Getting to know Greece

Ancient history and island time

Greece is two trips in one. On the mainland, the ancient world is everywhere: the Acropolis above Athens, the oracle at Delphi, the first Olympic stadium at Olympia and the cliff-top monasteries of Meteora. Out at sea are more than two hundred inhabited islands, each with its own character — from the famous Cyclades to lush, Venetian-influenced Corfu on the Ionian side.

Most visits begin in Athens for two or three nights before heading to the islands by ferry or short flight. Santorini and Mykonos are the headliners, but Naxos, Paros, Milos and Crete offer beautiful beaches, great food and a more relaxed pace. Many travelers combine a land stay with a Greek Isles cruise, which reaches several islands in a week.

Greek hospitality — philoxenia — is legendary. Meals are long and shared, dinner rarely starts before 9 p.m. in summer, and the season runs from Easter to October. Greek Orthodox Easter is the country's biggest celebration and a wonderful, if busy, time to visit.

Planning notes

Planning notes for Greece

• Ferries are weather-dependent. Summer meltemi winds can delay sailings; we build in buffer days before international flights home.
• Shoulder season shines. Late May, June and September offer warm seas with fewer crowds than July and August.
• Cruise or land — or both. A cruise covers many islands quickly; a land stay lets you settle in. Many travelers combine the two.
• Entry requirements. Greece is in the Schengen Area, and new entry-registration and ETIAS systems are being phased in — check current requirements; we confirm them for you.