Trip March 27-April 5th 2024-enough open?

Not many of the businesses that are set up for tourists will be open. The weather will be cold, cloudy and windy, maybe rain as well.

Weather is not the concern to be honest. What types of businesses are you referring to-restaurants, museums, shops, car rental, bus transportation, other?

Frankly, I think that an early Spring Greece trip of 10 days (or is it 8 days, when you count travel to/from US?) would be worthwhile mostly to students who are already somewhat informed and enthusiastic about all things Greek -- the archeology, the architecture, the art, the ancient sites, the inspiring history, the dramatic landscapes, the culture of food, wine and village tavernas. For someone like this, chilly weather or April showers won't be a deterrent -- he'll want to climb around the ruins, hit all the museums, and sample the hearty Greek menus. He'll spend his Christmas-break reading up on all the above, to be ready for the experience.

Is that your kinda guy? If so, tell us about his interests and we can help you plan, to cope with early closures (yes, off-season many sites & museums close at 3pm -- so teens have to get used to getting up like grownups & starting their day by 9 am). IF that's not your guy, maybe pick another country... because you're right, the airfare these days is quite something! Best wishes for your decision.

A lot will depend on where you want to go. The tourist season in places like Crete starts at the beginning of April and things will be opening up then so you’re just a tad early and flight options will be limited.

If you’re going to Athens or Thessaloniki then obviously everything will be open as these are big cities. I would have though April would be a perfect time to visit before the summer heat.

We were in Crete this year in April and everything was open with the exception of the Samaria Gorge (due to rainfall). We had a great trip. We have also been to Greece in late October and in the middle of July. To be honest, for what you need and want to see, this timeframe seems pretty perfect. Athens is a year round city.

Thanks all! Early April it is. In response to Janet-this is our guy as he picked Greece bc seeing the ancient history he has been studying is what what he wanted. Getting up early is not a problem as he runs cross country and they always run early and he is an Eagle Scout. We are coming from Maryland. He is looking into Athens, Delhi, & Olympia.

You won’t have any issues visiting those places. It’s the islands and tourist resorts that shut up for winter. Obviously, the whole of Greece does not close! Only the places that rely on sun and sea holidaymakers.

Just because you travel off season doesn't mean Greece is shut down.

A lot of the tourist infrastructure is not as available but they'll always be services open for locals and you should find enough shops, markets and tavernas open that may offer a more Greek experience than tourist experience.

Most archeological/historic sites will be open but possibly at reduced hours

I find travel off season more rewarding, not as hot as summer, less tourists and lower prices for accommodations.

I would not hesitate going at that time of year although my normal time is late Sept/early Oct.

Excellent! Just what I hoped you'd say. It looks as if you'll do well to rent a car. Based on my experience both traveling solo, and taking newcomer companions along to historic/ancient sites, here are some thoughts -- about time-efficient itinerary (it could be better if you'd say where from.. with short stay, every hour matters):

SEQUENCE - Consider doing Athens last... from experience, I can say that the world-famous Landmarks, and the museums, mean so much more when you've been in Greece a little while, soaked up the scenery, the ruins, etc. Also - every American arrives tired, not ready for immediate rush to Acropolis.

CHOICES - Olympia is Wonderful, but it's waaay the other side of Peloponnese, takes forever to get there. Here's a super map of Peloponnese - https://tinyurl.com/zekuft9 (click & it gets Huuuge; navigate with side-slides). It shows the best intercity highway route direct from Airport or City to the Peloponnese and The HEART of antiquity, the Argolid - with its Treasure Trove: Corinth - Nemea - Mycenae - TIryns - Epidaurus. The ideal place to stay -- THE most beautiful Old Town in All of Greece .. NAFPLIO. If u don't want to spend nearly a day getting to Olympia & another getting back -- he might consider the "sacred Games Runner-up" -- NEMEA, which is right off the highway about 15 miles past Corinth. It's a true Gem... discovered, authentically excavated, and now Hosts the "Revived Nemean Games" every 4 yrs, - https://nemeangames.org - attracts thousands of competitors (in authentic Greek garb) from around world. As a runner, he can stand on starting-stones 2500 yrs old.

ITINERARY OPTIONS - START - If u are from East Coast & get a nonstop o'nite, you could arrive ATH 10 or 11 AM. Up to you whether u feel up to driving to Delphi ... it's about a 3-hour drive, and Winter hours, the site/museum both close at 3 pm. You might decide to have coffee & lunch share driving, and get there late afternoon, and enjoy sunset from Mountains, dinner & early night. Then you can enjoy site & museum 8 - 12 next day & move on...

ITINERARY - NEXt OPTION -- If Olympia is a MUST, you'd need to drive over the "Rio" Bridge near PArga, and around West Rim of Peloponnese.. not bad -- but THEN you'd have to circle almost entire Peninsula to get to the Famous Argolid ruins -- and NOT on big highways... Remember, aside from the major intercity highways, your driving speed can be closer to 35-40 than 50-60mph.

ITINERARY - OPTION #2 (subsituting Nemea) - faster/good roads - involve going back down mountain to Elefsina Junction (see Map) and take the biggie highway aross Corinth. Again, need to plan for 3pm closures... perhaps you'd go straight to NAFPLIO, and do Nemea/Mycenae as day-trip. Tiryns is just outside of NAfplio, right by the road, nobody there, great find. Don't forget a day to explore all the Wonders of Nafplio itself & its small superb museum (has the only iliad-era armour in entire world). As return route to Athens, my favorite thing is NOT to backtrack but instead. after breakfast, drive EAST across the Peoponnese "thumb" to Ancient Epidaurus. Enroute, keep eyes peeled on L Side for Oldest Bridge in Western World -- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arkadiko_Bridge -- Bronze Age; great phot op! After EPIDAURUS, one can drive up the shoreline to Isthmia, and hop off for 30 mins, just to stand on Old Bridge & photo the Corinth Canal -- SO Deep! SO Skinny. Final Tip -- on Biggie road back, Turn NORTH at Elefsina to return car @ airport, avoid hassle of Athens traffic.

ATHENS -- SIte/Museum Hours not as long as summer, but better than elsewhere -- Nat. Arch Mus til 5 pm, 1 nite til 8 pm. I like staying on S. Side of Acropolis, close to landmarks, many no-cars streets, quieiter, greener.

HOtel Recommends: Delphi - Hotel PAN (downhill side) Nafplio - HOtel Agamemnon

Our Greek friends convinced us that Olympia is a must see and we were so glad we visited this incredible site! We also stayed in beautiful Napflion, and then Sparta , to visit Mystras. Delphi is a major must see too. All very highly recommended!

The weather will be cold, cloudy and windy, maybe rain as well.

Springtime is a great time to visit Greece. The flowers will be blooming.