Country guide · Greece
Best places to visit in Greece
5 destinations compared, so you can choose where to spend your time.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Andrew Parlette, CC BY 4.0
Quick answer
For a first trip to Greece, start with Athens: The Acropolis, late-night tavernas and beaches a tram ride away. For beaches, look at Athens, Santorini and Crete. Crete is the least expensive of the destinations in this guide.
Key facts
- Destinations in this guide
- 5
- Best months overall
- May–June and September–October
- Start with
- Athens
- Least expensive here
- Crete
5 places to visit in Greece
Best: April–June and September–October · 3 days
Athens
The Acropolis, late-night tavernas and beaches a tram ride away
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Best: May–June and September–October · 4 days
Santorini
Cliff-top villages, a flooded caldera and black-sand beaches in the Cyclades
Best: May–June and September–October · 10 days
Crete
Minoan palaces, Venetian harbours, deep gorges and lagoon beaches
Best: June and September · 4 days
Mykonos
Whitewashed lanes, windmills, beach clubs and the sacred island of Delos
Best: May–June and September–October · 7 days
Rhodes
A walled medieval Old Town, the Lindos acropolis and two very different coasts
Compare the destinations
| Destination | Known for | Best time | Ideal stay | Mid-range per day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Athens | Acropolis and Parthenon and Ancient Greek history | April–June and September–October | 3 days | $140–$260 |
| Santorini | Caldera views and Oia sunsets | May–June and September–October | 4 days | $200–$380 |
| Crete | Knossos and Samaria Gorge | May–June and September–October | 10 days | $130–$230 |
| Mykonos | Little Venice and Windmills of Kato Mili | June and September | 4 days | $250–$450 |
| Rhodes | Medieval Old Town and Knights of St John | May–June and September–October | 7 days | $130–$250 |
When to visit Greece
Across these destinations the most reliable months are May–June and September–October. Timing still varies by place: Athens is best in April–June and September–October; Santorini is best in May–June and September–October; Crete is best in May–June and September–October.
Signature dishes across Greece
| Destination | Try first | Also try |
|---|---|---|
| Athens | Souvlaki and gyros | Greek salad and Moussaka |
| Santorini | Santorini fava | Tomato fritters and Greek salad with Santorini capers |
| Crete | Dakos | Kalitsounia and Sfakian pie |
| Mykonos | Kopanisti | Louza and Mostra |
| Rhodes | Pitaroudia | Symi shrimp and Melekouni |
Events through the year in Greece
| Month | Events |
|---|---|
| January | Athens: Epiphany — blessing of the waters at Piraeus and along the coast (6 January); Rhodes: Epiphany blessing of the waters at Mandraki Harbour (6 January) |
| February | Athens: Apokries — Carnival season with costume parties (February or March, before Lent); Crete: Rethymno Carnival — Crete's largest carnival (usually February or early March, before Lent) |
| March | Athens: Independence Day parade in central Athens (25 March); Santorini: Independence Day parades (25 March) |
| April | Athens: Orthodox Easter — midnight Resurrection services and fireworks (April or early May); Santorini: Greek Orthodox Easter — candle-lit processions; Pyrgos is lit with lamps on Good Friday (date varies, usually April or early May) |
| May | Athens: Open-air cinemas start their season (usually May); Crete: Battle of Crete commemorations around Chania (around 20 May) |
| June | Athens: Athens Epidaurus Festival — theatre, music and dance, including the Odeon of Herodes Atticus (usually June–August) |
| July | Athens: Athens Epidaurus Festival continues; Crete: Village wine and food festivals (summer weekends) |
| August | Athens: Dormition of the Virgin Mary — national holiday (15 August); Santorini: Feast of the Dormition — church festivals across the island (15 August) |
| September | Rhodes: Feast of Panagia Tsambika at Tsambika Monastery (around 8 September) |
| October | Athens: Ohi Day — national holiday with parades (28 October); Santorini: Ohi Day parades — national holiday (28 October) |
| November | Athens: Athens Authentic Marathon — from Marathon to the Panathenaic Stadium (usually second Sunday of November); Crete: Arkadi Monastery anniversary commemoration (8 November) |
| December | Athens: Christmas tree and festivities in Syntagma Square (December); Rhodes: Christmas and New Year celebrations in Rhodes Town |
How far apart they are
| From | To | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Athens | Santorini | 231 km |
| Athens | Crete | 320 km |
| Athens | Mykonos | 153 km |
| Athens | Rhodes | 433 km |
| Santorini | Crete | 142 km |
| Santorini | Mykonos | 115 km |
| Santorini | Rhodes | 249 km |
| Crete | Mykonos | 250 km |
| Crete | Rhodes | 335 km |
| Mykonos | Rhodes | 280 km |
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I go on my first trip to Greece?
Athens: Athens wraps a sprawling modern capital around the Acropolis, whose Parthenon is visible from rooftops all over the centre. Most visitors stay in the walkable historic core of Plaka, Monastiraki, Koukaki and Syntagma…
+When is the best time to visit Greece?
Generally May–June and September–October, though it varies by region.