Why you should visit Greece in the fall

Half of the Greek economy is based on service sector and tourism industry employment, and many Europeans visit Greece during the summer when the most festivities and services are available. But Greece is a year-round vacation destination that lacks frigid winters, with yearly temperatures ranging from 50 to more than 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Off-season travelers have plenty of opportunities to experience well-rounded Greek vacations with less traffic, nice weather and fun cultural events.

There is no doubt that Greece is a favourite vacation spot for summer, when many tourists come to enjoy the sun and the sea. The problem is that summer ends and everyone should go back home, where rain and cold is the daily routine. But have you ever considered making an alternative option and spending your vacations in Greece in autumn? There is always a good reason to do so and here you will find many of them.

When busy summer ends, a truly rejuvenating season comes in Greece: autumn. Although it has a melancholic tone, autumn is the season to recover and reboot. Crowds return home, the temperature is not exhaustingly hot and nature changes. Autumn holidays in Greece is a chance for a deep insight into the Greek culture. In early autumn (early September to mid October) people still go swimming although the sea is not as hot as in summer. The weather is sunny but can be pretty windy some days in the Greek islands. Tourists are fewer, there are no loud parties till the early hours, making it a great season for the elderly, and of course prices are lower.

During this season, the weather in Greece is ideal for holidays. The countryside takes on an autumnal glow, the sea stays warm enough for swimming, the resorts become a bit quieter, and the earth delivers its bounty, olives and grapes, oil and wine. Nature in Greece during autumn is magical. Enjoy the many shades of red and orange as the trees change colour. Take in the fragrances that nature exudes after the first fall rain.Autumn will give you countless opportunities to try something really different. September, when the grapes are harvested, is the time to visit some of Greece’s state-of-the-art wineries. A month later - towards the end of September and early October - for a more rustic and intoxicating experience, try to find out who’s making raki out of the skins and stalks in Crete.Later in autumn, during October and November, your holidays on mainland Greece will be chock full of surprises: in the large olive groves locals gather their olives. You can find out all about the traditional occupations and products by staying at a farm set up for agrotourism. And help with the chores. Think how good it will make you’ll feel. Greece in autumn is a truly pleasurable experience!

Popular destinations in Greece during autumn

These days are wonderful for exploring the beautiful nature of Greece, either in the Greek islands or in the Greek mainland. As the temperature is lower (around 10-15oC in autumn months), many hikers come in Greece in autumn to explore old stone footpaths.

This is the time to discover the other side of holidays in Greece. Autumn holidays in Greece mean quiet cosmopolitan islands, exploring the Argosaronic islands close to Athens and visiting the lush, green Sporades for a weekend sojourn. Hop over to Evia’s long beaches and thick forests or go up to Pelion, where you can combine beach and mountain pleasures. Autumn is perfect too for sailing in the Aegean or Ionian seas, since August’s north winds have calmed down.

In autumn, nature’s at its most magical. The reds and golds of the forests will delight you, however you travel. Now’s the moment for a romantic autumn holiday in the fortress state of Monemvasia, but Nafplion and Nafpaktos would also fit the bill with their Venetian castles and ports. Take a hike on the old trails on the islands and mainland or pay homage to the wonderful Byzantine churches and monasteries that exist all over Greece.

While you are on your autumn trip to Crete don’t miss the opportunity to visit the renowned historical sites, monuments and museums. The season’s mild weather will tempt you to discover inland secrets and the wide variety of flora and fauna, to visit picturesque mountainous villages as well as those of the lowlands, to follow the hiking trails, go mountaineering or cross breathtaking ravines such as the well-known Samaria Gorge,Kourtaliotiko Gorge etc.

Also, remember that is not as expensive as winter but it is a bit less than high season. Retirees and people with money and time to spare come to Greece during the fall. It has the same advantages as spring except that the local population is tired more or less depending on how busy the high season was. They may not be quite as enthusiastic or perky.

If towel-to-towel crowds and traffic jams aren’t exactly what you are looking for during your holidays, we are happy to inform you that now is the time to visit and enjoy days of fun in the sun, in several less crowded sandy beaches.

Luxury comes at a price and hotels certainly aren’t cheap. If you hate spending a lot of money for a room that you are only going to be in for a few hours, you must know that accommodation in Greece is considerably cheaper in the fall. Furthermore, most of the rooms are available during this period, unlike August when you must book at least 2-3 weeks in advance to find a decent place to stay.

If you belong to the category of people who are brave enough and need reasonable and fair amount of time to decide to plunge into the water, you will be able to finally enjoy swimming, as the water is usually much warmer during autumn.

In most workplaces, it is really hard for all employees to enjoy their holidays at the same time during the summer months, so consultations and negotiations begin in order to get the vacation leave that best suits them without burdening, of course, their colleagues. If you decide to ask your boss’ permission to leave the office in the fall, you will not have to take part in the whole negotiation process and you may even be declared the office hero.

Surely each one of you have had the unpleasant experience of waiting patiently to order in a restaurant. This must have happened because the place was too crowded. In the fall, you will not have to experience such disturbing incidents, since the crowds are significantly less and shopkeepers are ready to quickly serve their treats.