November is off-season in Greece which means the prices are low and the crowds are pretty much non-existent. There are plenty of festivals and events to attend. Just make sure to bring some warm clothes, as the weather can get cooler. But, at the same time, the air is much cleaner than during the summer.
Weather
On the mainland, the weather is cold. On the islands it’s also cold and cold winds are blowing, which can make the weather uncomfortable cold.
Athens avg low 53F/11C; avg high 64F/17C
Rhodes avg low 57F/13C; avg high 67F19C
Thessaloniki avg low 44F/6C; avg high 58F/14C
>>more information on Weather in Greece
Facilities
Although the prices are at their lowest, many (if not most) hotels on the islands are closed. Some of the islands in the Cyclades are pretty much “closed for winter” since mid-October but there are still some hotels open all year. Some other islands, particularly the Ionians and the bigger islands such as Rhodes and Crete still offer enough places to stay.
But the connection between islands – be it by planes or ferries – are very limited and sometimes the ports are closed due to bad weather.
Things to do
Each year, Thessaloniki is home to The Dimitria Festival. It runs from September until November (but make sure to ask locally) and comprises a lot of events: dance, music, theatre.
The Athens Marathon follows the Olympic route and takes place each year in early November. If you want to train for such an event, you can even participant in it but otherwise you can show up and cheering on the participants.
November 8th is the name day for Michael and Gabriel, the Archangels. Any church or monastery named after any of them will have special events planned for this day. The island of Symi has many churches dedicated to Archangel Michael, who happens to be the patron saint of the island.
November 17th is a rather sad day, which celebrates the student uprising at Athens’ Polytechnic University which was brutally stopped by the government. Each year on this day there are parades and protests which usually block the major roads and squares in the cities. Athens is the city most affected by the parades so make sure to plan accordingly.
Presentation of Mary is celebrated on November 21st. It commemorates the day when the 3-year girl was first taken to the temple. Any church or monastery which is dedicated to Mary will have special events on this day and all Orthodox churches will have some events planned.
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