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Travel guide, from the UK

Greece

Greece is a country of islands and ancient sites. There are about 6,000 islands and islets, 227 of them inhabited, from Crete and Corfu to the Cyclades. On the mainland you can climb to the Acropolis, visit Delphi and see the monasteries of Meteora. Greece has 21 UNESCO World Heritage properties, and Mount Olympus joined the list in 2026. Athens makes an easy start, with ferries to many islands from its port at Piraeus.

Photo: Tânia Mousinho, Unsplash License

The blue-domed churches of Oia, Santorini, at sunset with the sun dipping behind a dome above the caldera
When to go
Spring and autumn are the most comfortable times to go. In Athens, average highs climb from about 16°C in March to about 25°C in May. Summer is hot and dry, eased a little by the meltemi wind, and the UK government warns of extreme heat and a high wildfire risk from April to October. In winter the lowlands stay mild and the mountains get snow. Orthodox Easter is celebrated with processions and candlelight, from Corfu to Santorini; in 2027 it falls on 2 May, and the Acropolis closes that day.
Getting there from London
Direct flights to Athens take about 3 hours 40 minutes, from Heathrow, Luton and Stansted. Thessaloniki is about 3 hours 15 minutes from Luton. You can also fly straight to islands such as Corfu (about 3 hours 15 minutes), Crete (about 3 hours 55) and Rhodes (about 4 hours 15). Some of these routes run only in certain months. Athens airport is 33 km from the city centre, and metro Line 3 runs from the airport into town.

What to do in Greece

  1. 1The Acropolis, AthensSee the Parthenon, the Erechtheion and the Temple of Athena Nike. Tickets are for a date and an hourly time slot, and you must arrive within 15 minutes of it. Buy them from the official Hellenic Heritage website; the Acropolis Museum needs a separate ticket.
  2. 2DelphiThe ancient sanctuary has the Temple of Apollo, a theatre, a stadium and a museum. From 1 November it closes at 15:30, so start early in winter.
  3. 3MeteoraMonasteries stand on top of tall rock pillars in central Greece. Meteora has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1988, for both its nature and its culture.
  4. 4Knossos, CreteThe Minoan palace covers about 22,000 square metres and includes the Throne Room. In 2025 it became part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site with five other Minoan palace sites.
  5. 5Akrotiri, SantoriniThis Bronze Age town was buried by volcanic deposits and is now protected under a large shelter. From November to March it is closed on Tuesdays.
  6. 6DelosAbout an hour by boat from Mykonos, the island was a sanctuary of Apollo. See the Avenue of the Lions and houses with mosaic floors. Delos is closed from 1 December to 31 March.

Getting around

Ferries are the classic way to reach the islands. Most leave from Piraeus, about 20 minutes from Syntagma Square on metro Line 3, and others sail from Rafina and Lavrio. Ferries to the Ionian islands use western ports such as Patras and Igoumenitsa. Domestic flights link Athens with the islands, and Aegean Airlines is the main Greek carrier. KTEL buses cover the mainland, and the Intercity train from Athens to Thessaloniki takes about 4 hours 30 minutes. Strikes can disrupt ferries, trains and flights at short notice, so leave some slack in your plans.

Living in the UK on a non-UK passport? You'll need a visa for Greece.

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Where these facts come from

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