Greece merely appears constructed for holidays. With its treasure trove of seashores, casual, family-embracing tradition and dazzling summer time sunshine, it hardly ever disappoints.

A big, sprawling nation, it includes 110,496 sq. kilometres of (largely underrated and under-visited) mainland, plus 227 inhabited islands – to not point out 1000’s extra uninhabited islets. You may return dozens of instances and barely scratch the floor – particularly if, like most Grecophiles, you discover one place that fits you completely and find yourself going again.

When vacationers consider the mainland, they often image Athens – one among Europe’s nice tradition capitals, with millennia-old ruins peppered round sensible or hip neighbourhoods. In the meantime, “Greek islands” conjures a travel-brochure picture of sugar-cube homes and dramatic, charcoal-grey cliffs, a glance that’s particular to the Cycladic islands. Different island teams have a unique really feel, many richer in dense pine forests or golden-sand seashores, although you’ll discover traditional Greek delicacies and heat hospitality throughout. Right here’s the place to start out.

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Finest for historical past buffs: Athens

Greece’s good-looking capital is a must-do metropolis break that works at any time of 12 months – however in case you go from Might to October, you’ll additionally discover ferries from its Piraeus port, making it simple to tack on a seaside or nature break.

Learn extra: How you can spend a day in Piraeus, Athens’ rejuvenated seaside neighbourhood

A lot of the historical Greek websites are primarily based on and across the Acropolis Hill, so for very brief breaks it’s best to base your self in central Monastiraki and Plaka so you may sightsee straight out of your doorstep. You probably have a bit extra time to play with, you may wish to keep in cooler Psyrri or Pangrati, the place hole-in-the-wall eating places and craft beer bars nudge up towards idea shops and pavement cafes. Or Kolonaki, the upmarket “Knightsbridge of Athens”, the place you’ll discover the ritziest motels.

Finest time for climate

Exterior of July and August to keep away from hovering temperatures – breezy March and still-toasty October are loveliest.

Most cost-effective time to go

Winter, when flights are nonetheless operating and few vacationers are on the town. In October, return flights begin at round £80 return; in January that just about halves to round £45.

Dodge the crowds

November, January and February have the bottom resort room charges and thinnest crowds.

Finest for glamour: Santorini

This Cycladic icon is not any secret – ever for the reason that jet-set (and Instagram) discovered it, this has turn into the island that launched a thousand selfies. However whenever you go, you see why: the part-sunken fringe of a long-dormant volcano rim, the island’s western (caldera) aspect plunges down into the ocean in a photogenic style. Uniformly fairly Cycladic-style motels and homes are speckled alongside its tops, many with illuminated plunge swimming pools and ribbons of hot-pink bougainvillea. Keep round Oia and Imerovigli, taking a sundown yacht cruise across the coast, and also you’ll really feel such as you’re starring in a film.

Elsewhere on the island, inexpensive lodging exists close to flatter, black volcanic seashores and fairly hilltop cities; however in case you’re right here for Santorini’s distinctive seems, you need the caldera coast. It’s not household pleasant, as a result of plunging cliffs and hundreds of thousands of steps connecting buildings. And every thing right here – from resort rooms to dinners and drinks – is pricier than elsewhere in Greece. Most cost-effective alternative? No means. Definitely worth the money? Completely.

Finest time for climate

September – suppose highs of 25C by day, and a sea warmed up by months of summer time warmth.

Most cost-effective time to go

This can be a vacation island, so most locations shut up store outdoors of spring, summer time and autumn. Inside that interval, you’ll get a few of the finest charges in April and October.

Dodge the crowds

In April, compromise on chillier evenings and the odd little bit of drizzle for an opportunity alone with the very best caldera views. Might can be pleasantly quiet.

Finest for households: Corfu

The buzzword right here is “ease”: not solely does Corfu have the shortest flight time from the UK, however younger households may also love the logical vacationer scene. Fly into its east-coast airport, related to motels by a well-paved coast street, served by plentiful taxis. Most resorts are inside half-an-hour’s drive, with extra secluded villas and lesser-known motels barely additional away on the north and northeast coast.

Lots of the best-known motels nail being each each stylish and household pleasant (strive the Marbella, Ikos or Grecotel teams), with many extra which might be merely inexpensive and welcoming. A sprinkling of adults-only finds are successful with {couples}. Although the vacationer scene is accessible, tried and examined, this big, forested island can be excellent for hiring a automotive and exploring. Go to the beautiful previous port, Corfu City, the sand-fringed north and west coast, and hop on a ship to Paxos island.

Finest time for climate

June to August has that blazing sizzling, bucket-and-spade climate you’re dreaming of.

Most cost-effective time to go

Might remains to be heat and breezy, with highs within the low 20s – weeks at self-catering house holidays are available at £500pp per week, rising to extra like £800pp by mid July.

Dodge the crowds

Go for a extra lively vacation in Feb-March or late October-November; within the latter, you’ll discover few vacationers, however locals nonetheless swimming within the summer-warmed sea.

Finest for foodies: Crete

This island is a huge – it will take round 5 hours to drive nonstop from one finish to the opposite – so even in case you’ve seen one seaside city or area, there’s much more to discover. However one factor you’ll discover throughout is phenomenal meals: Crete has an extended farming custom and an enormous respect for produce, seasonality and provenance. It additionally has its personal kinds of salad, native cheeses and is a serious producer of olive oil. Elsewhere in Greece, probably the most trendy eating places are sometimes impressed by Cretan delicacies.

You fly into one among two north-coast airports: Chania in the direction of the west and Heraklion in the direction of the east. They’re greater than two hours aside, so be sure to e-book the very best to your lodging. The enjoyment of a giant isle like that is alternative and variety: there are inexpensive, family-friendly seaside cities, trendy port cities, historical archaeological websites and secret-feeling coves solely reached by boat. The trade-off? A good bit of analysis and planning.

Finest time for climate

June to August for peak summer time solar, however Crete additionally stays balmy into September – nice information for adults-only events looking for peace and quiet.

Most cost-effective time to go

April is a candy spot – you may bag every week in a five-star seaside resort from £730pp, rising to £1,100pp in June. Daytime temperatures might be round 17-21C most.

Dodge the crowds

It empties out from cooler November to March, when there are nonetheless loads of lively pursuits, foodie experiences and historical websites to entertain you.

Finest for solos: Kefalonia

Whereas Crete is equally backpacker and solo-travel pleasant (with a rare-for-Greece bus community), Kefalonia has a few of the most various landscapes, with historic cities, showstopping seashores and an enormous vary of locations to remain. This sprawling Ionian island additionally has a bus route or two, permitting you, for just some euros, to strike out from the sensible port of Argostoli (close to the airport) for fairly little coastal cities equivalent to Assos, Fiskardo and Poros – lots of which have boats onward to smaller islands. Ferries to close by islands equivalent to Lefkada and Ithaca can value as little as £10 or £15 every means.

This community of inexpensive flats, distinctive stops and transport choices actually lends itself to spontaneity and hopping round. It’s additionally one among Greece’s most photogenic islands: suppose pastel-coloured homes, plunging cliffs with mountain goats, shimmering sea caves and unspoiled seashores. Take a duplicate of Captain Corelli’s Mandolin (which is ready right here) to get a really feel for the historical past.

Finest time for climate

Unsurprisingly, most-popular June to August will get the very best climate; those that can journey outdoors faculty holidays will bag the very best offers.

Most cost-effective time to go

Direct flights from the UK are inclined to run between Might and September. Of these months, you’ll discover the very best offers in early June and late September.

Dodge the crowds

Like Crete, you may fly by way of Athens to achieve Kefalonia low season: go in October to search out lingering highs of 24C, plus heat, swimmable waters with few vacationers.

Finest for off-the-beaten-track: The Peloponnese

Although there’s been a trickle of tourism to this underrated slice of the mainland for many years, it’s solely just lately registered on the mainstream vacation scene. This hand-shaped peninsula simply southwest of Athens has pine-scented mountains, historical, crumbling monasteries, distant villages and wonderful sandy seashores, particularly alongside the central Mani Peninsula and Cape Malea.

You’ll want a automotive to discover this rugged area, which has wonders equivalent to Mystras, a Thirteenth-century Byzantine metropolis near the historic warrior state of Sparta; the archaeological website of Mycenae; the Unesco-listed amphitheatre at Epidaurus; and the honeycomb-hued citadel of Monemvasia. There are distant spa retreats and cute coastal cities to sit back at en route.

Finest time for climate

Might and September, outdoors of peak summer time bookings, every get loads of sunshine and highs within the mid-to-high 20s. Keep away from December, the wettest month right here.

Most cost-effective time to go

Direct flights to gateway airport Kalamata run Might-Oct (although you may drive from Athens). Go in October for the very best bargains on each flights and room charges.

Dodge the crowds

In April, simply earlier than direct flights kick in, you’ll discover pleasant sunshine and as much as 21C within the daytime – excellent for mountain climbing round and exploring the sights.

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