Greece trip -- advanced (winter) filter
December 18, 2022 3:21 PM Subscribe
I will be in Greece in February and March for an event. I'm looking for a lovely spot (an island?) outside of Athens to relax for a few days afterwards. Where can I go that's a bit special and still has things to do in the off season and isn't too, too cold? (I know it will not be warm.)
I am not expecting to swim or do anything beachy, and I am not expecting a panoply of tourist delights, but I would like to relax and do a bit of remote work in a nice environment, eat at local restaurants (which I think rules out the super-remote islands that really shut down in the off season), and possibly see a cultural site or two. I do know the weather will be chilly. I'm wondering if Crete or Rhodes would do the trick? Thanks for any advice!
I am not expecting to swim or do anything beachy, and I am not expecting a panoply of tourist delights, but I would like to relax and do a bit of remote work in a nice environment, eat at local restaurants (which I think rules out the super-remote islands that really shut down in the off season), and possibly see a cultural site or two. I do know the weather will be chilly. I'm wondering if Crete or Rhodes would do the trick? Thanks for any advice!
I was looking at this video of "warm places in Europe for winter snowbirds" - in Greece, it mentions Rhodes but also Crete - and Crete would be my suggestion. Crete is large enough to not just be closed down summer tourist island - there are flights, hotels, etc year round.It is far enough south to be not so cold either (big exception: the mountains).
If you wanted somewhere on the mainland: I'd recommend Thessaloniki - great food and atmosphere - very much a year round place.
posted by rongorongo at 1:27 AM on December 19, 2022
If you wanted somewhere on the mainland: I'd recommend Thessaloniki - great food and atmosphere - very much a year round place.
posted by rongorongo at 1:27 AM on December 19, 2022
Best answer: I would also recommend Crete, and for warmth, south and east. But in the south there are a lot of very small tourist beaches which may not be 'open'. The town of Ierapetra is the sunniest in Europe (they say), though not especially picturesque (but it is a real town and there will be some good food, and it is inexpensive). Agios Nikolaos is very picturesque at the waterfront, and Sitia is a bit further. Chania and Rethymnon are very nice too (Chania is bigger and the leading cultural/food city of Crete).
Thessaloniki ... is dense and rather cold. Easier to get to (though not close to Athens) but it would not be a top choice in February.
If it needs to be driving distance from Athens, there are a number of spots in the Peloponnese that will be open, such as Nafplio (pretty touristic, but also just pretty) and Kalamata (reachable by bus in 3 hours), which is not very touristic, but very pleasant affordable, with good food.
If you want something smaller / with more driving / more isolated, I would just start driving down the first or second finger of the Peloponnese. Towns like Areopoli, Kardamili, Leonidio, etc. will be open but without many tourists.
Feel free to send a private message.
posted by melamakarona at 9:57 AM on December 19, 2022 [3 favorites]
Thessaloniki ... is dense and rather cold. Easier to get to (though not close to Athens) but it would not be a top choice in February.
If it needs to be driving distance from Athens, there are a number of spots in the Peloponnese that will be open, such as Nafplio (pretty touristic, but also just pretty) and Kalamata (reachable by bus in 3 hours), which is not very touristic, but very pleasant affordable, with good food.
If you want something smaller / with more driving / more isolated, I would just start driving down the first or second finger of the Peloponnese. Towns like Areopoli, Kardamili, Leonidio, etc. will be open but without many tourists.
Feel free to send a private message.
posted by melamakarona at 9:57 AM on December 19, 2022 [3 favorites]
Best answer: Spetses & Hydra are two islands on the same hydrofoil run about 2hrs SW of Piraeus. If you get bored in one you can move on to the other. They both have bans on private cars, so if you like horses then trekking etc are possible. Spetses is the setting for The Magus [1965] by John Fowles if that is part of your canon. And Leonard Cohen had a home on Hydra. A friend of mine was such a total Cohen groupie that he elected to get married on Hydra . . . and L.C. turned up to the wedding when invited - swoon!
Heck, there's always Ithaka.
posted by BobTheScientist at 2:19 PM on December 19, 2022 [1 favorite]
Heck, there's always Ithaka.
posted by BobTheScientist at 2:19 PM on December 19, 2022 [1 favorite]
Best answer: When you posted this, I didn't reply, because I feel my love of Aegina is a bit lazy. You know, I never get further away from Athens even though I theoretically want to explore all of Greece. But then today I saw this documentary about Greece and thought I would post it here. First of all because it presents Aegina as a legit destination, but also because it inspired me to get along with my dream of going further.
(And, hey Bob, I've been to Ithaka because of the poem. It's not like I only ever go to Aegina. But as the poem says, it's all about the journey).
posted by mumimor at 10:22 AM on January 2, 2023
(And, hey Bob, I've been to Ithaka because of the poem. It's not like I only ever go to Aegina. But as the poem says, it's all about the journey).
posted by mumimor at 10:22 AM on January 2, 2023
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