Where to go in Greece?

[FelicisWolf]

We're looking to book a holiday for a week in July to Greece (or we were also thinking maybe Portugal). It will just be DH and I (we don't have kids yet) so doesn't matter about family friendly locations particularly. We would like to be near a beach, but also have interesting things around to explore and to do - cultural/historical/nature activities. We enjoy going for a drink in the evenings, so somewhere with bars would be good, although not into clubbing! Preferably not heaving with tourists, although I know that's probably asking for the impossible!

I am hoping you wise people of MN will have some recommendations - I'm nervous to book a week on an island somewhere in case it's just wrong for us and then we're stuck!

Many thanks in advance

If it's just the 2 of you then santorini! So romantic and the most beautiful sunsets!

There's a volcano to climb, loads of historical stuff, an ash encrusted village, those gorgeous white cave house hotels, vinyards and pebble beaches (it's a rocky landscape). Lovely bars just so so nice!

If you want to avoid hordes of tourists try Pelion, it's marvellous.

Otherwise the Peloponnese or Parga , also on the mainland, should give you what are looking for, both will be busier of course.

Crete is more like a country than an island - try the Chania area, or Elounda or a fabulous little village called Panormos, east of Rethymnon.

Agios Nikolas just a few km from Elounda in Crete has lovely bars, shops, harbour, moments from country trails and beach.

Lefkada is an island but there is a bridge across to the mainland, best of both worlds.
Flights there can be expensive so maybe investigate cheap flight to Corfu, fairly short ferry to Igoumenitsa then drive down to Lefkada.

Thanks everyone! Some good suggestions there to look into. Does anybody know if Greece is still relatively cheap once you're there, even with the awful exchange rate at the moment? (I got €35 for £33 the other day! )

Lindos is a nice resort. Pretty, cobbled streets to mooch about with plenty of shops, bars and restaurants. You can do lots of boat trips from there, and it's easy to get buses so you can explore the rest of Rhodes.

I second Lindos. Expensive to be out on the cocktails every night but loads of places to choose from and doesn't need to be expensive to eat out.

I'm a big fan of Crete, loads to do and the Southern side is much more untouched and 'Wild' if you like beaches with not many people and scrubby wild landscapes with goats. It's divine. The North side of Crete is also great, as a PP said. Ag Nik is very pretty as it Elounda, Plaka and the east of the island generally. The further you go from any of the airports the nicer it gets. That said, Chania is a lovely little town with a great Venetian harbour, fantastic seafood and some really great bars.
Cretean wine is quite singular in that the first glass you have you tend to think 'what is this muck?' but over time really grows on you to the extent that I have sought it out in the UK!
Rhodes is very pretty, but Lindos can get a bit overwhelmed in the hotter months. It's EXTREMELY popular for destination weddings.

I an surprised by some of these responses. The OP says she does not want heaving with tourists and she gets recommened very touristic venues such as the expensive Santorini, Ag Nikolas and Lindos. For the real Greece, try Sifnos, Seifos, Tinos (Athens flights) or Karpathos, Patmos, Chalki or Tilos (Rhodes flights). Or Paxi (Corfu flights).

Sadly Greece is not the cheap wonderland it was where ever you go but eating and drinking (not on Santorini) can still be good value.

For Portugal look at Tavira, on the non touristic side of the Algarve. Fly to Faro then less than an hour on the train.

Paros Town in Paros is beautiful - built of confuse pirates, it's full of narrow winding streets and whitewashed houses and smart shops and restaurants and windmills on the edge of town. It is touristy, but in a different way.

Greece is still cheap, outside the major tourist resorts. Lindos and Santorini are more expensive, Elounda is a mix, Panormos and Pelion are cheap.

Starlight those are all fabulous places (I could add more!)

OP if you are happy to take a ferry after the plane there are some wonderful islands you could go too, not all sof them small.

Thanks everyone! More than happy to take a ferry after the plane Starbucks, I think my main concern was being stuck on an ultra touristy island where there wasn't a huge amount to do other than the beach, but you have to fight for a spot due to the sheer numbers of people (I think I may have some family holiday issues as a child coming back to haunt me ) I will be looking into all the places suggested, it sounds as those away from the more touristy areas may also be cheaper which is fab. We went to Dubrovnik in Croatia last year not realising how many people would be there, and it was so expensive! Still had a great time, but keen to avoid that this year

If you don't have kids I would recommend June or September, far less crowded. Unless you have to go on July.

We do Kefalonia alllll the time.

Fine for a week. We amble up to old ruins, eat in tavernas, see the turtles come into the harbour in Argastoli. There''s caves to explore too, and the island is EASY to drive around.

Avithos resort in Svoronata is where we stay.

Starbucks Even in the first week of July? It's our wedding anniversary that week, hence why we're planning then but no real reason we couldn't go in June instead I suppose

As I don't have kids I'm not sure when is best, I thought that schools don't break up until late July so the first couple of weeks are safe but I'm happy to be corrected!!

It’s worth considering 2 centre (2 island) breaks within the same group too. You can always return to your “airport island” the day before. There are plenty of places that do one night stays on Booking.com etc.

I second santorini- stunning island . I went last year and loved it.

We stayed in parissa.

First week of July should be ok, and you do have a specific reason.

I didn't do July tho. We did sept after schools went back. Santorini wasn't heaving. Just beautiful. I'd go again.

A two centre is a great idea. If you fancied Lindos you could do that then one of the quieter Dodecanese islands, there are plenty.

Depends how cheap and not heaving with tourists you want to go.

DH and I went to Thessonaliki and then travelled round Northern Greece going to the main sites - Pella, Vergina, Dion.

Away from the seafront food was incredibly cheap and we ate in some amazing restaurants, although there is a much more happening bar area if you want that.

And tourist wise, very few people there. Often we'd pull up at some major World Heritage Site and there would be one tour bus, and us. Would be busier in July but even so, it was nothing like Athens or one of the popular islands.

Greece is heaven on Earth. Crete is especially lovely with the wild south, lots of which is not built up. Visit Chania in the north though, it’s really delightful.
The first time I went I looked for air bnb places then went on google earth to see how built up they were. Ended up staying on the south coast Ina place with a few picturesque beach bars and fantastic sea. Wish I could remember the name. It’s eady to hire a car for a day or two to explore. But in July it’s hot, so you might not want to be wandering round ruins.
The Greek welcome is deservedly world famous, and you’ll find people friendly and relaxed. Low crime rate and safe too.
Can you tell I love it

Corfu is lovely (the North end). We went to kalami and kassiopi. Beautiful and not heaving with tourists.