Thinking of planning a trip to Greece in the winter and not sure if the off season is for you? Well, go ahead and purchase that airline ticket because winter in Greece is a perfect time to travel. Don’t believe me just yet, here are some reasons to convince you:
The weather is still nice
The first time I went to Greece was in the summer and there were moments of the day where my shirt was sticking to me and I had to stop at every stand to buy some more water. Dehydration is not a game, folks. As much as I love the summer, sometimes a nice brisk breeze is what I really need in life. If you go to Greece during the off-season, especially in the month of November, the weather will be in the low 60’s which is extremely pleasant. Plus if you’re lucky, there will be days that are even warmer than that.
It’s nowhere near as crowded
Greece is one of the most incredible countries I’ve been to because it offers so much between the history and the beautiful islands. Because of that, it can also get very crowded. How can you really enjoy the Parthenon when grumpy tourists are elbowing you. Do you really want that random kid doing a weird pose in the background of your pictures? During the off-season and in the winter, you can roam the streets more freely and the attractions are much less crowded. While Athens is still a bustling city during this time there is a notable decrease in the amount of people.
 You can get really awesome pictures
Because it’s less crowded, you can get some truly awesome pictures. Don’t act like that doesn’t matter to you…we all know the truth. Have you ever seen those blogger’s pics at a famous site with no one in the background and wonder how they did it? Well, most of them get up at the crack ass of dawn. And if you’re anything like me, that is just not happening. I would probably punch someone if they tried to get me up at dawn (sorry not sorry). But, during November because it was the off-season, I was able to get pictures in the streets of Oia, Santorini without a single soul in the background.
 You’ll have no problem getting into your favorite spots and seeing the sites
In speaking with the staff at the hotel in Santorini, she said one of the hardest parts about summer is telling guests that their favorite restaurant is booked solid. Or that the tour they wanted to go on is sold out. In the off season, not only do you not have an issue with over booked restaurants but also any wait times are typically a lot less. We went to the Acropolis Museum in Athens and were able to leisurely explore without wanting to bang our heads against the wall because of massive crowds (are you sensing a trend here?)
You’ll get to experience different parts of the culture
Because the weather was too chilly to be in the water in Santorini, we had to find other things to do. The result? We rented a car and explored different quaint towns around the island. If you only have a couple of days in Santorini during the summer it’s hard to tear yourself away from the water or the main towns of Oia and Fira. But during the winter and the off season, it’s so much easier to see different parts of the island. Yes, you probably can’t go into the water (unless you’re crazy like me) but you can still experience the beauty of the natural sites.
Have I convinced you yet?
Don’t mind me…I’m just busy day dreaming of my next Greek adventure
Love this post the 5 Reasons Why You Should Travel to Greece in the Off Season? Then you’ll love these:
6 of the Best Things to Do in Athens Beyond the Acropolis
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22 Comments
I agree, traveling to Greece (or almost anywhere else) during the off-season is best. Tourist areas put on a show during high season, so it’s often like watching a play. When the tourist hoards go home, the locals return to their normal day-to-day selves and you can get a good sense of what their lives are like.
I couldn’t have put it better myself Miles! The more and more I travel, the more I get turned off from overly crowded tourist areas. Being able to have the insight into how the locals live is one of the best parts about traveling!
yes!! this is awesome and Greece is really high on my list! I can’t wait to plan my trip there 🙂
I can’t wait for you to go!! 🙂
I’m convinced! I was thinking about visiting Greece next summer, but sounds like late fall us the way to go.
Absolutely agree! The crowds in the summer time really do get annoying
I’m looking to visit Greece next year, now considering going out of season!
Fantastic! Let me know if you need any help planning 🙂
This is so cool – Greece has been on my bucket list for years! Gorgeous photos!
Glad you liked it! Hope you’re able to cross it off your bucket list soon 🙂
Would love to visit Greece, on my top ten places to go next!
Wonderful! You’ll absolutely love it!
hmmm this is a great idea.. I don’t even care for hot weather so maybe I should consider travelling offseason more often!
Absolutely! Especially if hot weather isn’t your thing
I love travelling out of season because I much prefer it when places are quiet – I’ve only been to Greece once and it was in the peak of the holiday season but luckily we went to quite a small resort. I’d love to go back it’s a beautiful country.
So glad you agree! I am def an out of season gal. If you go back, try going in October!
I would LOVE to go to Greece. These are awesome tips, and definitely something I’ll file away for that dream vacation. 🙂
Glad to hear it!! Hope you make it there soon <3
This is awesome! I absolutely loved Santorini. I just traveled to six countries this summer and I swear I will never travel during popular seasons again! It’s not worth it with the crowds.
So true! The more I travel, the more crowds frustrate me!
OMG this is such a tease. Greece is number one on my bucket list. I want to go so badly! UGH! I’m saving these tips for when I do though. Just beautiful!
I hope you are able to make it!!