Cheap flights to Greece

Greece Travel Guide

Heraklion, an ancient city once thought to be the home of the legendary Minotaur, now stands an incredible urban fortress, offering visitors a unique experience steeped in myth and history. The largest city on the island of Crete, Heraklion is a perfect blend of ancient culture and contemporary city life. Hidden beneath its tough cosmopolitan exterior lies a selection of hidden gems, including excellent architecture, delicious culinary delights and some of the most famous sites in antiquity.

In just a day, you can stroll through the old city towards the Venetian Koules Fortress, a formidable structure overlooking a beautiful harbor, before lunching at a seafront restaurant to sample some of the region’s local cuisine. The Historical Museum of Crete, and the nearby Archaeological Museum, are also just a short walk along the coast offering visitors a once in a lifetime glimpse at a wonderful collection of Crete’s historical treasures. If it’s ancient life you seek, take a quick drive to one of the most important archaeological sites in the world, the Palace of Knossos.

As night falls around Lions Square, home to the famous Morosini Fountain, you’ll enter a central hub for night-time activity. The fountain leads to a street full of picturesque gift shops, markets and boutiques, perfect for spending an afternoon browsing in before heading to the surrounding bars and cafes for a relaxing evening under the stars.

What’s the weather like in Greece?

The Peloponnese has a Mediterranean climate. Highs are usually between 75 and 85 degrees from May through October, and 59 to 68 degrees from November through April. June to September is the warmest period – usually between 82 and 88  – while the air is cooler and rain is typical from December through March.

Which airlines fly to Greece?

There is a nice variety of airlines from which to choose for your trip to Greece, but please be sure to check with your carrier for details regarding your layover cities, if applicable, and actual travel times.

• New York City: 20 carriers fly from NYC to Athens including Delta, Emirates, Lufthansa, British Airways and Air India
• Atlanta: Delta, Air France, Lufthansa, British Airways and Air France
• Chicago: Air Canada, Air France, SAS, British Airways and Lufthansa
• Phoenix: American, Lufthansa, Aegean, United, Delta, Air France and Emirates
• San Francisco: Air France, SAS, United, British Airways and Lufthansa
• Paris: Air France, Aegean and Transavia
• London: Ryanair, Aegean, British Airways and EasyJet
• Rio de Janeiro: Alitalia, British Airways, Air France, TAP Portugal, Aegean and Lufthansa

What should you pack for a flight to Greece?

The best tip for traveling anywhere in Greece is to travel light and keep it simple. Clothing styles in Greece are very casual, making every excursion a comfortable experience if you follow some simple suggestions.

Pack for the weather: The summer months from June through September are extraordinarily hot and dry so sunglasses, sunscreen and a hat are a necessity. Athens receives the most rain from November through February and it is often colder and windier than you expect, so pack a light sweater, raincoat or folding umbrella when you travel during this time.

Shoes: The roads away from the main towns in Greece, whether on the mainland or one of the many islands, are often rough and stony, so make sure your footwear is supportive and covers your feet such as a closed flat for women or topsiders for men. High heels are generally not ideal for sightseeing, but in many of the historic sites, such as the Acropolis, this type of shoe is banned to ensure that the ancient monuments are not damaged.

Monastery excursions: For both men and women, it is necessary that your legs and shoulders be covered, so plan accordingly.

Clothing: Other than trips to a monastery, your clothing options may include shorts, jeans, capris, sundresses, T-shirts, polos and a lightweight jacket.

Backpacks or carry-all: Bring a lightweight bag to store your essentials when sightseeing. An ideal bag has a place to secure a water bottle, a phone bungee to protect against loss, theft and damage, and a travel adapter plug if your devices are not designed for European voltage (230V).

Getting to and around Greece

Between state international, domestic and municipal airfields there are 44 airports in Greece. Travelers taking trips to Greece can get to the islands easily or from the islands back to Athens. The domestic airlines offering flights include Olympic Airlines, Sky Express and Aegean Airlines.

The rail network covers much of the mainland and links Greece with Central Europe and Turkey. There are express, regular and high-speed train services running daily. Hellenic Railways Organization runs the rails.

There are intercity coach services on the mainland, but on the islands buses are the best way of getting about. Even the tiniest towns are linked to the bus network. KTEL runs the inter-urban busses throughout Greece.

Renting cars and mopeds is easy and relatively inexpensive.

Off the mainland, the islands are all well-connected by hydrofoils, ferries and passenger boats.

What are some things to do in Greece?

The beautiful Mediterranean climate, sandy beaches and ancient archaeological sites make it difficult to choose which activities to pursue while visiting this amazing country. The mainland has monasteries at Meteora and the Acropolis Museum in Athens. In Thessaloniki, the second largest city after Athens, you’ll find Byzantine churches and a museum, and also several Roman monuments like the Triumphal Arch of Galerius.

The Delphi Archaeological Museum on the mainland displays many finds from the ancient ruins of numerous temples in the area, including the stadium where pilgrims came to worship Apollo, the god of light, prophecy, music and healing, and to consult the Oracle.

Many visitors catch a ferry from the Athens’ port of Piraeus to one of the many Greek islands. Santorini is a town on the west coast with the dramatic cliff-top towns of Fira and Oia, romantic destinations for honeymooners. Sunbathing on the black volcanic sand beaches is quite popular, especially after visiting the archaeological site of Akrotiri where volcanic lava buried the city more than 3,600 years ago.

Greece not only offers visitors an amazing variety of places to see and things to explore, extraordinary hotel accommodations make you feel welcome and right at home. You may choose from small, charming guesthouses, bed and breakfasts, villas and self-catering cottages as well as traditional resort-style hotels. (http://www.smallhotelsingreece.com/find-a-hotel/)

Tips for your stay in Greece

• The Greek Islands’ “big five” are Corfu, Crete, Kefalonia, Kosand Rhodes. To avoid the crowds on Corfu, head north to Kassiopi. On Crete, go towards the Elounda peninsula. On Kefalonia, Assos is quieter than Fiskardo. For a quieter Kos, forget Kardamena and head to Kamari in the west or Tingaki in the north. On Rhodes, forget Faliraki and stay in Rhodes Town where is plenty to see and do. The Old Town is the oldest inhabited medieval town in Europe. It’s Unesco’s top Greek World Heritage site. There are charming medieval buildings, mosques, Byzantine and Gothic churches amid the shops and restaurants.
• Kos Townhas plenty of attractions. There are ruins of Roman baths and an amphitheatre. The 15th-century castle – the Castle of Neratzia or Castle of the Knights of St John – still stands by the harbour. Picnic near there by day and enjoy the sight of it lit up at night.
• Greece is often overlooked as an ecotourism destination but its landscape is diverse – indented coasts, rocky massifs, gorges, caves, lakes and rivers. There are unique marine parks near the islands of Alonissos and Zakynthos, which give shelter to two protected species, the Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus-Monachus) and the Mediterranean green loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta).
• Epidaurusis one of Greece’s most beautiful archaeological sites. The ancient Greeks visited the sanctuary of Asclepios to pay tribute to their gods and to ask for cures. There is a 3rd century theatre which retains its original, circular Orchestra. The annual Epidaurus Festival attracts visitors from around the world.
• Mycenaeis the home of Agememnon, the ancient king, who commanded the Greeks during the Trojan war. The ruins of the ancient city of Mycenae are in the northeastern Peloponnesus. They were considered a myth until Heinrich Schliemann unearthed six tombs with 16 skeletons covered in gold and jewels inside the walls of the citadel. Agamemnon’s mask is one of the most famous artifacts unearthed there. It is on display at the National Archaeological Museum in Athens