Overall, chances are that the weather will be good if you choose to visit Greece from mid-May to mid-September. Due to this and the fact that ferry and hydrofoil service becomes erratic and then completely non-existent once the season is over, we only offer our packages from Greek Orthodox Easter through Mid September.

Everything is in full swing and transport is plentiful. Crowds and temperatures soar. This also applies to Easter. Summer is the most popular time for vacationers to visit Greece. If you arrive to Greece sometime in June, July, or August you are sure to experience hot weather and endless sunshine. The sea during this time is conducive to swimming and offers welcome relief from the ever-present sun. Once or twice during these months Greece experiences relentless heat waves when the temperatures climb in the into a 100 F. These heat waves typically last up to a week before they fall to the more typical 90`s F. The summer season in the Greek islands runs from May to October. Once the weather does settle - from late May to mid-September - it is almost guaranteed to be hot, bright and clear. Too hot sometimes, particularly on southern coasts of southern islands when tourist police can clear beaches at midday to prevent sunbathers getting grilled alive. Average sea level temperatures are 80° F in July. From late June to early August islands suffer from the brisk meltemi wind which, though it freshens the air, can make sunbathing on northern shores uncomfortable.

Temperatures are milder. Internal flights and ferries have reduced schedules. Few crowds. If you visit between mid-September until the end of November, you will experience much rain, and some cold days, interspersed with some very pleasant ones.

Many hotels, sights and restaurants shut, especially on islands. Ferry schedules are skeletal. Temperatures drop; Athens and Crete can see snow. From November until February you should prepare for cold conditions, and if you find yourself in the mountainous interior, pack for snow. After February and until May the weather is generally good, but cold and rain are not uncommon. In winter low-pressure systems move in from the Atlantic, bringing rain while cold winds blow in from the Balkans. The same low-pressure systems draw warmer winds from the south so there can be a marked difference in winter temperatures between north and south islands. The Ionian Islands and the western mountains get most of the rain, often three times that in the sheltered east.

The weather can be unpredictable out of season. If you are planning an early or late vacation think about the southerly islands such as Crete and Rhodes where the weather will generally be more settled.

The Greek islands enjoy a warm and sunny Mediterranean climate. Everywhere the summers are hot and dry with brilliant light and clear skies. Temperatures are in the 80s, tempered only by the northern meltemi winds which can blow fiercely for days at a time in August. Many people go in spring when the sun is more temperate and the wild flowers are in bloom. Winters are generally mild but islands can have snow and, when it does rain, it can come down in buckets.

The meltemi is a fierce wind that scours the islands throughout August. It results from high pressure over the Balkans and relatively low pressure over Turkey bringing strong, north east winds. It occurs mainly during the summer with July and August the worst affected months, but springs up occasionally in May and October. It usually starts in the early afternoon and can die out at sunset although, not uncommonly, it will last through the night and repeat for three to six, sometimes even ten, days. Northern islands are less affected than those in the south which can suffer from summer gales, particularly bad on north facing beaches. Ferry sailings and boat trips can be cancelled, sunbathing can be unpleasant and night sleep disturbed.

Ferry service and flights are cut back by late October, and manyhotels, restaurants, buses and attractions begin closing down for thewinter. Crete is fully open to guests year-round. Avoid major holidayswhen everything is closed, particularly several days around Easter andAug. 15th, 'The Day of the Panagia.'