There are many perks to visiting any place during the off-season. And for Greece, this means winter. Or better said, the cold season, lasting from November to March. If you are also planning a trip and are looking for places to visit in Greece during the cold season, read on to find some great options to add to your itinerary!

Some of the reasons to visit Greece during winter include saving money on both accommodation and flights. I love to travel during the off-season because not only I save money but I also get to enjoy the country without too many other travelers doing the same thing.

>>check out my winter itinerary in Greece

With the cold season approaching fast, I wanted to get some more ideas on where to go to Greece. And who better to ask than fellow travel bloggers. Check out their favorite choice for a trip to Greece during the cold season.

Santorini by Tasha from Backpackers Wanderlust

>>book your accommodation in Fira (Santorini)

Santorini is no doubt one of the best places to visit in Greece during winter. This picturesque destination is a bucket list item for many travelers thanks to its beautiful white villages built on the side of the cliffs and the volcanic landscapes.

One main activity you should definitely try out is the 10km hike from Fira to Oia. Though, during the heat of a summers day, this can be incredibly challenging. Luckily, it is much more bearable in the cooler winter months. The views are equally as amazing and there is the added bonus of having fewer tourists to share the popular Instagram spots with.

Santorini is often infamous for its crowds, especially during the cruise ship season. In the summer the small island is overcrowded with people. Even if you want to enjoy a beautiful sunset in Oia you will need to take your seat at least 3 hours prior. In winter, the crowds are a lot smaller making the whole Santorini experience more bearable and allowing you to enjoy the charm of this picturesque island.

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Mykonos by Claudia from My Adventures Across the World

>>book your accommodation in Mykonos City

Mykonos is a lovely place to visit during any season, including in the winter. Though its most popular attractions are the gorgeous beaches and most people who visit do so during the summer holidays to appreciate the good weather and the nightlife, this lovely island of the Cyclades is a great place to spend a few days exploring even offseason, as it has a lot more to offer than just beaches. The island has a great history and some very interesting traditions, and even in winter months, it is pleasant to walk around its narrow cobbled alleys to admire the beautiful whitewashed houses and the chapels with the sea-blue doors. The architecture on the island has remained untouched, thanks to the building regulations which are very strict.

Another unmissable thing to do in Mykonos that can be enjoyed at any time of the year is visiting and photographing the windmills that are scattered around the island. It is also possible to head to Delos to visit the incredible archeological site. And last, but definitely not least, even during the winter, it is possible to enjoy the delicious food that can be found on the island.

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Delphi by Sam

Delphi , nearly 200km north-west of Athens, is perched on the side of a mountain and looks out over the Gulf of Corinth. Historically, it is one of the most important places in the world. Called the belly button of the universe by the ancients, all Greeks and people from the east went there to consult the oracle about matters big and small. This means that today we have a huge concentration of ruins and artifacts there – which of course also means that over two million visitors each year want to see them. In winter: the busses are less crowded, the hostels cheaper, and the climb more relaxing. Even though my day in Delphi was one of the only two rainy days out of my ten-day trip in December – it was worth the damp. Not only did I have the site and museum almost to myself, but the view from the temple of Apollo was beyond breath-taking. So if you are a fan of quiet places and dramatic landscapes – go to Delphi in winter, just bring an umbrella.

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Athens by Justin & Tracy from A Couple for the Road

>>book your accommodation in Athens

For many, visiting Greece in the winter runs concurrently with thoughts of islands and beach-side luxury, but visiting legendary Athens during the colder months might be the best time to do so!

Where many of the Greek Isles partially close down the winter, with harbor-side shops and restaurants shutting down for the season, Athens stays alive. In fact, you can do more in less time by visiting Athens in the winter versus one of the more popular times of the year, or even in “shoulder” season. Queues to most attractions are tremendously diminished, and crowds are sparse in places like the Acropolis Museum and the Acropolis, itself. You can spend much more time at these must-see locations, get better photos, and really take in the monumental amount of history present throughout the city.

In addition, Monastiraki Market (one of the best things to see in the city) goes from a shoulder to shoulder sweat-fest during the summer to a cool, breezy walk during winter months. Keep in mind, Athens’ climate is incredibly temperate during the winter. Therefore, where much of Europe is generally cold to visit, Athens is actually at its most walkable, most beautiful, least crowded, and most enjoyable. In fact, areas in the perimeter of the city such as Panathenaic Stadium and Syntagma Square have virtually no tourists, makes these must-see sights and attractions easy to get to, see, and enjoy.

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Corfu by Amber from The Great Ambini

>>book your accommodation in Corfu Town

The second-largest of the Ionian islands, Corfu sits in the Ionian Sea looking out towards Albania. It has a long history, where it lived under Venetian rule, British and French rule which gives it a rich culture and brilliant pastel-colored architecture.

A great mix of mountains and beaches, winter is the best time to hike the beautiful hills in fresher temperatures and explore the mountaintop villages. The most exciting hike to do in Corfu is Mount Pantokrator, where the route starts at the beach and ends at the 906m summit. The climate in the winter in Corfu is much more manageable for outdoor hikes and sightseeing, with average temperatures of 15C.

Winter is also a great time to explore Corfu old town which is home to Venetian style architecture, three large fortress’ and many little passageways, which during the summer and very crowded. If you visit in the winter, these passages and Venetian alleyways are much easier to navigate and explore at your own pace.

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Peloponnese Peninsula by Jordan Campbell from Global Debauchery

>>book your accommodation in Olympia

Most vacationers travel to Greece for the gorgeous island scenery and a jaunt through ancient Athens. While no one should pass up an opportunity to experience either, you’re missing out if you don’t take the time to tour the Peloponnese peninsula. This region is well-known for its historical significance and includes ancient Olympia, ancient Mycenae, Corinth, Tripoli, and Sparta. It’s the smaller, lesser-known mountain villages of the area, however, that make for a particularly special and unique Greek getaway.

Visit the quaint Dimitsana, nestled comfortably in the mountains and overlooking the Lousios Gorge. Spend a day strolling the cobbled streets and visiting picturesque churches, or white water rafting the river below. Take a short drive to the Water Power Museum or tour the Emialon Monastery for great photo opps and breathtaking views.

Stemnitsa is an equally beautiful village in the Peloponnese with just a little more activity than its calmer neighbor, Dimitsana. The town square is lively and filled with small cafes and taverns. Stop by a bakery for a taste of the village’s famous almond sweets. From Stemnitsa, you can also visit the Prodromou Monastery, perched precariously in the side of a mountain, or visit the Lousios River Kokkoris Bridge.

Be sure to take a couple of days away from Athens and the islands to check out these off-the-beaten-path treasures!

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Meteora from Naddya from NTripping

>>book your accommodation in Kalampaka

Although winter might be windy and wet at the Meteora Monasteries, you’ll have the advantage of avoiding the unbearable summer heat and the hordes of tourists during the other seasons.

The monastery complex is the second largest in Greece after the legendary Mount Athos. The name roughly translates to “levitating between Heaven and Earth”.

The six functioning Meteora Monasteries are a UNESCO World Heritage site and are open to visitors. You can spot ruins of the other 18 deserted monasteries and remains of the monks’ rock-hewn dwellings on several cliffs.

Hermit monks first inhabited Meteora. In the 11th century, they came from Mount Athos to seek peace and solitude. They lived in caverns and rock-hewn dwellings in the cliffs. The earliest monasteries were built in the 14th century. By the end of the 16th century, the Meteora Monasteries were 24. Currently, the population of the monasteries is 56, 15 monks and 41 nuns.

In the 1920s, the government constructed staircases, bridges, paved paths, and tunnels, making the remaining monasteries accessible to the public.

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Thessaloniki by Wendy from The Nomadic Vegan

>>book your accommodation in Thessaloniki

Thessaloniki is the second-largest city in Greece, but it receives far fewer visitors than Athens, the capital. Unlike many of the more popular Greek destinations, Thessaloniki is a city filled with Greeks, not with tourists. After spending time in some of the heavily touristed islands like Santorini and Mykonos, I found the authenticity of Thessaloniki quite refreshing.

Here, I felt like I was finally seeing the real Greece. It was in Thessaloniki that I first had the experience of ordering from a restaurant menu written only in Greek. While that might sound intimidating, the restaurant staff were incredibly helpful, and they helped me choose among the many vegan dishes that are part of traditional Greek cuisine.

Once a city of great importance in the Byzantine Empire, Thessaloniki is now mostly a modern city but is still dotted with vestiges of its ancient past. Its two most important monuments are the Arch of Galerius and the Rotunda, both of which were part of an immense palace built by the Roman Emperor Galerius in the 4th century AD.

The average temperatures stay well above freezing even in the dead of winter, making Thessaloniki a destination that can be enjoyed year-round.

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