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This summer has been a hot, sweaty and busy one for Greece.
The locals on the island of Santorini do called for a tourist hat To control the crowds, forest fires have broken out on the island of Rhodes, and despite reduced visitor numbers to the Acropolis, Athens remains as overcrowded as ever.
But it’s not all bad news!
Autumn is just around the corner and there has never been a better time to visit the birthplace of democracy, the Olympic Games and more than 2,000 breathtakingly beautiful islands.
Here’s how American travelers can beat the summer crowds:
Direct flights to Greece from 5 US cities
It doesn’t matter where you want to go in Greece. The mainland, the islands, or a combination of both.
As an American traveler, you will probably land in Athens first!
This is because Athens is the only direct US-Greece destination still flying this fall.
But the good news is that you can fly non-stop to Athens from 5 different US destinations. They are New York, Chicago, Washington, Boston and Atlanta.
Even better news: Fall flights tend to be cheaper than during the height of summer.
Watching Google flights data for a 1 week stay in October from October 16 to 23, you can travel with Delta round trip from New York JFK for $709. This is for an economy class seat.
This is the cheapest flight available for October.
To fly from Chicago on American Airlines on the same dates, a round-trip flight would cost $1,494. To fly United Airlines from Washington would cost $1,382.
Another Delta flight, this time from Boston to Athens, would cost $1,274 round-trip. Finally, a direct flight from Atlanta on Delta would cost $1,265.
It’s worth noting that if you’re not keen on flying non-stop, there are cheaper flight options available, and you can get them at a wider range of airports. (When I fly long distances, I rarely fly direct because I just want to save too much money!)
Why visit Greece in autumn?
There are two obvious reasons why Greece is much more pleasant in autumn than in summer: the weather and the crowds.
Greece is a country famous for its culture and its archaeological sites.
But who wants to walk around a dusty old place when it’s 40 degrees Celsius outside and there’s no shade to be found?
Greece used to be a seasonal destination, with hotels and restaurants closing their doors at the end of the summer season.
But in recent years, the holiday season has been extended until the end of November, and travelers have embraced the change.
Precisely because the weather is better to explore the best places outside the summer months.
My favorite Greek island is Kos, and this is a great example of a Greek island extending its holiday season.
Kos enjoys mild weather in winter and there are plenty of sights to enjoy when you can’t relax on the sandy beaches of the Mediterranean.
You can see the Plane Tree of Hippocrates, or explore Kos Castle (a medieval castle known as the Castle of the Knights). Entrance to the fortress is free, but you can also pay 3 euros to explore the adjacent archaeological museum.
Go beyond Kos Town and you can explore the Asclepieon, named after Asclepius, considered the protector of health and medicine.
This healing center was built in honor of Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine.
The The entrance fee to the Asclepieon is 12 euros ($13) but if you visit the site between November and March this will be reduced to 6 euros ($6.50).
I can tell you firsthand that this fascinating place is much more enjoyable to explore in winter than in the sweltering hot summer sun!
Visiting Athens in autumn
If you’re flying into Athens, you might be tempted to just stay in the Greek capital for the duration of your trip. Autumn is by far the best time of year to explore Athens and all the city has to offer.
And the lower number of visitors also means you can enjoy the locations in relative comfort.
If you visit Athens in the fall, it is still warm enough to spend time on the beach, but also the best weather to explore the archaeological sites. The streets are quieter but still lively.
You also don’t have to worry about the visitor limit to enter the Acropolis: buying tickets is a piece of cake in the low season! One-time tickets for the Acropolis cost 20 euros ($22), and will be reduced to 10 euros ($11) from November 1st until March 30e.
Follow your visit with a mezze lunch on a terrace where you can people watch, soak up the atmosphere and watch the world go by.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author, and not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included in the post.
