When to Go to Athens

When to Go to Athens

Except for August and major holidays, when many Athenians migrate to their ancestral villages outside the city, the streets are crowded. The best times to visit the city are late fall and spring, when you can avoid the oppressive heat and the hordes of package tourists at major archaeological sites; you can also enjoy the bustling nightlife in the center, because after June many restaurants and clubs shut down or relocate to the seaside. Holy Week of the Orthodox Easter, usually in April or May, is a chance to observe Greece's most sacred holiday, including mournful Good Friday processions accompanying Christ's bier, and the candlelit Easter midnight service, complete with fireworks.

If you must come in summer, visit the sights in the early morning; then -- as the Greeks do -- take a nap or eat a leisurely lunch before continuing your explorations after 5 PM, when several museums and sites are still open.