We have a choice of two dates for a Turkey/Greece trip that we wish to extend to spend a week on one or two greek islands. We are not necessarily about enjoying swimming daily or the beaches. That said, is late May or late Oct a better month? I'm concerned restaurants will be closing up by third week of Oct but fear it will be crowded with tourists already in late May. I guess i would prioritize no crowds to having a few restaurant choices/cooking for ourselves from the markets.
Thanks in advance for your input.
Posted by
Citizen of the World
3571 posts
May is preferable to October because island hotels, restaurants and ferry sailings begin closing down in October as the weather generally deteriorates.
Posted by
3305 posts
And days are longer in May.
Posted by
France Southwest
3222 posts
Late May is undoubtedly much better than late October.
The vegetation is blooming, the days are longer. The sea temperature can be a little chilly, but if you're not a fan of swimming every day, it won't interfere with your plans. We go to Greece regularly, mostly in late May/early June, and we've always been able to swim even though it's not a priority for us. There are shallow beaches where the water temperature is perfectly bearable.
As for the crowds, they're not there yet in late May, although it depends on where you go. It goes without saying that if you go to Santorini or Mykonos, there will be crowds from April to October inclusive.
That said, given that there are over 150 Greek islands to visit, to avoid the crowds, you just need to avoid about ten of the most touristy ones.
If you're looking for something other than hotels, it's very easy to find very comfortable studios or apartments with kitchens for less than €120 a night, or even entire houses, provided you avoid the most touristy spots. Then you can alternate between restaurants and meals "at home" as you wish. Just do some shopping at the local minimarket.
Posted by
Nanaimo, BC, Canada
1606 posts
I totally agree late May is your best option.