Flowers reveal their true colours, food is at its freshest, the weather is warming up, and the water temperature is GREECE IN SPRING!
Majestic ruins, gorgeous beaches with translucent water, and cobblestone streets winding past colourful houses. Whether you’re visiting the mainland or the islands, there is no shortage of things to see, do, and eat.
Here are three reasons to visit Greece this Spring.
See the flowers blossom.
The Aegean islands, pared down to the naked rock in summer, are a spring tapestry of wildflowers and herbs.
The outstanding natural beauty of spring in Crete reaches its maximum during April and May, ideal for those with special interests in bird watching and wildlife, but the Cyclades is equally beautiful.
On this magnificent theme of green, almond blossoms decorate the hillsides making naturalists eagerly desire the coming of Spring.
Experience the “tweed run” in Spetses.
The sunlight of Spring is warming Spetses up, creating the ideal scenery for a beautiful bike ride on the cosmopolitan Saronic Island.
Lifestylers gather from around the world for the customary men’s moustache grooming and shoe polishing whilst the women enjoy their hair styling sessions. Refined clothes from another era, such as hats, pleated pants, handcrafted bow ties, tweed jackets and capes, capture passersby's attention.
In the idyllic Old Harbour of Spetses, the scenery resembles the English countryside, with the tweed runners enjoying their cup of tea in the bright spring sunshine.
The award ceremony for the best male and female outfits is followed by a cocktail party, with Johnny Vavouras & The Cadillacs setting the tone for a party full of laughter and rock ’n’ roll music that echoes throughout the island!
Discover Nafplion, the first capital of Greece
One of the most beautiful towns in the area of Argolis (in eastern Peloponnese) as well as one of the most romantic cities all over Greece, is Nafplion.
Ancient walls, medieval castles, monuments and statues, Ottoman fountains and Venetian or neoclassical buildings mesmerize the visitor with their unique architecture and beauty.
Guests will follow a dream trail to discover Náfplio’s medieval Old Town, the narrow cobblestone alleys, the well-preserved neoclassical mansions with the bougainvillaea trees adorning their yards and balconies, the Turkish fountains, the Palamidi Castle and of course the widely photographed Bourtzi fortress.
In the nearby area of Nemea, guests can also visit some of the best wineries in Greece.
The Arcturos Bear And Wolf Sanctuary:
Aside from the beauty of the ancient village of Nymfaio, another reason to visit this region is the Arcturos Bear and Wolf Sanctuary.
Founded in 1992 and spread out over an enclosed area of 24 acres. Initially, the sanctuary was set up to rescue the dancing bears, as seen across many Balkan states.
Brown bears can also be found, occasionally, in the wild in Greece, yet as infrastructure developed, their habitat was threatened by deforestation and many bears were killed by vehicles hitting them, leaving the young orphaned.
Arcturos have been a literal lifesaver for these bears — a place where they can live out their days in nature.
The name Arcturos stems from a combination of the Ancient Greek arktos, meaning “bear.” and Arcturus, meaning “Guardian of the Bear.”
It’s one of the most essential features of the village, with spring being the perfect time to visit as the bears come out of hibernation.
A few kilometres away is the Wolf Sanctuary, where rescued wolves (from zoos and illegal pet possession) are hosted in a 17-acre oak forest. Harder to spot, visiting the Wolf Sanctuary is a must.
As of 2021, Arcturos also hosts lynx, rescued from a wildlife sanctuary in Andorra that had to close.
The UNESCO Monasteries Of Meteora
Meteora is a must-visit for any visitor to Greece, whether you’re religious or not.
Six Byzantine monasteries are still intact here, seemingly floating in the sky above ancient pinnacles formed thousands of years ago in the Pindus Mountain Range in the northwestern part of the Greek mainland.
Built in the 14th century to protect hermit monks from the Ottoman invaders, there were originally 26 monasteries. Of them, only six remainings, five operate for monks, while one is for nuns. Some areas are open to the public, and many relics and frescoes are inside.
Many visit Meteora for its religious tourism and the nature and hiking opportunities the place presents.
Fun fact: Fans of the James Bond film For Your Eyes Only may recognize the Holy Trinity Monastery, which was featured in the end scene.
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