Vacation Rentals in Greece

Situated in the eastern half of the Mediterranean Sea, Greece welcomes around 30 million visitors every year to its sun-baked beaches, ancient sites and atmospheric tavernas. Whether you want to laze around on Rhodes or be in the thick of urban Athens, getting to the country should be easy from anywhere in the USA.

The most popular entry point for international visitors is E. Venizelos Airport near the capital, Athens, which handles flights from New York, Philadelphia and Newark (although seasonal schedules may apply, so sometimes it will be necessary to fly via Paris or London). However, you can also catch connecting flights to Rhodes, Crete, Corfu and Kefalonia, to name just a few alternatives.

Navigating Greece can be complex if you intend to include the country’s islands in your itinerary. On land, highways connect all of the major cities, while cheap buses ply the same routes (and there are a few train connections too). If you’d like to island hop by boat, ferry ports include Piraeus, Patras and Paros, and schedules can be found online.

Find out about the birthplace of civilization by visiting the site of the Parthenon, the Oracle of Delphi, Corinth, Mycenae, Olympia and Sparta – as well as the spectacular monasteries at Mount Athos.

Greece mixes fins, sandy beaches with reliable sunshine almost every month of the year. Fly to islands like Mykonos of Corfu and enjoy idyllic beach vacations, with every amenity you could ask for.

Greek cuisine is another national highlight. Find a cosy taverna in a different scenic location every night and tuck into delicacies like souvlaki (lamb kebabs), stifado (a kind of vegetable and meat stew) and some of the freshest seafood anywhere in the world.

Greece is the kind of vacation destination that has a very pronounced tourist season, so if you want to avoid big crowds or the hassle of having to book every restaurant you visit, time your stay wisely. Peak season tends to fall in the European summer holidays, between June and August, when the temperatures hardly dip below 90 degrees.

For a more relaxed vibe and, consider touching down in spring or the fall. Spring’s probably the best time to go. The weather will be warm, there won’t be any rain, and the country’s meadows will be covered in vibrantly colored wildflowers – an incredible sight. However, there’s a catch. If you intend to island hop, go in the summer, as seasonal schedules can be thin on the ground outside high season.

Major festivals are well worth attending, but can also cause travel headaches. For example, being in Athens for Easter is great fun, but some services can become a little tougher to book. Another date to remember is the Feast of the Virgin (August 15), which turns almost every community into a party venue for one spectacular day.