Planning your Greece vacation – does late August sound right?

augustIf you have been reading the articles on the site, I normally vote against visiting Greece during the high season- that’s July and August . The reason seems very simple: hoards of tourists, prices going higher and higher and generally speaking an atmosphere that makes you pretty much want to just run and hike somewhere relaxing.

But what if you do plan to catch some tan while in Greece? June might be a good month for this but so is late August. You can bet the sea is warm by now and the prices start to go down as well.

Finding a flight

The search for the cheapest airline tickets possible should always start on a site which offers a lot of possible connections. It’s a good idea not to have a set destination in mind and play with flying into Athens or Thessaloniki and then using the local transportation to get your destination. Plane tickets to Europe, so Greece including, are easy to find although you need to be quite flexible with your dates in order to find something really cheap.

For example, if you plan to get to Santorini , it might be cheaper to fly into Athens and then catch a ferry to Santorini. Plus you can also visit at least the important landmarks in Athens (yes, the Acropolis would be one).

How about the accommodation?

The second biggest budget “breaker” is the accommodation. If you check the cheap travel deals you might find some interesting offers for different villas and hotels all over Greece. I’ve recently came across a very good offer in Corfu (€10 per night for an apartment). Combine that with a cheap local flight – the two Greek carriers always have something available – and you can spend a dream vacation at very affordable prices.

Of course, you can always check for hotels in Greece and find the one which suits your budget best. But be careful: cheap and nice hotels are fully booked months in advance.

Food and fun

One thing I absolutely love about Greece is that no matter where you go, there will always be a hidden taverna where you can eat for €5 and actually feel full. Such places won’t ever break your dinging budget .

If your plans take you in Greece in late August, then make sure to have a beach on your radar. It doesn’t cost much to rent a beach bed and an umbrella so you can relax all day long and of course, enjoy some of the water sports.

>>You might also want to check out My top 5 Reasons to Visit Greece

12 thoughts on “Planning your Greece vacation – does late August sound right?

  1. Hi there!

    I have just discovered the “Why Go” website and think it is amazing! My husband and I are currently planning a 2-3 wk vacation for May-June of 2010 and really want to hit Italy and Greece, so I am stoked to find your reviews! Ok, call me naive, but may I ask what a “Taverna” is…it sounds as if it is a small “dive” or local eatery, is that correct? Could you please suggest a few and maybe tell me about some “can’t miss places”, to visit, as well. We are interested in seeing the obvious attractions, of course, but would also love to see a few places that are more unique and less touristy! Also, we will probably consider staying in a hostel or two…is it weird for married couples our age (29, 32) to stay in them…I just never have:) Thanks so much and again, loving the articles!

  2. @Bethany:
    firstly, thank you so very much.
    secondly, I’m married (and we are both 28) and we have stayed in a hostel (in Austria, not in Greece) so it’s totally doable but i do recommend a private room.
    Yup, a taverna is a small place to eat where you should be able to get traditional mezedes and ouzo.
    As for the local places to eat, stay tuned. Over the summer I’ll post a lot more stuff abt such places 🙂
    Search the site and you’ll find both touristy and non-touristy places.

  3. Hey Cristina,
    thanks so much for the reply! So we are thinking of doing 10 days in Greece…3 days in Athens, 3 in Mykonos and 3 in Santorini, does that sound like a good plan? What other Islands or cities would you suggest, or maybe do instead of the one’s i’ve listed? Thanks again, checking the site has become a daily ritual:) I’ll be sure to stay tuned and catch any upcoming news and info you post over the Summer!

  4. @Bethany:
    if you ask me, i think it’s a bit early to plan your next summer’s vacation. It doesn’t hurt to do the research but it’s good to be flexible as well.

    I would probably suggest early June if you want to use the ferries wt/out problems. Until June there are limited connections.

    The itinerary is doable. You can also mix in some islands located close to Athens , such as Aegina. There are several posts abt hidden islands and different destinations on the site, so make sure to poke around a bit.

  5. Good Afternoon!
    So…June sounded ideal to me at first, but then I started reading about the crowded Summer months and how it’s more expensive, not to mention HOT in the Summer. Do you think those aspects are enough to deter a traveler from choosing June? Oh, and at this point I am still just doing research! We wouldn’t be attempting to book anything until like 5-6 mos in advance…i’ve read that is the way to do it to insure the best prices and the availability of attractions (tickets for sights and lodging)

  6. @Bethany: July & August are expensive and hot. June is one of the best months to visit Greece although it may (or may not) be hot. I’ve booked my Sept vacation last month (so that’s 5 months in advance).

  7. Thanks for all of these posts! I just found this and am planning to bring my husband and 2 daughters and their spouses to Greece Oct. 9-19. Already have the flights arranged, now just have to make a flexible itinerary…any advice is gratefully appreciated!

  8. @Sarah: it really depends where you are flying into (Athens or Thessaloniki). Although in October it’s best to stick wt the mainland (unless you plan to take the plane to an island). There’s an article about “Day trips from Athens” on the site so please check it out (just run a search with those words).

  9. Id agree that late august is best to travel – the prices do go down, and esp if you want to see some of the lovely sites across the many islands the slightly lower temperature is great. Even september might be fine though the winds do tend to pick up so swimming might be a bit cold for some. If though you want to see Athens (or any other main city in the mainlands september IMO is ideal).

  10. Indeed. As a rule I myself dont travel in July or Aug at all – esp since I dont have kids. The sun/cost value is much more balanced at early June or mid September. I think that counts for all European destinations.

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