Best time to visit Athens

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Athens

Best time of year to visit Athens

Choose March to May and September to November as the best time to visit Athens. These months guarantee warm sunny days and thinner tourist crowds with lower airfare and hotel prices. Springtime in Athens brings Easter celebrations and wild poppies at the Acropolis, and autumn harvests figs and grapes and celebrates the Day of Ohi. If you don't mind dealing with heat and hordes of tourists, a period between June and August has special stuff to offer: exquisite beaches along with gastronomical explosion with the taste of moussaka, courgette balls, and fresh Horiatiki salad. December being the wettest and gloomiest month, the umbrella should be an integral part of your winter trip. Enjoy hiking as the landscape gets greener from December to February.

13 THINGS TO DO IN ATHENS (MAY 02 - MAY 11)

Holy Week & Orthodox Easter

Holy Week & Orthodox Easter

April 28–May 5, 2024 • event

Festive traditions feature Lent mourning ceremonies, night candle lighting, and colored egg-cracking

Mediterranean Cruises

Mediterranean Cruises

April–October • activity

Enjoy an award-winning vacation, highlighting picture-perfect coasts, ancient history, and fine cuisine

Greek Island Cruises

Greek Island Cruises

April–October • activity

Discover the best isles of the Eastern Mediterranean and historic port cities of Turkey

Artisan Honey and Baklava

Artisan Honey and Baklava

March–November • food

This golden sweet can be eaten with Greek yoghurt​, or enjoyed in traditional baklava

Wild Poppies at the Acropolis

Wild Poppies at the Acropolis

May–June • nature

Bright splashes of red enlivens the ancient stone ruins of the Athenian Acropolis

Summer Coffee (Frappe)

Summer Coffee (Frappe)

May–September • food

Solving the biggest summer struggle of coffee lovers since 1957

Beach Season

Beach Season

May–October • activity

Greek seaside tavernas welcome tourists year round, but during the high season people go wild for the beach

Meteora

Meteora

May 1–June 30 • activity

Meteora is a stunning rock formation with 24 monasteries in total, of which six still remain active

Courgette Balls or Kolokythokeftedes

Courgette Balls or Kolokythokeftedes

April–October • food

Lightly fried spicy zucchini patties served with traditional tzatziki sauce is a perfect way to start any meal

Fruit Season

Fruit Season

May–October • food

Hot greek summers would be incomplete without a juicy fruit plate

Diving

Diving

May–June | September • activity

Explore ancient submerged treasures while diving in Greece

Birdwatching

Birdwatching

April–May | September–October • activity

Herons, egrets, gulls, warblers, ducks, grebes, owls and​ other feathery fellows will delight your eyes and ears

Dolmades

Dolmades

May–June • food

This authentic Greek dish of ancient origin has many different regional varieties, though none without stuffed grape leaves

22 THINGS TO DO OUT OF SELECTED DATE RANGE

August Full Moon Festival

August Full Moon Festival

overAugust 15, 2019 • event

Athens' monuments bathed in moonlight offer free admission​ only once a year—an occasion not to be missed

Apokries or Carnival

Apokries or Carnival

out of rangeFebruary 25–March 17, 2024 • event

Before the long-lasting fast, Greeks feast on meat at a huge party that stretches over three weeks

Olives and Olive Oil

Olives and Olive Oil

out of rangeOctober–March • food

Raw Greek olives are a great seasonal delicacy and don't forget virgin olive oil too!

Spartathlon

Spartathlon

out of rangeSeptember 28, 2024 • event

One of the world's toughest races covers the distance from Athens to Sparta

Moussaka ​

Moussaka ​

out of rangeJune–September • food

Greece beats all of the Mediterranean with its layered variation of moussaka

Horiatiki Salata

Horiatiki Salata

out of rangeJune–August • food

No place on Earth can compete with an authentic Greek Salad in its birthplace

Athens Authentic Marathon

Athens Authentic Marathon

out of rangeNovember 12, 2023 • activity

This Greek marathon will make you travel back to glorious ancient times

New Year's Eve

New Year's Eve

out of rangeDecember 31 • event

The seventh largest city in the European Union, Athens, knows how to party

Athens Coffee Festival

Athens Coffee Festival

out of rangeSeptember 28-30, 2024 • event

Find out how the Greeks make such great coffee

Sea Urchins

Sea Urchins

out of rangeNovember–April • food

The creamy texture and pleasant flavours breakdown prejudices about seafood

Figs

Figs

out of rangemid-August–September • food

This ancient country still abounds with this ancient fruit

Hiking

Hiking

out of rangeDecember–March • activity

The rich architectural heritage and natural attractions of Athens are best explored on a leisurely hike

Rakomelo

Rakomelo

out of rangeDecember–February • food

A strong local spirit that warms up the heart and body

Day of Ohi (Oxi)

Day of Ohi (Oxi)

out of rangeOctober 28 • event

Flower garlands and placards all over the streets signify the anniversary of Greece's historic declaration "No!"

Wine Season

Wine Season

out of rangeSeptember–October • food

Top-notch new Greek wines should be tried first-hand

Kourampiedes (Kourabiethes)—Greek Christmas Butter Cookies

Kourampiedes (Kourabiethes)—Greek Christmas Butter Cookies

out of rangeearly December–early January • food

During Christmas vacation in Greece, try these delicious traditional butter cookies which look like small snowballs

Melomakarona—Greek Christmas Honey Cookies

Melomakarona—Greek Christmas Honey Cookies

out of rangeearly December–early January • food

Christmas in Greece won't be complete without these traditional festive sweets!

Squid

Squid

out of rangeDecember–February • food

Greek squid is splendid during the winter months and especially delicious when cooked with spinach, spices, and olive oil

Taramosalata or Fish Roe Dip

Taramosalata or Fish Roe Dip

out of rangeMarch | August | December • food

A palatable fish roe speciality​ is an excellent complement to a modest lean Lent meal

Greek Easter Food

Greek Easter Food

out of rangeApril 16, 2023 • food

Lent is over and Greeks finally feast on lamb delicacies like Magirista, Arni Pashaulino, and Tsoureki

Theophania or Epiphany

Theophania or Epiphany

out of rangeJanuary 6 • event

An inspiring tradition of throwing a cross into the water and diving after it highlights the celebration

Athens Flying Week

Athens Flying Week

out of rangeSeptember 14-15, 2024 • event

The biggest air show in the Balkans

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