This summer has been a hot, sweaty, crowded one for Greece.
Locals on the island of Santorini have called for a tourist cap to control crowd levels, there has been an outbreak of forest fires on the island of Rhodes, and despite reduced visitor numbers to the Acropolis, Athens remains as overcrowded as ever.
But it’s not all bad news!
Fall is almost here, and there’s never been a better time to visit the birthplace of democracy, the Olympic games, and over 2,000 breathtakingly beautiful islands.
Here’s how American travelers can beat the summer crowds:
Nonstop Flights To Greece From 5 U.S. Cities
It doesn’t matter where you want to visit in Greece. The mainland, the islands, or a combination of both.
As an American traveler, you will probably land in Athens first!
This is because Athens is the only nonstop destination from the U.S. to Greece that still flies this fall.
But the good news is that you can fly nonstop to Athens from 5 different U.S. destinations. They are New York, Chicago, Washington, Boston, and Atlanta.
Even better news: fall flights tend to be more affordable than during the height of summer.
Looking at Google Flights data for a 1-week stay in October from October 16 to October 23, you can travel round trip from New York JFK with Delta for $709. This is for an economy-class seat.
This is the cheapest available flight for October.
To fly from Chicago on the same dates with American Airlines would cost $1,494 round trip. To fly from Washington with United Airlines would cost $1,382.
Another Delta flight, this time from Boston to Athens, would cost $1,274 round trip. Finally, a nonstop flight from Atlanta with Delta would cost $1,265.
It’s worth noting that if you’re not wedded to flying nonstop, then there are cheaper flight options available, and you can get them from a wider variety of airports, too. (When I’m flying long haul I rarely fly direct because I just like saving money too much!)
Why Visit Greece In The Fall?
There are 2 obvious reasons why Greece is much more pleasant in fall than in summer: the weather and the crowd levels.
Greece is a country famous for its culture and its archaeological attractions.
But who wants to walk around a dusty ancient site when it’s 40 C (104 F) outside and there’s no shade to be found?
Greece used to be a seasonal destination, with hotels and restaurants shutting down at the end of the summer season.
But in recent years, the holiday season has been extended to the end of November, and travelers have embraced this change.
Exactly because the weather is better to explore the best sites outside of the summer months.
My favorite Greek island is the island of Kos, and this is a key example of a Greek island extending their vacation season.
Kos enjoys mild weather in the winter and plenty of attractions to enjoy if you can’t relax on the sandy Mediterranean beaches.
You can see the Hippocrates Plane Tree, or explore Kos Town Castle (A medieval castle known as the Castle of the Knights). Entrance to the fortress is free, or you can pay 3 euros ($4) to explore the attached archaeological museum too.
Head beyond Kos town and you can explore the Asklepieon, named after Asklepios, considered the protector of health and medicine.
This healing centre was built to honor Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine.
The entry fee to the Asklepieon is 12 euros ($13) but if you visit the site between November and March then this is reduced to 6 euros ($6.50).
I can tell you firsthand that this fascinating site is much more pleasant to explore in winter than in the sweltering hot summer sun!
Visiting Athens In the Fall
If you’re flying into Athens, then you might be tempted to simply stay in the Greek capital for your trip. Fall is by far the best time of year to explore Athens and all that the city has to offer.
And the lower crowd levels mean that you can enjoy the sites in relative comfort too.
When you visit Athens in fall, it’s still warm enough to spend time on the beach but the best weather for exploring the archaeological sites too. The streets are quieter but still lively.
You won’t have to worry about the visitor cap to enter the Acropolis either: getting tickets is a breeze during the low season! Single-use tickets to the Acropolis are 20 euros ($22), and they are reduced to 10 euros ($11) from November 1st to March 30th.
Follow your visit with a mezze lunch in a pavement café where you can people-watch, soak up the ambiance, and watch the world go by.
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