Greek Islands shoulder season

We were there this year from March 11 to 25. Athens was fine - you could not tell it was off-season at all, although the Acropolis was nicely uncrowded. For the islands, Naxos Town was pretty empty. Many of the stores and restaurants were closed. But was soon as we walked about 15 minutes to the non-touristy area, everything was open - stores, restaurants, people sitting having coffee. But we did feel like the cute, waterfront area near our hotel was pretty dead. It would have been nice to be there in April -everyone said that's when things start to open up. I got the feeling we were like two weeks too early.

Santorini was also partially closed down - this was in Fira. But about half the stores and restaurants were open and it felt fine. There were plenty of other tourists there with us and we were glad to be there in March and not June.

I travel to Greece every October and find it a great time to be there. The weather is still nice, not hot like summer, the Aegean is still warm from the summer so you can still take a dip, there are less tourists and prices are less expensive for accommodations.

Just about any island will be much nicer and quieter. While many of the tourists services will be closing or closed there will always be shops, markets and tavernas open for locals which will give you a more "Greek" experience than tourist experience.

Athens is Athens . . . a city of millions. You won't be able to tell if it's tourist season or not. Even the archeological sites will have crowds but not like summer.

Get to the Acropolis when it opens at 8 a.m. before the tour groups and tourists show up. It will be a lot more enjoyable.

Off season travel is more enjoyable and definitely less expensive.

Most islands tourists want to visit do not really "open " up much till at least late April or MAy.. we have been to Mykonos and Naxos in mid May and while most things were open,,,it was still quietish .. Mykonos of course being more touristy than NAxos.. but we much prefered NAxos.

Ive also been to islands in mid sept to early October.. nice time to go.. but by second week in October quite a few small shops cafes etc started to close down.

PS March is not good weather yet.. can still be coolish and rainy..

Thanks for the feedback! It's greatly appreciated.

We went mid September through the first week in October. The first week in October we were at the Sheraton Rhodes and they were going to be closing for the season shortly after we left.

Much what others have said, but a few more notes...

Water temp in May all over is still cool, September would be better for Islands and Beach.

March is well outside "Shoulder" season for the Islands, for the Mainland, it is fine. April and October are almost outside Shoulder season, it would be hit or miss. Mid May-Mid June and September are good "shoulder" periods in the Islands. Some Islands, like Naxos, have higher local populations, so they can be pleasant year round.

Athens is always busy, but in the Off and Shoulder seasons, it is more Greeks that move back from the islands, so the tourist sites are not as busy (but a local restaurant may be), during summer season, the tourist places are packed.