy days are common in winter, autumn and even early spring, it is predominantly sunny, year round, everywhere in Greece.
SHOULDER SEASON
(April, May, late September, October)
During shoulder season, the weather is fairly unpredictable. It could be summer weather one week, but rainy and cool the next. Naturally, the closer to summer, the better it will be.
Overall, spring and autumn are perfect for visiting the cities; they get VERY hot in the summer. In the islands, shoulder season means lower prices, lesser crowds and good conditions for hiking.
If hot and dry weather is important to you but you are keen on travelling during shoulder season, it will be a safe bet to head to the south of Greece (Crete, Dodecanese, Cyclades).
SUMMER SEASON
(June, July, August, till mid-September)
No matter where you are in Greece, summer will be hot and sunny (around 30°C). Some occasional (say 2 days per month) summer thunderstorms are possible, mostly in the mainland and usually after a heatwave (around 35°C).
This is the perfect time for the full ‘Greek summer experience’: spending all day by the beach and having lovely dinners and drinks, under the starry sky.
The occasional summer storm is great fun, though nothing compared to the storms in the Caribbean or southeast Asia. On the other hand, the summer heat in Greece does resemble that of the tropics. Feeling hot, hot, hot!
Summer is special in Greece. I guess you could say that for many countries, but, as a Greek native living in London, I think it is magical. This is my favourite time to visit any beach side location, and of course, the islands. Nevertheless, some might enjoy ‘off-season’ more.
Read more about the perfect time FOR YOU to visit:
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STEP 2: WHERE TO GO TO GREECE?
Get inspired…
… or browse island guides & itineraries…
Santorini Island Travel Guide
Amorgos Island Travel Guide
Astypalaia Island Travel Guide
Island Hopping Itineraries from Santorini
Folegandros Island Travel Guide
Oia (Santorini) Travel Guide
Santorini Island Travel Tips
Island Hopping Itineraries from Mykonos
Koufonisia Islands Travel Guide
Schinousa Island Travel Guide
Irakleia Island Travel Guide
Paros Island Travel Guide
Sifnos Island Travel Guide
Naousa (Paros) Travel Guide
Island Hopping Itineraries from Paros
Hydra Island Travel Guide
Spetses Island Travel Guide
Symi Island Travel Guide
Symi Island Travel Guide
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STEP 3: HOW TO GET THERE?
Practical advice for travelling to and around Greece & the islands
Wishing to explore the furthest corners of the Greek seas and experience island life away from the crowds? Or… Maybe you are thinking of combining your trip to Mykonos, Santorini or Rhodes with another island nearby… Getting to Greek islands that have international airports is easy enough.
I will demystify how to reach the islands that do not (which is the majority of them!).
A Greek’s Guide to…
FINDING YOUR WAY AROUNG GREECE
Let’s get you acquainted with the islands, find out which ones have an international airport, a domestic airport or neither. As a rule of thumb, proximity / connectivity to Athens, or, alternatively, one of the islands that serve as hubs is what governs how easily accessible each island is. Easy, peasy.
This blog post covers how to get to and around the Greek islands, focusing on the Cyclades and Dodecanese; they are the source of confusion for most travellers. Also, we discuss the pros and cons about the various combinations of flights and/or ferry routes and find the quickest and easiest ways to reach each island (from Athens or abroad).
A Greek’s Guide to…
BOOKING YOUR FERRY / PLANE TICKETS
Once you know which ferry / flight route to look for, you will need to know where to look, in order to check the schedules and book your Greek island hopping adventure…
This blog post covers how to find & book:
– ferries and flights to travel between the Greek islands and the mainland, &
– ferries from one island to another.
You can also find a summary of Greek airlines and ferry companies as well as recommendations for ticket search engines and online booking websites.
A Greek’s Guide to…
TRANSITING THROUGH ATHENS
Wishing to explore Athens before heading to the islands? Or, just transiting through? Allow me to guide you, seamlessly and effortlessly, from your plane, or the city centre, to your boat, and back... Through the hustle and bustle of the Greek capital and into carefree island life…
This blog post covers everything you need to know about Athens International Airport, Piraeus and the rest of the Athenian ports, Rafina & Lavrio, along with the connections to each other and the city centre.
Ithaka is one of the most famous & loved poems in Greece. Based on the legend of Odysseus, it expresses the thrill of travel and exploration and advocates for their necessity in living a full life before returning to a beloved home, all wise and rich in experiences. Why not read the full (translated) poem? It is short and I bet you will like it.
