Visit Greece in the winter time and you are not going to be disappointed. Greece is considered to be the cradle of Western civilization and the world’s first democracy. It is famous for its philosophers and writers, its architecture, its delicious cuisine, beautiful islands and lovely beaches. It is a country that a history buff as well as a beach lover will equally appreciate.
The country is a popular tourist destination and most tourists visit Greece in the summer. I am, however, going to give you some tips for visiting Greece in the winter time. We spent some time in Greece in late December and early January and saw both Santorini and Athens.
There are very few tourists in Greece in the winter time
Essentially all of Greece, and especially its islands, are pretty quiet in the winter. If you get up early in the morning, you will have the Acropolis pretty much to yourself. Similarly, when you hike from Fira to Oia on the island of Santorini, you’ll only run into an occasional person. You can look out into the Aegean and not have a cruise ship obstruct your view. So, if you want to see what life looks like without the tourists, go to Greece in the winter time.
The islands are pretty deserted as many Greeks who work in the tourism industry move back to the mainland. In fact, many hotels and restaurants are closed and a lot of maintenance happens during this time. But don’t be concerned, there are still plenty of places to stay, plenty of places to eat, and the islands are quiet and relaxing. The pace of life slows down and you may enjoy slowing down as well.
The weather is cooler
Greece gets really hot in the summer months. If you prefer cooler temperatures, winter is the perfect time to go. Typically, the temperature will be in the 50’s but if the sun is out you may get a chance to wear a T-shirt. Definitely bring a coat as it does get cold but don’t be surprised if you end up carrying it in your hand from time to time. If you plan on hiking, you will appreciate the cooler weather.
Accommodation is less expensive
Greece is a fairly affordable country but if you want to visit some of the more popular islands in the summer be prepared to pay twice as much as you would in the winter. You will easily find a hotel room on Santorini for $35- $70 a night and in the center of Athens for $70-$90. Such prices are rare in the summer time.
Sites are less expensive
There are a lot of things to see in Athens. There is the Acropolis, the Ancient Agora, the Roman Agora, Temple of the Olympian, Temple of Hephaestus, and Panathenaic Stadium to name just a few. All of these places cost half of what they would cost in the summer time. You can buy a combination ticket for 30 euros all year round, which is certainly a thing to do in the summer , but I found that the individual ticket prices in the winter are still cheaper than the pass.
You are among the Greeks not the tourists
A great thing about traveling is getting to know the culture and the people of the country you’re in. Visiting Greece in the winter time is going to give you plenty of opportunities to almost exclusively interact with the Greeks. Greek people are very warm and kind, and they take their time to chat with you when you visit their stores or their restaurants. We enjoyed sitting in coffee shops and restaurants next to the Greeks, strolling along Ermou Street among the locals, and hearing Greek on every corner. The only thing that we didn’t like was the cigarette smoke in the outdoor restaurants. It seems like everyone smokes in Greece. Despite this inconvenience, we had a wonderful time and would highly recommend visiting Greece in the winter time.
