Exploring the Beautiful islands of Greece

By Oscar Davis

The Greek islands are one of the most popular and beautiful holiday destinations in the world, no one who has been there would dispute this.

Islands such as Santorini, Mykonos, Crete, and Corfu are visited by millions of people from all over the world each year, and their unique character, gorgeous beaches and beautiful culture and traditions mean that no two islands are alike.

Greece All-Year-Round

Though Greece is an all-year-round destination for holidays and travel, the islands are more for the summer season, when there are frequent ferry routes and flights connecting them with the mainland and further afield.

That’s not to say that you can’t enjoy them off-season, but you’ll find that a lot of shops and restaurants are closed. Still, that’s a small price to pay for getting to experience an island such as Santorini without tourists on every corner you turn.

Best time to travel to the Greek islands

The season for most Greek islands is usually from May through to October. Some of the larger or more famous islands such as Crete or Rhodes have slightly longer, if not year-round tourism, but for most, it’s the 6-month period with the hot summer months in the middle.

The best time to visit the islands depends on what you are planning on doing. If you enjoy walking about and exploring the places of interest and archaeological sites, then May, September, or October will be the best months.

Not only will they not be as busy as they are during July and August, you’d also avoid the peak summer heat, where temperatures will be in the high 30’s on a daily basis, and much too hot to really be walking around looking at the ancient ruins.

However, if you simply want to relax on a beach or soak up the sunshine, then July and August will be the hottest in terms of the weather.

However, August is the busiest month for the islands as it’s when most Greeks take their summer holidays, and many of the more popular islands can become very crowded and noisy.

Working in the Greek islands

If you are planning on spending the season on an island and are looking for work, there may be some opportunities for you in the travel and tourism sector. Many businesses on the Greek islands take on seasonal employees during the summer months. This can be working in a hotel, restaurant, tour operator or even in a small local shop selling souvenirs.

If you can speak more than one language and can understand a little Greek, then you could find a selection of opportunities for work. Remember though, that the wages you’ll be paid won’t be the highest you’ll ever earn. In some cases, it isn’t even guaranteed that you’ll work through the whole season.

Pay will most likely be on an hourly rate, and most employers will work out the rate they are prepared to pay using something such as a salary to hourly calculator, which can better help them find a reasonable hourly rate, based on the typical salary of an employee.

If the tourist season is affected and sees a drop in the number of visitors, such as during the summer of 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, then it’s more than likely that you’ll find yourself out of work pretty quickly. After all, if there are no tourists, then many businesses will be better off shutting for the summer, rather than remain open and have to pay expenses including the wages of their employees.

Traveling around the Greek Islands

Island hopping is something that many people experience when traveling in Greece.

After all, with so many beautiful islands around, it seems a shame to limit yourself to only one, and with daily ferry connections between them, you really have no excuse not to venture out and explore as many as you can.

Book your ferry here

There are several groups of islands such as the Cyclades, Dodecanese and North Aegean islands that are relatively close to each other, and with frequent ferry connections.

Hopping from one island to another is easy enough to do and even if it’s something you have decided to do at the last minute with very little planning, you’ll usually have no problem finding a bed for the night.

However, as mentioned earlier, August is the busiest month for the islands, so it’s probably a better idea to book your accommodation in advance if traveling around the islands.

You should also do a little research and find out what islands are close to each other, and which are not.

For example, if you find yourself on one of the Cyclades islands such as Mykonos or Santorini, then it’s not possible to hop over to one of the Ionian islands such as Corfu or Zakynthos, as they are on the other side of Greece, with no ferry connections between them.

Don’t forget about the mainland

Though most people think of the Greek islands as being the best destinations for holidays in Greece, there are so many other wonderful parts of the mainland that are perfect for visiting any time of the year.

The whole country is one that is blessed with a stunning coastline, beautiful beaches and crystal clear waters, and history and culture found on every corner.

From the famous Acropolis and Parthenon in the capital city of Athens to the ancient Olympic stadium n Olympia in the Peloponnese, which was the birthplace of the Olympic Games, Greece has so much to offer travelers.

Some mainland destinations are very close to some of the islands, so you could actually combine the both during your time in Greece. For example, the Saronic Gulf islands of Aegina, Poros and Hydra are between 60 and 90 minutes away by ferry. You could spend a couple of days in Athens exploring the city and then head off to one of the nearby islands for a few days relaxing on the beach.

The region of Magnesia in Central Greece is also connected with the famous Sporades islands of Skiathos, Skopelos and Alonissos, and again, a holiday here can combine the beautiful islands as well as the mainland.

Oscar Davis is a freelance writer who travels often to Greece and lives in Leeds, England.