Get out your bucket list; it’s time to cross off a major line item: Greece.
The fabled land remains tops for culture, food, outdoor travel, art and, of course, beaches and islands. As part of the border-free Schengen Area, it’s also incredibly easy to visit for many travelers worldwide. From advance booking to local etiquette – and health and safety issues when you're there – here's everything you need to know to plan a memorable trip to Greece.
Your experience in Greece will be wildly different depending on when you visit. Summer is tops for action, family fun, and swimming in the Mediterranean Sea, but prices are at their highest and pre-booking is necessary for everything since it’s all so popular.
The shoulder seasons (spring and autumn) are a delight – prices are lower, and rooms and resources are more readily available. Winter offers a moody and budget-friendly retreat, great for walking, hiking and sedate travels where you will often be the only visitor around. Bear in mind that some businesses will shut down completely during the low season.
Do you want a grand tour, taking in the not-to-be-missed highlights all over Greece, or would you prefer to focus your time on exploring your favorite islands or regions, like the Peloponnese?
The best way to choose from the dizzying array of options on offer is to focus on what is important to you – relaxing on beautiful beaches, learning more about Greece's fascinating history and culture, museums and archaeology, off-the-beaten-track wildlife, or partying until dawn – and plan accordingly.
Greece merits multiple trips as every island offers something different, and each of its regions is equally dazzling – you're never going to see everything on your first visit, and you'll ruin your trip if you pressure yourself to do just that. Also, don’t be fooled that the biggies are the only islands worthy of your attention. Though Mykonos, Santorini and the major names have plenty to offer, lesser-known islands (there are hundreds!) like Amorgos or Kythira are also a delight. They've also got the added bonus of smaller crowds and lower prices if that's a key consideration for you.
In many cases, you will find it useful to transit in or out of Greece via Athens, as its airport has connections with numerous international destinations, and the city itself is a gem. However, there are other international airports around the Greek mainland (such as in Thessaloniki) and on some major islands (such as Mykonos, Santorini and Corfu).
If you need any internal flights to get to your destination of choice, it's worth checking the price of these individually. Due to government subsidies, it can work out significantly cheaper to book each part of your Greek itinerary separately from
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Four Seasons has long set the gold standard for luxury accommodations on land and is renowned for its exquisite hotels that offer unparalleled comfort and service. Now, this legacy of luxury is extending its reach to the seas. In a groundbreaking move, Four Seasons Yachts, in collaboration with Marc-Henry Cruise Holdings Ltd and the esteemed Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri, is introducing an ambitious venture into luxury sea travel. Scheduled to set sail in 2026, this initiative promises an experience that transcends traditional cruising, offering voyages across the mesmerizing waters of the Caribbean and the historic coasts of the Mediterranean.
The Luxury Collection spans more than 120 hotels in 35-plus countries, and the brand has ambitious plans for this year. It will open more than 10 new properties everywhere from Barbados to Patmos, Greece.
Climbing towards the basilica from the river, we explored a zigzag of secret staircases and hidden courtyards in Lyon. These traboules are hard to follow, and so we had to look out for the metal plates that mark some of the entrances. There’s almost no direct way up from the river, but these routes, originally for the city’s silk workers, reveal charming back streets and private courtyards, into which visitors can stare. At the top, breathless, we loved the Basilique Nôtre-Dame de Fourvière. In the crypt we made another exciting discovery: a huge mosaic of the sea battle of Lepanto, a site we’d recently visited in Greece. David Innes-Wilkin
Greece inspires our dreams – we dream about its azure seas, its charming island villages and its myriad beaches, both broad and minute. We dream about the Acropolis, shining on a hill over fascinating Athens. This grand country, from mountaintop to city street, lives up to those dreams. Greece satisfies travelers looking for adventure, the great outdoors, relaxing seaside vacations and immersive cultural experiences.
The historic Troy Laundry Building — a Colonial Revival-style brick warehouse sitting at 1025 S.E. Pine Street in Portland, Oregon — has begun a new iteration. Constructed in 1913, the Buckman neighborhood building was an industrial laundry facility until 1983, served as an artist co-op for a few decades, and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1989.
Something of a mini-continent, the island of Sicily in Italy ticks most boxes. Adventurer, art lover, beach bum, ruin explorer: this rugged chunk of sun-spun land at the crossroads of the Tyrrhenian, Ionian and Mediterranean seas has enticed ancient and modern peoples with its charms since time immemorial. The result: one of Europe's richest and most extraordinary histories, with an unmatched booty of artistic and drop-dead-gorgeous natural treasures. The food and drink's not bad either.
Oofos shoes challenge everything I thought I believed about comfort. Like most travelers who love spending hours traipsing around new cities—I have many times chosen to climb the steep, cobblestoned streets of Bairro Alto in Lisbon instead of taking a taxi, and consider walking the entire length of Central Park an ideal afternoon activity—I have to think about what's practical, and not going to hurt my feet 10 minutes into a 4-hour jaunt. But you won't see me Googling “comfortable walking shoes” and clicking the first option that appears. I still want to look good during all this exploring, you see. (What else am I doing in a fabulous city besides trying to feel entirely fabulous?)
Often misunderstood as a chaotic urban jungle or a mere pit-stop before hopping the islands, Greece’s capital is having a shining moment. Driven by young Athenians who have moved back to the city following years of financial crisis, Athens is experiencing a renaissance in its arts and culture scene. While the Cyclades have made Condé Nast Traveler’s list of the Best Places to Go in 2024, for those en route to the islands, Athens and its bon vivant attitude await, and demand more than just a single night to be discovered.
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with John Martin, who previously worked in the aluminum industry, and his wife Beverly, both 60, who have been traveling the world since 2021. The conversation has been edited for length and clarity.