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Writer's pictureDevin Kerr

When is the Best Time to Visit Greece and Italy?

Updated: Mar 16, 2023

The average time it takes to fly from Greece to Italy is only one hour and thirty-six minutes. They’re also similar in a few ways as they both have warm climates for most of the year (except for in the winter), they’re both coastal countries, and they’re connected by the Ionian Sea which is a part of the Mediterranean Sea. So it’s not surprising that when people vacation to Europe they’ll plan a trip to visit Greece and Italy.


The best time to visit Greece and Italy is either in the months of September and October or between April and June. This way you’ll avoid a lot of tourists, still enjoy the warm weather and spend less because Greece and Italy are a lot cheaper during these months compared to the summer!


When is the Best Time to Visit Greece?


The city of Athens in Greece at night.

Greece is a beautiful country that offers a rich history, amazing food, gorgeous weather and architecture making it the perfect place to visit. Since it’s such a great place to visit it’s no surprise that it can get pretty packed with all of the tourists that come to visit!


If you’re going to visit Greece, I would recommend going from April to June or in September and October. If you go during these times you’ll see a lot less tourists because kids are still in school or are starting school so families aren’t able to travel. Fewer people around Greece isn’t necessarily a bad thing! During these months you can still take advantage of the warm weather and plenty of activities and places to visit in Greece.


If you decide to visit Greece in the middle of spring or at the end of the summer there’s a few destinations that I recommend visiting. First off, I would highly recommend that you check out Athens. Athens’ average temperature in April was 70 degrees fahrenheit or 21 degrees celsius and 84 degrees fahrenheit or 28 degrees celsius in September.



The Parthenon which is a former temple of the Acropolis.


My favourite places to visit in Athens are the Acropolis and the Roman Agora. For those that don’t know, the Acropolis of Athens is a historic stronghold that holds many ancient Greek buildings with one of the most well known buildings being the Parthenon.


Some things to keep in mind is that there is no food allowed while you’re visiting. Also, I would make sure to go bright and early as it is a quite popular place to visit. Make sure to bring lots of water as there are quite a few steps and it can be a pretty decent workout. If you’re a history buff I'd recommend doing the tour, but if you’re not as big into history and are content only with the hike then you should explore on your own.



The Roman Agora on a sunny day.


The Roman Agora is another great place to visit and it’s just slightly north of the Acropolis. The Roman Agora is great for photos and there are a lot less stairs than the Acropolis as it is the smaller one of the two. When you’re visiting the Agora, I wouldn’t worry about getting a tour guide as you can see it all on your own without worrying about missing any parts of it.


Worst Time to Visit Greece


If you’re not a big fan of cooler temperatures, I would avoid going to Greece in the winter as the temperature starts to drop. For instance, in Athens the average temperature was 58 degrees fahrenheit or 14 degrees celsius for the month of December in 2021. Keep in mind that in the winter the further you go towards the mountains the colder it gets.


If large crowds and a packed city aren’t your thing either, you should definitely avoid Greece in July and August as these are the two months that see the most tourists. It also doesn’t help that these are the two months where cruise ships tend to stop in Greece and kids are on summer vacation as well.


When is the Best Time to Visit Italy?



The city of Florence located in Italy.


Like Greece, the best time to visit Italy is also in September and October. Usually during these months, prices of food and tourist activities tend to go down as there’s a lot less tourists that visit in these months! With Italy you also won’t have to worry about the weather as the average temperature of Florence in September was 77 degrees fahrenheit or 25 degrees celsius.


Firenze (also known as Florence) is another beautiful city with a rich history. If you’re into history and architecture be sure check out the Piazza del Duomo and the Basilica of Santa Croce. The Piazza del Duomo is one of the most popular spots in Florence so be sure to get there early in the morning as there is usually line that 40 minutes before it opens.



Piazza Del Duomo in the city of Florence.


At the Duomo you do have the option of doing a free tour, but you’ll need to buy a ticket to climb up the bell tower. I would highly recommend visiting the bell tower as it was one of my favourite things about the Duomo. Also, I would decide what you want to see ahead of time as it is quite packed in there!



The Santa Croce located in the city of Florence


The Basilica of Santa Croce is another beautiful option as well and it’s not nearly as busy as the Duomo. Here you can visit the resting places of Michelangelo and Galileo just to name a few! For the Basilica make sure you’re dressed appropriately as your shoulders must be covered if you’re entering the church.


Worst Time to Visit Italy


You should avoid Italy in April and during the summer. Italy is quite busy in April due to Easter as Italy has a large Catholic population that celebrates this holiday. The summer months aren’t the best either as that’s when Italy sees the most tourists, and the more tourists there are the more their prices increase.


Similar to Greece, Certain parts of Italy can also be pretty cold in the winter! This is especially the case the more you go in-land towards the mountains.


FAQs


What is a better vacation, Italy or Greece?


This answer depends on your vacation preferences. Italy is great for its history and food as there are a lot of beautiful churches to visit and plenty of cafes and wineries for you try the local cuisine and wine.


Greece is better if you want to partake in the local geography. You can relax at the beach, explore the different islands, and partake in all sorts of water sports from kite surfing to kayaking. If you’re looking to party, I'd recommend Greece over Italy.


Is it cheaper to go to Italy or Greece?


Between Italy and Greece, Greece is the cheaper destination. In Italy the food is slightly more expensive compared to Greece. The activities are also cheaper in Greece than Italy as you can get more out of your activities in Greece compared to Italy as they’re both roughly the same price.


Is Greece more beautiful than Italy?


Each is beautiful in their own way. Greece is beautiful for their beaches, churches, flowers, and little winding roads. Greece is beautiful for their small towns. Italy is beautiful for its history as it has rich architecture, vibrant colours, statues, and its historical castles



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