Greek islands - August or October?

[Bythesea1982]

Hi there. Looking for some advice for those who have visited the Greek islands in August or October (the only times we could visit). How was the weather in October and is there still enough to do? I’ve read that restaurants etc can be closed.
August would be high season so busy but I’m concerned it might be too hot for me and my children. Am I right to be concerned about the heat?

Crete's not as hot as Rhodes.
I'm a regular visitor of both and have family on Crete.
If you don't want raging heat I'd go to Rhodes in October, it should still be warm but restaurants etc shut in Oct so check this.
Crete would be too chilly in Oct for me.
If you want good weather but not baking hot I'd go to Crete in the summer, they do have heatwaves though.
You can always get your DC out of the heat, get in the pool, under an umbrella or back to your room in the aircon to cool down.
On Crete I'd recommend Kalyves or Almyrida, flying into Chania.
On Rhodes I'd recommend Pefkos.

We were in Crete last Aug, first couple of weeks and found it too hot to do anything aside from the pool. It didn't cool down in the evenings either which was torture if we wanted to go for a walk.

We went to Kos in October 2022. It was cold tbh… it was SO windy. Peoples towels were being blown around everywhere. People were sat on their sun beds fully dressed. I think you have to ask yourself what you want out of the holiday.. if you want to go in the pool or the sea or sunbathe then don’t go in October. If you want to walk around and explore then October will be better but you’ll be limited because things will be closed. So if you go in October you’ll have paid all that money for a holiday and won’t really be able to do much.

Does it have to be Greece? The Canary Islands will be lovely in October! We went in March and the weather was amazing

We went to Skiathos in August and it was hot but fine with the kids. We paid for a beach umbrella at the local beach, and the small hotel was in a woody area so had lots of shade from trees including over the pool. Just like the Greeks we avoided the sun during 12-4pm and made that lunch time on our shady balcony followed by reading or siesta!

If you’re open to other destinations then I’d suggest Cyprus or Turkey in Oct half term

If it has to be Greece then it’s either a northern island in August or a very southern island in October.

Crete and Rhodes are your best chance in Oct as they are more-year round destinations so don’t close down as much (though some small beach towns will) and have plenty to do and see if it’s not warm.

In Aug I would aim for Skiathos (or Skopelos if you don’t mind a boat ride after the flight) they are more northerly and don’t seem to get as baking.

Everywhere will be very busy in August, slightly better right at the end after the bank holiday. So may depend what you can find that isn’t booked.

I’ve been on so many really hot holidays with my DC and didn’t find avoiding the early afternoon sun a thing. We’d dry off, have a nice lunch, go back to room have a play, tablet time and go back out at about 3pm. Most families did the same, it’s slightly trickier on water park days but other than that totally fine.

@Sevensummers Thanks for that. Our last holiday was to a canary island and I’ve holidayed a lot in Turkey over the years so hoping to go somewhere different.

If you are open to an October holiday I would recommend Cyprus. We did have some less nice days but in general it was hot enough to swim and there was still plenty open to go out and enjoy the island.

Rhodes in August - it was seriously hot, too hot to do a lot unless we left at 8am.

It’s 10 years ago but I went to Crete in Oct half term and it was absolutely perfect. Around 25 degrees and sunny every day which is hot enough for me to sunbathe but also do some sightseeing. We stayed in Gouves which was pleasant enough but I really liked Agios Nikolaos and Elounda when we visited. I previously went to Zante in late June and it was unbearably hot. However, the following year we did a gulet cruise in Turkey and it rained 5 days out of 7!

I’ve done Greece in the may half term and it was perfect: mid 20s and mainly sun. I wouldn’t have enjoyed our holiday nearly as much of it had been mid 30s plus. It does really feel like people are shifting towards the may/October half terms and Easter breaks for the transitional summer destinations. You gamble a bit with rain but temps are more pleasant.

Far too hot in August and we visit the Greek Islands a lot.
Yes some will be winding in October .
We go to Corfu every September and it's still 30 on an evening.
What about Cyprus.. we go to Tala near Paphos every October.. everything still open.
Beach and pool weather ..don't think you will be disappointed.

Someone on my my Facebook page who is in Greece at the moment said nighttime temperatures are 34! I know not all the Islands have the same temperatures as mainland Greece, but I’d be doing a lot of research before going anywhere Greek in August

We went to Crete in October half term two years ago. It was really windy and cold!

We were in Crete at October Half Term last year, booked last minute after checking forecasts in Europe & it was the warmest place, absolutely beautiful weather. However we were told the year before was quite chilly & wet so you never know. Will now wait until we get the 10day forecast again to see where to go this October!

@reluctantbrit I have considered Cypress. Whereabouts might you recommend as a nice area to stay there? Somewhere not too touristy but with an atmosphere.

Cyprus was one of my best holidays. We went in April and it was warm enough to swim in the sea (not the hotel pool though, that was too cold).

We stayed in an apartment in the Avanti Village in Paphos. Would highly recommend!

@PicturesOfLily Thank you for the recommendations. Mid 20s is perfect for me and my children. I like to walk and explore and I think in all honesty I’m just not going to be able to do that in august and it’ll leave me frustrated that I haven’t really seen a place properly.

@Bunnycat101 @IWantToBeASleepingCat @chocolateisavegetable Thank you to you all - really useful comments to hear. I couldn’t cope with it being that hot at night! Definitely swaying me more towards October.

Went in October three years ago, weather was lovely but most towns were ghost towns, everything was closed apart for one.

@Fraley Thats a good point enjoy waiting and booking last minute to see what the weather is up to. Thank you for sharing this.

@ErinAoife Good to know this I’ll be sure to look for a hotel that is half or full board.

I would go as close to the beginning of September as you can, and choose one of the more northerly islands.

We always used to go in August and apart from one year it was fine. Last time we went in August, we stayed in NE Corfu and travelled around to empty secluded coves early in the morning, stayed out til midday, popped to local shop to get freshly made tzatziki bread salad and feta, came back to villa had a long leisurely lunch by pool (or some days had a long leisurely lunch at a beachside taverna in the shade followed by a short snooze) and then went out again at 5ish to swim in sea etc or look around or shop and then ate later about 9pm.

Some days we went to different islands for the day but again punctuated the heat between 1.30ish -4 with a long lunch/cafe etc in the shade (or journey back). Key is getting up early and staying up late! Which is fine if you are siesta-ing.

August way too hot. I would never go to Greece later than May

@Delawear Unfortunately I can’t go then as I work in education. If I could I would go then or in June but I’m restricted to August, Oct or the following May.