Greece is antiquity and holiday in one: the Acropolis rising over Athens, then a ferry or flight to islands where the day is measured in swims, long lunches and sunsets. Santorini's caldera and Mykonos's lanes are the famous pair, but the Greece beyond them — Crete, the Peloponnese, the smaller Cyclades — is where many travellers lose their hearts.
It's relaxed, sun-soaked and made for slowing down. Here's our short brief.
Best time to go
May – June & September – OctoberThe sweet spots — warm sea, sunshine and fewer crowds than high summer.
July – AugustPeak: hot, lively and busy, with the islands at their most social (and priciest).
November – MarchQuiet and cooler; Athens works year-round, but many island services wind down.
What not to miss
AthensThe Acropolis and its museum, the Plaka's lanes and a rooftop dinner under the lit Parthenon.
SantoriniWhite villages on the caldera rim and the world's most photographed sunset at Oia.
MykonosWindmills, whitewashed lanes and beach clubs — Greece at its most glamorous.
CreteMinoan Knossos, mountain villages and some of the country's best beaches and food.
The PeloponneseAncient Olympia and Mycenae, seaside Nafplio and quieter coasts, all by road from Athens.
Visas & entry
Greece is in the Schengen Area. Malaysians and many nationalities visit visa-free for up to 90 days (with the new ETIAS authorisation rolling out); others need a Schengen visa. We'll confirm and help you prepare.
Visa & OCI servicesPractical tips
- Island-hop slowly — two or three islands in a week, not five; ferries and flights eat time.
- Book Santorini's caldera-view hotels and sunset spots well ahead in summer.
- Lunch is late and long — lean into it; dinner rarely starts before eight.
- Carry a hat, reef shoes for pebbly beaches, and cash for the smaller tavernas.
