Greece changes dramatically with the seasons.
By July and August, the islands hum with energy. Ferries run constantly, beach clubs fill early, and the most famous villages can feel almost theatrical in their popularity. There is a reason for it – the weather is glorious and the atmosphere undeniably lively.
But those in the know tend to gravitate towards a different window for the best time to visit Greece: late spring.
From May into early June, the country feels freshly awake after winter. Wildflowers still scatter the hillsides, the sea has warmed enough for a swim, and the light has that early-season clarity photographers talk about. Restaurants are open, ferries run regularly, yet the crowds that define high summer have not quite arrived.
For families, it is often ideal. Temperatures are warm but manageable for exploring archaeological sites or wandering island villages with children in tow. Hotel availability is stronger, upgrades are easier to secure, and the overall pace of travel feels calmer.
September and early October offer a similar magic – the sea is warmer, the harvest season begins, and the atmosphere softens again after the intensity of summer.
At RASK, we often encourage clients to consider these shoulder seasons when planning Greece. The experience can feel more relaxed, more authentic, and sometimes even more beautiful. Below are seven properties we particularly love for this time of year – each offering something distinct, and all partners we work closely with when shaping journeys for our clients.
Four Seasons Astir Palace – Athens Riviera
If you want to combine city culture with a beach escape, Four Seasons Astir Palace makes a compelling starting point.
Set on a pine-covered peninsula in Vouliagmeni on the Athens Riviera, the resort feels worlds away from the city while sitting just thirty minutes from the Acropolis. Arrival itself can be part of the experience – transfers can be arranged by helicopter or boat across the Saronic Gulf if you’re arriving from another Greek island, or you fancy something more dramatic than the 30-minute drive from Athens International.
Late spring works beautifully here. Days might begin exploring ancient Athens – the Parthenon, the Acropolis Museum, wandering the streets of Plaka – before returning to the hotel for an afternoon swim in the Aegean or a long lunch overlooking the water.
The property itself carries a sense of history. Astir Palace was a glamorous escape for European elites in the 1960s before being reimagined under Four Seasons with contemporary design and sea-facing terraces. Today it regularly appears on the world’s leading hotel lists and has built a reputation not only for its setting, but also its dining scene. Across ten restaurants and bars, guests can move from relaxed seaside lunches to Michelin-starred Mediterranean cuisine at Pelagos or dinner at the ever-popular Beefbar.
As Four Seasons Preferred Partners, we’re also able to offer RASK clients a number of additional privileges here – often including upgrades where available, breakfast, and thoughtful in-stay touches.
Mandarin Oriental Costa Navarino – The Peloponnese
The Peloponnese has quietly become one of the most interesting parts of Greece to explore.
For years, it remained slightly under the radar compared with the islands, but improved access and thoughtful development have begun to change that. Kalamata Airport now connects the region more easily with Europe, while Athens remains about a three-hour drive away – making it an excellent pairing with a stay at Four Seasons Astir Palace on the Athens Riviera.
Mandarin Oriental’s arrival here in summer 2024 marked a significant moment for Costa Navarino, bringing the brand’s signature calm design and service to a region already known for its landscapes and history. The hotel sits high on a hillside overlooking the Bay of Navarino, with suites and villas stepping gently down towards the sea.
Late spring is arguably the best time to visit Greece and the Pelopponese. The countryside is still intensely green, wildflowers scatter the hillsides, and temperatures remain ideal for exploring the wider Peloponnese – from the remarkably preserved ruins of Ancient Messene to traditional villages and vineyards across the region.
Accommodation here is particularly well considered. Many of the pool villas are designed for proper living rather than simply sleeping – generous indoor-outdoor spaces, private terraces and long views towards the sea. Villas range all the way up to five bedrooms, making them especially appealing for multi-generational trips or groups of friends travelling together. Sustainability also sits at the core of the wider Costa Navarino development, with careful attention paid to landscape preservation and a zero single-use plastic policy.
Days might include a morning round on one of the championship golf courses, cycling along coastal trails, or simply settling into the rhythm of the resort itself: long lunches overlooking the bay, afternoons at the spa, and evenings that stretch easily into sunset.
As part of the Mandarin Oriental Fan Club, we’re also able to offer RASK clients additional privileges when staying here – small touches that make an already exceptional property feel even more personal.
Rosewood Blue Palace – Crete
Crete is a different proposition entirely. It is Greece’s largest island and one of its most layered – Venetian harbours, Minoan ruins, mountain villages, olive groves and a food culture that feels distinctly its own. Travelling here feels less like visiting a single island and more like exploring a small country.
This summer sees the arrival of Rosewood Blue Palace, marking the brand’s long-awaited debut in Greece. Set above the Mirabello Bay near Elounda, the property enjoys one of the most beautiful vantage points in the Aegean, looking across the water toward the historic island of Spinalonga.
The hotel itself builds on the legacy of the original Blue Palace resort while introducing Rosewood’s signature approach to design and service. Suites and villas cascade down the hillside, many with private pools and terraces that frame uninterrupted sea views. Restaurants focus heavily on Cretan produce and Mediterranean flavours, while the brand’s Asaya wellness concept will anchor the spa offering.
What makes this part of Crete particularly compelling is the history surrounding it. From the ruins of ancient Knossos to quiet fishing villages along the coast, the region offers depth beyond the beach – something that becomes especially enjoyable in the cooler months of late spring.
For travellers looking to experience Crete with a strong sense of place – paired with the excitement of a major new opening – Rosewood Blue Palace will quickly become one of the island’s most talked-about addresses. And, as Rosewood Elite partners, we’re able to extend additional privileges to RASK clients, from preferred room categories to upgrades, resort credit and plenty more.
Canaves Oia – Santorini
Santorini is one of those places where timing makes all the difference. In the height of summer, the island’s beauty is undeniable – but so are the crowds. Late spring tells a different story. The caldera villages feel calmer, sunset viewpoints become contemplative rather than crowded, and the island’s wineries and sailing routes are far more enjoyable without the intensity of August heat.
This is when Santorini feels closer to its original character.
Perched above the caldera in Oia, Canaves Oia Suites, part of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, blends Santorini’s volcanic landscape with a quietly fascinating history. The caves that now house the hotel once belonged to the Chaidemenos family, functioning as wine cellars from the 17th century right through to 1985. Today, those same structures have been transformed into suites carved into the cliffs, with whitewashed interiors and terraces that look directly out across the caldera.
Days might begin with a quiet breakfast overlooking the water before exploring the island’s wineries or taking a private boat along the caldera’s volcanic coastline. By sunset, the pace shifts again as the cliffs glow gold and the island settles into evening. For couples especially, this time of year captures Santorini at its most romantic – before the summer crowds arrive and while the island still feels wonderfully serene.
Accommodation here leans into privacy and space – many suites feature private pools suspended above the Aegean, creating the sort of setting Santorini has become famous for, but with a far more intimate feel than many larger properties on the island.
Because Canaves Oia is part of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World collection, we’re able to work closely with the team when arranging stays for our clients – whether that’s securing one of the most desirable pool suites or helping shape experiences around the island, from winery visits to private sailing along the caldera.
Amanzoe – The Peloponnese
Another Peloponnese destination, but a very different proposition.
High on a hilltop overlooking the Argolic Gulf in the eastern Peloponnese, Amanzoe draws clear inspiration from classical Greek architecture – collonaded pavilions, marble courtyards and long, uninterrupted views towards the sea. Designed by architect Ed Tuttle, it feels less like a traditional resort and more like a contemporary interpretation of an ancient acropolis.
Late spring suits this landscape particularly well. The surrounding hills are still green from winter rains, wildflowers scatter the countryside and temperatures remain ideal for exploring nearby archaeological sites. Epidaurus, Mycenae and the elegant seaside town of Nafplio are all within easy reach, making Amanzoe an excellent base for travellers interested in Greece’s deeper history.
Accommodation is intentionally spacious. Standalone pavilions, many with private pools, are set across the hillside and designed for privacy, with terraces that frame the surrounding olive groves and coastline. Larger villas – some with multiple bedrooms and dedicated staff – work especially well for families or groups travelling together.
For ultra-special occasions, Villa 20 sits in a category of its own. Spread across six levels with nine bedrooms, eleven swimming pools, a private spa and outdoor barbecue terraces, it’s the kind of residence designed for milestone celebrations or multi-generational gatherings, offering complete privacy while still enjoying the service and facilities of the resort.
Amanzoe also has its own beach club down the hill on a quiet stretch of the Aegean, offering a completely different atmosphere from the main resort: relaxed lunches, swimming platforms and calm, sheltered water. What makes Amanzoe particularly appealing in late spring is the sense of quiet. Without the intensity of peak summer, the property feels almost monastic in its calm – a place where days unfold slowly between architecture, landscape and sea.
One&Only Kéa Island – The Cyclades
For those who love the Cyclades but would rather avoid the intensity of Mykonos or Santorini in high summer, Kéa offers something refreshingly understated.
Just an hour from Athens by sea, the island has long been a quiet favourite among Athenians escaping the city for the weekend. Travellers staying at sister hotel One&Only Aesthesis on the Athens Riviera can transfer directly to the island via private boat in around 80 minutes, turning the journey itself into part of the experience. The island has the classic Cycladic elements visitors expect – whitewashed villages, winding coastal paths and crystalline Aegean water – but with far fewer crowds.
The arrival of One&Only Kéa Island has brought a new level of design and hospitality to this lesser-known corner of the Cyclades. Set on a secluded bay on the island’s western coast, the resort embraces high-end minimalism, with villas stepping down the hillside towards the sea and architecture that blends naturally into the island’s rugged terrain.
Accommodation is entirely villa-based, with generous indoor–outdoor living spaces and private infinity pools overlooking the Aegean. Inside, the details are thoughtfully considered: super-soft slippers and robes, plush eye masks, sun hats for long afternoons by the water, even a small cocktail station for sunset drinks on the terrace.
The resort itself offers plenty to fill the days. There’s an expansive spa, several restaurants overlooking the water, yacht excursions around the Cyclades, scuba diving, and a well-designed kids club that makes it particularly appealing for families travelling in late spring or early summer. Late spring is especially beautiful here. The hills are still green with wild herbs, walking trails across the island are at their best, and the sea begins to warm without the bustle of peak-season boats.
Parīlio – Paros
Among the Cycladic islands, Paros strikes a particularly appealing balance.
It has the classic ingredients – whitewashed villages, sandy beaches, fishing harbours and clear Aegean water – but with a slightly more relaxed, authentic feel than some of its neighbours. In late spring, the island feels particularly well balanced: lively again after winter, yet still comfortably navigable before the peak summer crowds arrive.
Much of island life centres around Naoussa, a picturesque harbour town where fishing boats sit beside waterfront tavernas and narrow streets lead to small boutiques and wine bars. Evenings here tend to unfold slowly – seafood, local wine and the gentle buzz of the harbour as the sun fades.
Just a few minutes outside town sits Parīlio, a boutique hotel that mirrors the island’s easy rhythm. A member of Design Hotels, and a property we work closely with, the hotel blends Cycladic architecture with a contemporary eye – soft stone walls, calm courtyards and interiors built around natural textures, unique ceramics and warm neutral tones.
In 2025, the bolthole expanded to include 46 suites and villas, giving guests more space while retaining the intimate feel that first made it so appealing. The addition of the Elios Spa has further enhanced the experience, offering a serene setting to unwind after long days exploring the island.
Days here feel unhurried. Beach hopping across Paros’ sandy coastline, long lunches in Naoussa, afternoons by the hotel pool and evenings returning to the harbour as the island begins to glow in the evening light. For travellers looking for a Cycladic island with character – and a hotel that feels intimate rather than grand – Paros and Parīlio make an excellent pairing, particularly in the quieter months of late spring.
A different rhythm
Travelling in Greece outside the height of summer often reveals a different side of the country.
Island villages feel easier to wander, beaches remain peaceful well into the afternoon, and reservations rarely need to be fought over weeks in advance. There’s time to linger over lunch, explore archaeological sites comfortably, and enjoy the simple rhythm of the islands before the high-season momentum fully arrives.
The same sense of balance returns again in September and early October, when the sea holds its warmth and the atmosphere softens after the busiest weeks of summer.
Across the Athens Riviera, the Peloponnese and the Cyclades, each of the hotels above offers its own interpretation of Greece at this quieter, more enjoyable pace – whether that’s a design-led boutique stay in Paros, a hilltop retreat in the Peloponnese, or a seaside resort just outside Athens.
At RASK Travel, we work closely with the teams behind these properties and with trusted partners across Greece to shape seamless journeys between them – from private transfers and yacht charters to local guides and restaurant reservations.
If Greece is on your list for the coming season, we’d be delighted to help plan it properly.
Get in touch with the RASK team to begin planning your trip.
