Because the Greek Islands aren’t open to tourism year-round, the best time to visit Greece to experience the whole country is May – November. July and August are the hottest and busiest months and better avoided when possible, especially since Greece is incredibly popular.

March – June: The weather starts to warm up in March into April, with most islands opening for tourism in the spring. May is the best month to visit for optimal weather and prices (as is September) without the hordes of summer tourists. Definitely avoid July and August if possible!

September – November: September, like May, is another great month to visit. Most islands are still “open,” temperatures start to cool slightly, and prices start to drop. October and November are mildly cold, with temperatures in the 50s and 60s Farenheit.

You’d be hard pressed to find someone who isn’t at least a little bit familiar with the world’s favorite Mediterranean cuisine, but there’s much more to Greek food than the gyros wraps dotting the streets of every big city in Europe.

Greek food is, in a word, spectacular, influenced by spices and ingredients from its neighbors, while simultaneously retaining a strong emphasis on fresh and local ingredients.

Yes, you can definitely eat your fair share of gyros here, but don’t miss other favorites such as souvlaki (grilled meat on a skewer), yemista (rice stuffed tomato) savory pies, and fresh seafood in every variety.

Greece has an impressive variety of desserts as well: loukoumades (honey donuts), baklava and rizogalo (rice pudding) are just a few of the must-eat desserts.

If you’d like to get a true taste of the food scene in Greece, be sure to check out one of many amazing food tours here and check out my food tour experience here!