Greece

May, June and September are sweet spots: warm seas beginning or lingering, and fewer crowds than peak summer. July and August are hottest and busiest on famous islands (Santorini, Mykonos); Athens can be oppressive at midday then. April and October are quieter, with cooler swimming. Winter is mild in Athens and the south but many island hotels and ferries scale back. Meltemi winds can buffet the Cyclades in summer—check ferry forecasts. Orthodox Easter dates differ from Western Easter and transform island life—beautiful, but book early. Local festivals and school holidays can shift crowds even inside a “good” month, so a quick check of dates for your year is worth it.

Athens for the Acropolis and a museum day, then ferries into the Cyclades (for example Naxos or Paros as a calmer base, with a day in Santorini if you want the caldera). Crete needs its own chunk of time. The mainland (Delphi, Meteora, Peloponnese) is excellent if you prefer fewer boat days. Don’t island-hop every night—two or three bases beat five rushed stops. Buy ferry tickets with slack for wind delays, and keep one buffer night before an international flight.

Golden hour on whitewashed lanes and caldera views is why people come; midday white glare is harsh—seek shade and side light. Athens’ Acropolis photographs well early or late. On boats, protect the lens from salt. Olive groves and ruins inland suit softer cloudy light. Monasteries and many churches have dress codes—pack a scarf or long sleeves if Meteora is on the list. Keep GPS on across ferries so each island stays distinct on your map.