Greek weather at Easter

April is the transition month in the islands both for weather and tourism. There's no way to know what the weather will be like. During April hotels, shops and restaurants are in the process of preparing to open. Some will be open before Easter weekend and most will open for that weekend since it's a major Greek holiday.

Check out some hotel websites for SanTorini. They will list the dates they are open. Expect it to be cold the first of April on the islands.

Easter 2010 is early; April 4. This is for both the western and the eastern Orthodox calendar. It is very unusual that they should both fall on the same time.

Normally Athens will be chilly at this time but open for business excepting for the Greek holidays when many of the Greeks themselves take family vacation. This can lead to VERY crowded highways around Athens. We have seen traffic tied up for miles.

The ferries will also likely be very crowded because many Greeks have family in the islands and they retreat there for the Orthodox holidays. If you do travel at this time, be sure to reserve ferry space or flights far in advance.

Santorini weather will be a little warmer than Athens but the hotels and restaurants will just starting to open, hire staff, etc. With this early date, many will probably not open until late in April.

I would suggest you contact a travel agency in Athens such as Fantasy Travel or Dolphin-Hellas to see if the info I've provided is correct. If it is, be sure to reserve way ahead.

I hope I haven't discouraged you. We have been in the Islands during the Orthodox celebration. It is very interesting - a family religious event, it is just that you must take it into consideration as you plan. We had a wonderful trip to Greece and hope that you do too.

Here is a link to a website with a list of hotels that are open all year:

http://www.santonet.gr/hotels/allyear.htm