A little more
Greece.
A lot less roaming.

Travelling to Greece: what to know before you go

Greece combines the monuments of classical antiquity with thousands of islands, clear seas and a relaxed food culture built around tavernas and long evenings. It suits island-hoppers, beach lovers, walkers and anyone drawn to ancient history, and it rewards those who travel outside the July and August peak.

Where to go

• Athens and the Acropolis. The Parthenon and the other temples on the Acropolis rise above a busy modern capital.
• Santorini. A volcanic island built around a flooded caldera, with white villages such as Oia and Fira clinging to the cliff edge, black and red sand beaches and the excavated Bronze Age town of Akrotiri.
• Crete. Greece's largest island has the Minoan palace of Knossos, the Venetian harbours of Chania and Rethymno, mountain villages and the Samaria Gorge, one of Europe's best-known hikes, as well as some of the country's best food.
• Meteora. Monasteries perched on top of giant sandstone pillars in central Greece.

Best time to visit

May, June, September and early October are the most pleasant months: warm seas, long days and fewer crowds than midsummer. July and August are hot, ferries and islands are at their busiest, and the strong meltemi wind can make Aegean crossings choppy.

Staying online in Greece

4G coverage is good in Athens, Thessaloniki, the main towns and on the popular islands, and 5G is available in larger cities. Signal can be weak or absent in mountain areas, on remote islands and on some stretches of sea during ferry crossings. Wi-Fi is common in hotels, cafés and beach bars, and many ferries offer it, though often slowly. A working phone is useful for checking ferry changes. Install an eSIM before you fly and switch it on when you land.