Greek travel

Party time! If you enjoy big crowds and fun times, or if you don’t have a choice but can only travel in the middle of the summer, then July and August are the best months for you to visit Greece.

Best Weather/Fewer Crowds: May, June, and September. The water is warm, the sun is shining, but you aren’t fighting “August heat” or massive cruise ship crowds.

Budget Seekers: April and October offer lower prices, though some island ferries and shops may have reduced schedules.

Avoid: July and August if you dislike 35°C+ (95°F+) heat and peak-season price hikes.

10 to 14 days is the “sweet spot.” This allows for 2-3 days in Athens and enough time to explore two different islands without feeling like you’re living in a suitcase. Of course everyone has a different set of requirements, so please feel free to contact us if you’ll need help with a custom itinerary.

Depends on what you want to see and do, but usually 2 to 3 days is plenty. It gives you one full day for the Acropolis and Plaka, another for museums or Mount Lycabettus, and a couple of evenings for relaxing/hanging out and enjoy the excellent restaurants, tavernas, coffee shops, and bars Athens has to offer.

Yes, if you plan to visit 3 or more sites. It costs approximately €30 (standard price for 2026). A single Acropolis ticket is €20. If you add the Ancient Agora (€10) and the Temple of Olympian Zeus (€10), you’ve already saved money.

Note: It does not include the Acropolis Museum, which requires a separate ticket.

The ferry system is the backbone of Greek travel. Use apps like Ferryhopper to book tickets, or book your tickets at the port of Piraeus or the port or Rafina. Most boats to the Aegean island leave from the main port of Piraeus.

Pro Tip: High-speed ferries save time but can be “barf-bags” in windy weather, and also pretty pricey depending on the time of the year. The larger “Blue Star” ferries are slower but much steadier.

Read more info here about island-hopping on the Greek islands.

For trips in the mainland and big islands (Crete, Rhodes, Corfu, but also Naxos and Milos): rent a car. It gives you the freedom to go anywhere you want at any time of the day, find hidden beaches, explore etc.

In small islands and Athens stick to the buses, or the buses and Metro in Athens. They are reliable, cheap, and save you the stress of driving.

Taxis are usually inexpensive in the mainland (and Athens), and most islands. They can get pretty pricey for long distances, and are also pretty pricey in the expensive islands of Mykonos and Santorini. Taxis from the Athens Airport to the city center operate on a flat rate: €40 during the day (5 am to midnight) and €55 at night (midnight to 5 am). Allow a charge of a few more euros if you’ll have suitcases. The rate to the Piraeus port is €60 during the day and €75 at night. Depending on traffic it may take one hour or longer to get to the port from the airport, so plan accordingly!

The Metro (Line 3 – Blue) from the airport to the port is the most reliable. It operates from 6am to 11:30pm, takes about an hour and costs €10. The metro puts you near the Port Gates E5, E6 and E7. You’ll be in walking distance from gates E3 and E4 and also E8, but if you have luggage you may need a taxi (or wait for the free port shuttle) for Gates E1 and E2, or a short taxi ride for E9 and E10.

The X96 Express Bus is cheaper (€6), and also runs 24/7. It takes 60–90 minutes depending on traffic. X96 makes 3 stops at the port. One close to Port Gates E7/E8 one at E6, and one more closer to the ferries to Crete at E3.

Taxi: The rate to the Piraeus port is €60 during the day and €75 at night. Depending on traffic it may take one hour or longer to get to the port from the airport, so plan accordingly!

In my opinion, yes.
Santorini, yes absolutely, for the unique landscape and the out of this world views. The caldera is one of the most unique sights on earth. One has to see and experience Santorini from up close to appreciate it. The photos don’t do it justice.

Mykonos, also yes, for the amazing vibe, style, and colours. Mykonos is extra awesome for the LGBTQ+ crowd and also for those who love people watching, partying and beach clubs.

Technically yes, but don’t. You’ll spend 10+ hours commuting (ferry) or a lot of money (flight) just to see a crowded sunset for a couple of hours and leave. Give it at least 1 or preferably 2 nights. It’s worth it. Santorini is a unique, one of a kind, island. It’s worth a 2 or 3 day stay to enjoy it.

Where do I start!

• All types of pies from a bakery: tiropita (cheese pie), spanakopita (spinach and feta pie), bougatsa (creamy semolina custard wrapped in crispy, buttered phyllo dough).
• All kinds of coffees: Greeks love their freddo espresso and freddo cappuccino!
• Souvlaki: This is a must and there are several variations! Try them all. Start with the well-known gyros wrap.
• Greek salad: You may have had it at the local Greek restaurant in your town, but this is different. The tomatoes taste different in Greece, the feta tastes different, the olive oil…enough said, try a Greek salad in Greece!
• Moussaka: Eggplant/meat bake (the ultimate comfort food).
• Pastitsio: Think Greek lasagna with béchamel.
• Saganaki: Fried cheese!
• Baked feta drizzled with honey: need I say more?
• Grilled Octopus: Best enjoyed by the sea.
• Fresh fish: Any and all types of fresh fish!

Finally, go to a patisserie (or zaharoplastio as they call it in Greece), and try all the different sweets, pastries, and ice creams they make in-house. You can thank me later.