Traveling in May: July brings heat and crowds, April unpredictable weather. Traveling in May is a great way to see Greece at its best without the throngs of tourists.
The forecast might say 73° and sunny, but it’s a hot 73°. The sun is strong and the breeze is mild. You don’t need a reservation at any Taverna, and you don’t need to get to the beach early. In May, your free to enjoy your own slice of paradise. Alternatively enjoy Greece after the summer crowds have left in September, the water has also had the entire summer to heat up and enjoy.
There’s a little something for everyone - from rugged mountain hikes, to boat tours and quaint tavernas.
The twisting roads and rugged cliffs of Corfu, one of the greener Greek islands.
Greece has around 200 inhabited islands, and each one offers a different portrait of the country. Find out what you like to do, and chances are there is the perfect greek island escape waiting for you.
Crete: The largest Greek island by far. Parts of this island are as bustling of the mainland, but there are remote corners and secluded beaches just like you’ll find on some of the smaller ones. Preveli beach is an absolute highlight - clear mountain stream running through a vast canyon and emptying out into an idyllic sandy beach.
Zakynthos: One of our most pleasant surprises was this little ionian gem. Taking a boat trip around Shipwreck bay was probably one of the best things we’ve done in Europe. The luminescent blue waters project an aurora of colors onto the 650 foot high limestone cliffs to create a scene unlike any other.
Skiathos: This tiny little island in the Northern Sporades makes for a good starter trip to Greece. If you want to olive groves, turquoise waters, quaint little tavernas and not much else, this is the place for you. This island, along with the nearby Skopelos, was the backdrop for much of the movie “Mamma Mia”
"One of the purest joys that man can afford in this world is to visit the Aegean Sea in the spring... I have never been able to imagine paradise in any other way."
Most Underrated Food Scene
An uncrowded restaurant in Zakynthos town (because we went in May)
With heavyweights like France and Italy to contend with, Greek food always seems like it’s mentioned as an after thought. What we’ve found on our trips is that not only is it some of the best, but with such simplicity and variety, you don’t get tired of it as easily. These mezedes are the perfect thing to eat alongside a glass or white wine or ouzo, or they can become a full meal on their own.
Greek Salad: Tomatoes, Olives, Pepper, Olives and a block of feta half the size of a brick all drizzled with some of the world’s best olive oil. The greek salad is a work of art, and it doesn’t even need a single piece of lettuce.
Beans: Fava, Gigantes and split peas, served like you’ve never seen them before. While the Gigantes are served in their whole bean form, the rest are served as a puree. Make sure to order some bread with these, as they are closer to what you may think of as a “dip”
Dolmades: One of the more famous Greek Mezedes is the dolmades or Dolmadakia. These are pickled vine leaves stuffed with rice, and they are typically served hot with lemon juice squeezed on top.
"Food is love made visible." — Greek Proverb
The Best Beaches you have to work for
The best beaches we have found are not those you easily find off the main road. Rather they require some work - a hike, a boat ride or even a crawl through a cave. Instead of seeking out a flat, sandy beach embrace the more rugged Mediterranean coastline.
Porto Timoni Beach, which requires 20 minutes of hiking to get to with beautiful scenery.
Not only do you get a more impressive view of the beach itself, but theres even a better view beneath the waves. Colorful fish, sea caves and rocky reefs makes you feel like an underwater explorer - something the sandy beaches could never offer.
If you have the opportunity to get out on a boat - do it. If you only stay on the land, you’ll miss half the views.
Other things we love in Greece
Greek Mountain Tea: Made from traditional herbs harvested on the Greek islands. These make great gifts or the perfect relaxing night cap after a long day exploring the islands.
Greek olive oil: Even after spending 2 weeks in the olive oil capital of Italy, we found that the olive oil on these greek islands is among the best. You can even do tastings at some of the mills like Antoniou (linked above)
