Greece in May

[shovetheholly]

DP has announced this morning that he is going to take me to Greece (or Italy) on holiday in mid May as a present. (We have had a shit, shit, shit time lately). I have been to Italy (Venice, Florence, Rome) but never to Greece.

I love: history and culture. Good food and wine. Gardens. Bit of walking. More wine.

DP has ants in his pants and will not stay still for long, but likes to get out and explore.

Not so keen on: 'nightlife', screaming or drunk people (not being a snob, this is a trigger for me based on something horrible that happened).

Where should I go? Athens is a must - I have wanted to see the acropolis since I was a kid. We only have a week due to his work commitments, but I was thinking we could fit in an island too. But which one? They all sound amazing. Am pondering on Crete, but that is really only because I know that there is the Samaria gorge there which should be amazing in May.

Greece is fabulous in May. Crete is a beautiful island with plenty to do for a week but I think you would struggle to combine it with Athens.

If you want to see Athens then the Pelion peninsula is very accessible and unspoilt. Islands of Hydra and Poros are also very close.

I love Greece and would either go for Crete for the whole week (plenty of culture as well as Samaria Gorge) or somewhere easily accessible from Athens. But in all honesty it's pretty difficult to get it wrong in Greece as long as you avoid the obvious party towns.

Spring in the Peloponese is lovely. The perfect time to go. Lots to see, beautiful towns and sea, no screaming nightlife. You can hire a car in Athens and drive there.

The Peloponnese is gorgeous. Napflio, Mycenae etc. About a two-three hour drive from Athens.

Tbh you could stay in Athens for the week and have enough to do. The Acropolis museum is wonderful, as is the National Archaeological museum.

A day trip to Delphi would be well worth doing and to Corinth. Greek coaches are pretty decent for getting about if you don't hire a car.

Aegina is a lovely island and not far from Piraeus (you can get there from Athens on the Metro) on the Hydrofoil.

Hydra is further and defo take the hydrofoil but a lovely Island for a day visit.

You can also fly to most of the bigger islands from Athens. Santorini is about 45 mins away from Athens by plane.

Athens is amazing. You could take a short flight (20 mins) to Naxos which is a beautiful island in the Cycladic group. Think white sugar-cube houses & wide empty beaches - even in August

Athens is a great city. We loved it there, however our favourite is Santorini, gorgeous place, great food and lovely people :)

I second the idea of time in Athens then a drive to Nafplio, Epidavros, possibly a day cruise to Hydra or Spetses, or time on one or the other.

the kiddy-drunk resorts in Greece are few and far between, for your reference they are Malia (south Crete), Kardamena on Kos, Laganas on Zante, Faliraki on Rhodes and Kavos on Corfu. They are easily avoided and don't be ashamed about not going to any of these places. Plenty of wonderful other options.

sea can be cool in May but UV will be rising rapidly so cover up. Also take a fleece and long trousers for evenings which will also be pleasantly cool. Not 100% guarantee of no rain but nowhere outside the Sahara has that.

enjoy!