Travel guide Greece
Where to Stay in Greece & the Best Time to Visit
When to go and where to base yourself, from summers in the Ionian islands, a spring in Kalamata and two years on Crete.
Best months
May–Jun, Sep
Busiest
July–August
Quietest
Nov–March
Our base
Crete, 2 years
On this page: Best time · Where to stay · Hotels by budget · Getting around · Food · FAQ
The short answer: go to Greece in late May, June or September, and pick one or two bases by region instead of moving every couple of days. The sea is warm, the tavernas are open and you avoid the July and August crowds.
This Tone & Taste guide to where to stay in Greece covers the parts of the country we know first-hand: summers in the Ionian islands, a spring in Kalamata and two years living on Crete. We stayed in hotels and apartments, and on the islands especially, which part of the island you choose matters more than the exact hotel. So below you will find the seasons month by month, then the areas we would pick again.
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Best Time to Visit Greece
April to June
Spring is green and warm without being hot. The sea is still cool in April but warm enough for most people by late May. Wildflowers, quieter beaches and lower prices make May and June the sweet spot, and it is the season we saw Kalamata in.
July and August
Peak season. Everything is open, the sea is at its warmest and the islands are at their busiest and most expensive. Book ferries, cars and rooms early, and plan sightseeing for early morning or evening.
September and October
Our other favourite window. The sea holds its summer warmth, the crowds thin out after the school holidays and the light softens. By late October some island resorts start closing.
November to March
Mild compared with northern Europe, but wetter, and many resort hotels and beach tavernas close. Cities keep going: after two years on Crete we can say Heraklion stays lively all year, while places like Elounda go quiet.
Overall: late May, June and September give you the best balance of warm sea, open tavernas and space on the beach. Go in July or August only if school holidays decide for you.
Where to Stay in Greece
These are the bases we would choose again, from the Ionian islands to Crete and the Peloponnese. Pick by what you want from the trip: a town with restaurants on the doorstep, or a quiet bay and a long lunch.
Corfu
Stay in or near Corfu Town for the Old Town, restaurants and evening walks. Gouvia, north of town, is handy for the coast, and the north-east around Kalami is quieter, with small bays and waterfront tavernas. Our full Corfu travel guide goes area by area.
Paxos
Small enough that everything is close. Gaios, the main harbour town, puts you next to the ferries, shops and tavernas, which makes it the easiest base. It is a short ferry ride south of Corfu.
Parga
A mainland town on the Epirus coast with colourful houses stacked up towards a Venetian castle. Stay in town so you can walk to the beaches, the castle and the harbour, where boats leave for Paxos.
Preveza & Lefkada
Preveza is a relaxed waterfront town close to Aktion airport and a practical base. Lefkada is the Ionian island you can reach by road, over a causeway and a floating bridge, so the two work well together.
Kefalonia
The largest Ionian island and big enough that every area feels different. Argostoli, the main town, has the most choice for food and shops. Rent a car to explore the rest of the island.
Zakynthos
Zakynthos Town gives you a real Greek town with harbour-front tavernas, while the beach areas suit days spent mostly by the water.
Crete: Heraklion
The obvious base for city life, the airport and the palace of Knossos just outside town. Busy, a little chaotic and full of good food all year round.
Crete: Agios Nikolaos & Elounda
The calmer east of Crete. Agios Nikolaos is a lively harbour town built around a small lake, and Elounda sits on a sheltered bay with boats to Spinalonga.
Kalamata
Stay near the seafront. You can walk or cycle to most places, and the town is an easy base for exploring the olive country of Messinia.
See the top attractions near each base →
Popular Hotels by Budget
We have not stayed in all of these ourselves. They are the most popular, best-reviewed options on Tripadvisor in each price range for the bases above, checked in November 2026. Ratings and prices change, so read recent reviews before you book.
Corfu Town
Budget: Pension Skala (guesthouse; 4.8/5 from 30 reviews)
Mid-range: Bella Venezia Hotel (one of the most-reviewed hotels in town; 4.7/5 from 1,692 reviews)
Splurge: Corfu Palace Hotel (the most-reviewed hotel on Tripadvisor’s Corfu Town luxury list; 4.2/5 from 1,186 reviews)
Paxos (Gaios)
Budget: Thekli Clara Studios (self-catering studios; 4.8/5 from 63 reviews)
Mid-range: Agali Hotel Paxos (Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice; 4.5/5 from 374 reviews)
Splurge: Paxos Club Resort & Spa (resort and spa near Gaios; 4.2/5 from 264 reviews)
Parga
Budget: Irini Studios & Apartments (studios and apartments; 4.7/5 from 222 reviews)
Mid-range: Hotel Parga Princess (the most-reviewed hotel in Parga; 4.9/5 from 803 reviews)
Splurge: Salvator Villas & Spa (villas and spa; 4.6/5 from 383 reviews)
Preveza & Lefkada
Budget: Villa Olga Lounge Hotel (Lygia, Lefkada; on Tripadvisor’s budget list; 4.9/5 from 982 reviews)
Mid-range: Crystal Waters (Nikiana, Lefkada; 4.7/5 from 801 reviews)
Splurge: Porto Galini Seaside Resort & Spa (Nikiana, Lefkada; 4.5/5 from 798 reviews)
In Preveza town: Dioni Boutique Hotel (the top value pick in Preveza itself; 4.3/5 from 188 reviews)
Kefalonia (Argostoli)
Budget: Mouikis Hotel Kefalonia (hotel in town; 4.6/5 from 342 reviews)
Mid-range: Kefalonia Grand Luxury Boutique Hotel (the most-reviewed hotel in Argostoli; 4.5/5 from 768 reviews)
Splurge: Canale Hotel & Suites (top of Tripadvisor’s Argostoli luxury list; 5.0/5 from 140 reviews)
Zakynthos Town
Budget: Filoxenia Studios & Apartments (self-catering studios; 4.7/5 from 74 reviews)
Mid-range: Palatino Hotel (hotel in town; 4.2/5 from 321 reviews)
Boutique: Bitzaro Boutique Hotel (small boutique hotel, top of the town list; 4.9/5 from 27 reviews)
Crete: Heraklion
Budget: Kastro Hotel (budget-friendly city hotel; 4.3/5 from 749 reviews)
Mid-range: Lato Boutique Hotel (overlooking the old harbour; 4.4/5 from 2,579 reviews)
Splurge: GDM Megaron Historical Monument Hotel (in a listed historic building; 4.8/5 from 1,616 reviews)
Crete: Agios Nikolaos
Budget: Victoria Hotel (on Tripadvisor’s budget list; 4.6/5 from 208 reviews)
Mid-range: Candia Park Village (resort; 4.7/5 from 1,761 reviews)
Splurge: Minos Beach Art Hotel (seafront resort; 4.6/5 from 1,813 reviews)
Kalamata
Budget: Central Rooms (guest rooms in town; 4.8/5 from 30 reviews)
Mid-range: Pharae Palace Hotel (hotel in town; 4.4/5 from 511 reviews)
Splurge: Horizon Blu (top of Tripadvisor’s Kalamata luxury list; 4.4/5 from 584 reviews)
Getting Between Bases
Ionian islands
Corfu, Kefalonia and Zakynthos have their own airports, Preveza (Aktion) airport serves Lefkada and Parga, and ferries link the islands. Paxos is reached by boat from Corfu or Parga.
Crete and Kalamata
Crete has airports at Heraklion and Chania. Kalamata has its own airport plus KTEL buses to the rest of the Peloponnese. On both, a hire car gives you the most freedom.
Cook it at home
What to Eat While You’re There
Wherever you base yourself, these are the dishes you will see on every taverna table.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best month to visit Greece?
Late May, June and September. The sea is warm enough to swim, tavernas and boats are running, and it is less crowded and cheaper than July and August.
Where should I stay in Greece for the first time?
Pick one region rather than trying to see everything. For a first trip we would suggest Corfu Town for history and food, or Heraklion on Crete for a city base close to Knossos and the beaches.
Is Greece worth visiting in winter?
Yes for cities and food, less so for beach holidays. Many island resorts close from November to March, but towns like Heraklion and Kalamata stay open and lively.
Do you need a car in Greece?
On the bigger islands and around Kalamata, a car makes exploring much easier. In Corfu Town, Gaios on Paxos or central Heraklion you can manage on foot, by bus and by boat.
Ready to plan the rest? Start with our Greece Travel & Food Guide, then see the top attractions in Greece and where we ate best.
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