Hi all,
First visit to the Greece forum but know you all can help. We are looking at joining a 12-day group tour that includes Athens, Nafplion (and Kalamata), and Delphi (Olympia) before heading back to Athens. Afterwards, my husband and I would like to extend the trip by traveling on our own from Athens. Perhaps with 5-7 days in Crete on our own.
Question: The tour ends on the Monday before Greek Orthodox Easter weekend (which is May 2 this coming year), meaning that we would be staying on our own up to or including Easter Sunday and Monday. Definitely Good Friday. 've read that lots of things shut down around Easter -- as in public transportation, shops, many restaurants, etc. Would archeological sites on Crete (our main interest) be closed as well? Is this a bad week to plan this kind of add-on trip?
Alternative is to do all this 2 weeks earlier (in mid-March) or 2 weeks later, after Easter. I fear March would be too cool and no evening strolls and meals under the stars. And third week of May too warm and perhaps starting to fill with tourists on Crete.
Thoughts and advice welcomed. Though I know we can't predict weather and can't expect perfection, but Easter closures might be a problem ... or not? Thanks!
Posted by
Philadelphia, PA, USA
3811 posts
Third week of May is NOT too warm... much better choice, avoids the Easter problem (Yes almost all historic/ancient sites are closed several days around easter) . 11 of my 13 trips have been in May, including Crete, Cycladic Isles and Peloponnese on almost all of them... Most trips hae started May 15 or May 20 or so. Almost all have been ideal weather cmpares with earlier or later. Everything's open, but not too crowded... you just have to pick & choose, Crete is perfect at that time.