Winter Greece is becoming more and more popular with tourists who want to actively spend their holidays or children's holidays. The Mediterranean climate, Greek hospitality and good prices will allow you to comfortably combine tourist trips and relaxation, sightseeing of iconic places and picturesque landscapes with the opportunity to have fun.

What to expect when traveling to Greece in January?

The weather in January is conducive to sightseeing without the unbearable heat and noisy crowds of tourists. The air temperature rises to 12-16 degrees during the day, and the temperature of the sea is approximately the same. The mountain climate is more severe: the temperature is about 0 degrees, often there is cold wind and high humidity, rain and fog.

The cost of stay in hotels, renting a car and other services is much lower than during the summer season. Lovers of fun and relaxed holidays will find plenty of opportunities to have fun in Greece. Starting from January 1 and until the end of the February, there are celebrations, a winter festival and a carnival, which is especially interesting to get to.

Carnival takes place in Patra and is very similar to Italian processions. The costume party is the most famous and largest, its history goes back over 180 years. The Grand Parade is one of the highlights of the carnival. In addition to it, the Children's Carnival, street exhibitions and theater performances, and other events are also held. Tens of thousands of citizens and guests participate in entertainment accompanied by songs, dances and fireworks.

Popular destinations in Greece in winter

In the winter months most of the attractions are open, but there are no crowds of tourists. This allows you to freely visit the desired places and in detail, slowly examine all the objects up close.

Athens

One of the most visited cities in the world all year round is Athens. Resting in the winter in the Greek capital, be sure to visit:

  • Acropolis. This place is the visit card of the capital and consists of the most famous ancient buildings. The main temple of the Parthenon is the most recognizable object. Of no less interest are the six statues of beautiful girls in the Erechtheon. Nowadays, it will not be possible to see exactly how these buildings looked before, because some of them were destroyed. However, what remains is quiet fascinating. Visitors can come to the Acropolis for a tour in the morning until 15:00. The cost of visiting is about 20-30 euros.
    Acropolis, Athens
    Parthenon, Athens
    Erechtheon, Athens
    Acropolis, Parthenon and Erechtheon
  • Temple of Zeus. Located in the heart of Athens, near the Acropolis. Today, these are just a few columns from a powerful building of ancient times. One of the seven wonders of the world, the statue of Zeus, was located here. In January, you can see the remains of the temple daily from 8:30 to 15:00. 
  • Athenian Agora. This is a large open-air museum complex. Previously, it was used as a marketplace, a venue for important events and was considered the center of Athens. The most significant buildings for politics, economy and cultural life were built here. Therefore, the Agora was equal in importance to the Acropolis. Today, only ruins remain here, stretching over an area of 50 hectares. Visitors can see the Temple of Hephaestus, the two-story portico of the Stoa of Attalus, the Church of the Holy Apostles of Solaki and visit the archaeological museum, which displays valuable artifacts found during excavations in this area. In January, you can come here for an excursion on weekdays from 8:00 to 20:00, except for the 1st.
    Athens Agora

The boat trip around the islands of the Saronic Gulf remains popular: one-day tours take place as usual, despite the holidays. For shoppers, Athens is attractive in the second half of the month with huge discounts in boutiques, and those who want to have fun will find discos and clubs that do not stop in the winter season.

Mountains of the Centaurs

The patriarchal villages of Central Greece are one of the unknown pages. The mix of sea and mountains is represented by the Pelion Peninsula. A mythical trace in the history of Pelion connects it with the centaur Chiron and Asclepius, who allegedly collected medicinal herbs in these forests. Locals love to tell tourists that this is where the gods of Olympus rested.

In Pelion, you can enjoy the color of past centuries and be alone with nature. Most tourists come here to get enough of skiing and hiking in the mountains. For the purpose of sightseeing walks, you can walk around the different villages. Each of them has something special to offer. For example:

  • Portaria will enchant with small waterfalls gushing out from under the rocks, suspension bridges along the river;
  • Makrinitsa will reveal the beauty of the Pagasian Gulf from a bird's eye view, and here you can also buy a wide variety of souvenirs and herbs from hundreds of ailments;
  • Kysos will surprise you with a spiritual institution - the Church of St. Marina, where children with disabilities create beauty with their own hands. The interior of the church is worth visiting.

Portaria, Pelion
Portaria, Pelion
Portaria, Pelion
Views of Portaria

Winter on the islands

The islands of Corfu and Crete also invite guests to visit interesting places, monasteries and natural attractions. The resorts have all the necessary infrastructure. You can enjoy local dishes and get to know the traditions of the locals.

In Corfu in winter you can visit:

  • Old fortress. It is located on a separate island, which is separated from the mainland by the Contra Fossa Channel. Previously, it was very difficult to get there, but after the loss of military significance, tourists can easily come in. The building is open to visitors daily from 8:00 to 20:00. Entrance for everyone is free.
  • New fortress. It is located on the hill of St. Mark and consists of two levels: the first existed to protect the port, and the second one - to defend the city. Two massive gates and two bastions rise above the area. The underground passages that lead to the Old Fortress have survived to our days. However, they are closed to tourists. After restoration, exhibitions and cultural events are often held here. The building is open to visitors on weekdays from 9:00 to 15:30. There is no entry fee.

Kerkyra
Fortress in Corfu
Strait to the fortress in Corfu
Views from the fortress

Even a simple walk through the streets will bring a lot of pleasure. Every vacationer will find here what to see and where to have fun both in summer and winter.

Crete is also rich in unique places. Many tourists are ready to devote their entire vacation to sightseeing of the island:

  • Knossos palace. Also known as the palace of King Minos or the labyrinth of the Minotaur. An interesting building that reunites architecture and ancient myths. A mysterious building with an intricate system of rooms is located near Heraklion. In January, tours are held from 9:00 to 15:00. 
  • Archaeological Museum. It is located in Heraklion and is considered one of the most popularl in Greece. Artifacts of different time periods are placed here, which together takes about 5500 years. Some copies of the exhibits are on sale in the museum shop. Open to visitors from 8:00 to 15:00.

There are many other attractions in Crete that you can visit in winter. The main thing is to focus on your interests and enjoy the trip.

Skiing in Greece

Extreme entertainment will help you discover unfamiliar Greece in January. The climate and landscapes of the country have a beneficial effect on the development of jeep tours, horseback riding, paragliding, mountaineering, and rafting. Greek ski resorts are well developed and have everything you need for winter sports. Ski slopes are provided with many lifts, equipment rentals and ski schools. 

Elatochori, Olympus
Ski resort Elatochori on Olympus

Skiing in the mountains of Greece is the perfect complement to taking a bath in the hot healing springs of Loutraki. Water is saturated with mineral components that helps to improve your health and get enough of useful substances.