In spring, Greece will settle into two months of good weather, light crowds, and lower prices.
Many of the islands are waking up after the windy winter, and you will see the spirit of these places much better than in the summer months. If you’ve ever considered an impromptu trip to Greece, take it now.
Spring events include Orthodox Easter, vigorously celebrated in Greece. Check here the Easter dates. Take note though: the main festivities will take place on Fridays and Saturdays, leaving Easter itself relatively quiet, with Easter Monday as a day of recovery for all concerned.
Expect banks, government offices, and stores to be closed (or, in the case of stores, to maintain shorter hours) during this four-day period.
Greek Easter celebrations are often fiery. A torchlight procession ends Lykabettos Hill in Athens early Sunday morning. Fireworks at midnight on Saturday salute the resurrection of Christ in many other locations. In Crete, the long-time unofficial winner of the fireworks display competition is Agios Nikolaos, but lately Chersonissos has been showing signs of trying to take that honor away from him.
Easter is the main religious holiday of the Greek Orthodox year, and the celebration is much more important to most Greeks than Christmas. Advantages for the traveler include colorful pageantry in literally every Orthodox church in Greece; Downsides include closed attractions, understaffing, and generally less attentive service in the days before and after Easter weekend.
The island of Kythira, once home to Aphrodite, marks the second day of Easter with the beginning of a 25-day journey of her statue of Maria Mytidiotissa through the island’s villages. Folegandros has a shorter festival also dedicated to the Virgin Mary, whose image enjoys a walk around the bay and visits to various villages.
If you are lucky enough to join the festivities all over Greece, expect delicious roast lamb, fresh baked Eastertide specialty breads and many other foods to enjoy. Easter egg tincture is popular, with bright red eggs exchanged as gifts.
Throughout April through May, spring wildflowers will bloom, lighting up the roadsides and spirits. Be on the lookout for splashes of color as you stroll the Greek roads.
On May 18, International Museum Day offers free entry to all museums in Greece.
Spring boat trips to the islands can be iffy due to the winds, but overall, the weather will be pleasant, with temperatures in the 60s in most places, though cooler at higher elevations. Wildflowers need some rain, so keep an umbrella handy to tackle the showers and enjoy a beautiful spring in Greece.
