What will you see in Greece in the Spring? Why is Spring one of the best times of year to visit Greece? Most travelers to Greece come during the summer, when the weather is hot. It’s an ideal time to be on the beach, and you can enjoy a taverna meal late in the evening outdoors. The spring, however is very special in Greece and is one of the best times to visit.
What Is the Spring Season Like in Greece?
The spring in Greece is known for its sweet weather, blossoming nature and splashes of color feature across Greece as the spring season gets underway.
Winter may have ended in March but it is in April and May that the change of season is felt. Especially for a country like Greece where sunshine is a way of life, spring is an exciting time. Trees and wildflowers bloom across the countryside, from the mountain villages through to the islands.
The temperature hovers around a comfortable 25 degrees, which means that heavy coats can be left behind, while some people even take their first swim of the year.
What Can I Do in the Spring in Greece?
Springtime is a great time to visit the country. Ahead of the summer crowds, prices are lower and traveling across the country is a truly unique experience. Hiking through nature is also popular, especially in green areas in Crete, on the Greek mainland near Mount Olympus and Pelion, and in the Ionian islands.
Sweet smells from herbs and plants fill the air, providing those walking through hills and valleys with an instant mood lift. Hundreds of plants are endemic to Greece, meaning that they can only be found in the country, while wild herbs such as thyme, sage and chamomile are very common.
When is Greek Orthodox Easter?
It’s also Easter this season. Orthodox Easter is the biggest celebration in Greece marked by a mass exodus from the cities to the countryside. Driven by religious faith and the need to welcome spring, Greeks head to the villages in the lead up to Easter Sunday, which is celebrated this year in early May.
For the Greeks, Easter is all about spending time with family and friends and is traditionally celebrated outdoors with lots of Greek music, plenty of wine and food (lamb is the most common dish of the day.)
Nature in Greece
In the northern Greek region of Veria, the arrival of spring is marked by fields of orchards filled with hundreds of pink flowered peach trees. Every year a bike ride is organized in the area, drawing hundreds of cyclists, while a photo competition is also held attracting nearly 500 participants.
Nearby in Kozani, Crocus flowers pop out of the ground, forming an impressive purple carpet.
Saffron, a spice and food coloring agent, is produced by this flower in what is also referred to as the Gold of the Greek Earth. The flowers are an agricultural product from Kozani and more specifically from Krokos, a village nearby, named after the flower itself.
The harvest involves 40 small villages in the area with one of the most valuable varieties of Saffron known for its scent, colour, and medicinal properties.
Even in the densely populated areas of Athens, spring can be felt. The capital’s streets are lined with the “neratzia,” or bitter orange tree. It has been chosen by city planners for its durability and relatively thin trunk, which is an advantage for the narrow Athenian sidewalks.
When in bloom, the aroma from the tree’s flowers reaches nearly everywhere.
Another characteristic of the city is the “koutsoupia”, known in English as the “Judas tree”, with its dense purple flowers. Many of these trees can be found on central streets such as Amalias, Ippokratous, Akadimias and Aiolou.
Further south in the Peloponnese, surrounding the cities of Corinth, Sparta and Kalamata, and even further down in Crete, the poppy flower dots landscapes.
Reaching up to a meter tall, the poppy is a common symbol that has been used to represent everything from peace to death to even sleep. In Greece, the flowers are in their prime time in late spring through to early summer.
Another spectacular site can be seen on the island of Chios, located in the northern Aegean Sea.
In the south of the island, countless crimson wild tulips bloom in the plains and meadows in March, in a unique site unknown to many.
In Chios, tulips are called “lalades”, testifying in a way to their origin, as they come from the Persian word “lale”, which means tulip. The name was adopted by locals during the Ottoman rule of the island.
