Greece : Weather & Climate

This part of our guide to holidays in Greece covers the climate of the country…

Greece has what is known as a Mediterranean climate – in most years it has a long, warm summer and a short, mild winter.

But despite the country’s relatively small size, there are regional variations; Greece’s northern mountains, southern islands and central mainland having slightly different climates.

From April until November, all over Greece is hot and dry and enjoys near-constant sunshine. Sporadic rains do occur during the dry season, but they tend to be rare, quick showers. The most pleasant weather occurs in May-June and September-October, with the warmest time of the year being from mid-July and to mid-August. Temperatures average at around 35 degrees during this period and heatwaves can occur. If visiting at this time of year, it’s advisable to try and stay out of the sun from 11am-4pm when the suns rays are at their strongest.

The rest of the year is marked by a cool, rainy season that usually starts in November and lasts until late March or early April. The bulk of the rain falls from December to April, when it rains on about a third of the days in each month. \In northern Greece, this rain can be heavy enough to cause flooding and the winters are cold enough for snowfalls to be relatively common.

Summer is Greece’s peak tourist season, but the off-season from November through February has its attractions. Visitors from cooler climates can find this a rewarding time to see the country, especially its driest parts – the southern Aegean and parts of the southeastern mainland. Sun isn’t guaranteed, but the fall in temperatures will be mirrored by drops in prices and crowds.

Holidays In Greece : Money & Shopping

In this installment of our guide to holidays in Greece we look at what you can expect there in terms of shopping…

While Greece isn’t known as a great shopping destination, it does offer some fine and unique local products. The country produces good handicrafts, pottery, jewelry, metalwork, knitwear, lace, rugs and leather goods. In addition, its local wines and spirits make distinctive purchases.

Nearly all Greek cities have large international-style shopping malls with well recognized brands and retailers. But prices are similar to those in other parts of Europe, so you won’t find any real bargains unless sales are underway.

Haggling is only tolerated in tourist souvenir stores and in some family-owned arts and crafts shops. But in all other cases it achieves nothing and is considered rude. In places where haggling is accepted, you can get at least 10-20% off the price, and being able to speak a little Greek is likely to help you get the lowest possible price.

Most items incur Value Added Tax (VAT) and this is generally but not always included in price tags. However, some shops do provide tax-free shopping for non-European Union residents. Under this system, people who do not live in the EU can seek a VAT refund when departing the EU. To do this, ask for a VAT voucher when buying an item and show a customs officer all such vouchers and the related items upon leaving the EU.

The Euro is Greece’s official currency. This is the only currency that will be accepted but money can easily be exchanged in any tourist center and in the larger cities. The best exchange rates are usually offered by banks, followed by specialist shops, and then automated currency exchange machines. When changing money, make an effort to get mostly smaller denominations, preferably nothing bigger than a 50 note, as many businesses are wary about accepting larger notes.

ATM machines are present almost everywhere and Mastercard, Visa, and Eurocard are widely accepted in retail stores, hotels, and travel agencies, but are not accepted at some restaurants and local souvenir shops.