Best time to go to the Cyclades

2 min summary Best time to go Walking All our Greece guides

Best time to go to the Cyclades

Spring is the best time for nature lovers as you can observe orchids which produce their beautiful flowers Feb-April.

For many people, the traditional height of summer is not always the best time to visit the Cyclades, and walking holidays, for example, usually skip July and August due to the heat. The springtime brings flowers such as orchids out in wild abandon, and the water is warming up. June brings the aromatic wild herbs, and autumn the crocus along with crowd free ports. Between Nov – April you can get snow, showers and blissful sunshine, all in a day in the Cyclades. Be wary of Easter as the busier islands will be packed, but not if you are sailing the seas.

Call us for the best time to go to Cyclades

Cyclades Weather Chart

MIN °C

MAX °C

RAIN (mm)

JAN

105

FEB

MAR

APR

MAY

JUN

JUL

AUG

SEP

OCT

NOV

DEC

102

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Cyclades holidays travel advice

Sailing tips

Annie Antonatou from our Cyclades holidays supplier Mystic Blue:

“Our guests are welcome to get involved in sailing the boat if they wish, although it’s not compulsory. Our skipper gives all guests an introduction in sailing so you can help with trimming the sails and holding the helm, but there is also opportunity for other activities such as snorkelling and diving, walking, dolphin and bird watching. Or you can sit back and enjoy the sailing, sunbathe, or just relax and read your book. There is something for everyone.”

Sailing tips

Itinerary tips

“We take guests to smaller, unspoilt islands of the Aegean to show the real Greece – to mingle with locals and experience delicious food grown on the doorstep. Sailing to remote islands is a unique way to discover local producers – fresh fish from the fisherman, olive oil from a small grove or locally produced cheese. You'll experience a Greek feast with traditional island music and dancing. And discover unique Aegean wildlife. Dolphins, seals and loggerhead turtles will be sailing companions, plus land species like the Skyros’ wall lizard and Milos viper – the Aegean's unique natural wealth.”

When to go

“Walkers who visit the Cyclades between February and April will enjoy the relaxed pace of life of the out-of-season months as well as lower fees for accommodation. They may experience though some cool and damp days. The sea temperature is not ideal for swimming but this is compensated for by a green landscape with a variety of flowering plants such as asphodel, irises and tassel hyacinths. The flowering period lasts until June when most herbaceous plants start to dry out and a large part of the landscape is bathed in various yellow and brown tones. Some plants flower though in the summer such as the thistle, sage, thyme, winged sea lavender, yellow horned poppy and spiny startwort. Around September with the first showers plants such as such as sea squills, pine thistle and autumn crocus produce their flowers. All seasons have something to offer. “

When to go

Cultural advice

“In Greek ‘panigiria’ (local feasts), people of all ages gather, usually at the main square of the village, and under the uplifting sounds of the local musicians, they eat, drink wine and dance till dawn. Since the ancient times, feasts would take place in order to worship the god of Dionysus, the god of wine and festivity. I strongly recommend that you plan to attend one during your stay. Just ask us for dates and further information.”

Powell Ettinger, Director of our supplier The Small Cruise Ship Collection:

“Even though it is a cruise and most people speak English on board, do learn a bit of the local language for when you land and go in to visit local communities. Just a few words are really important.”

Cyclades holidays travel advice

At Responsible Travel, we think the best people to advise our travellers are often... other travellers. They always return from our tours with packing tips, weather reports, ideas about what to do - and opinions about what not to.

We have selected some of the most useful Cyclades holidays advice that our guests have provided over the years to help you make the very most of your holiday – and the space inside your suitcase.

Book early so that you can get a direct flight to Naxos itself, rather than fly to Mykonos or Santorini and then use the ferry.

- Laurence Copeland

“Annie’s walks are well prepared, all you need is good hiking shoes !... Annie prepared us some lovely picnics that we ate on the beach, and once in a small chapel. We enjoyed delicious food in a mixture of places, once in a small fisherman's café, delicious fresh fish, and a few times at the end of our hikes we ended up in family run places, where the food was their own produce. What could be better?” – Gillian Arcone

“If you wish to experience Greece and breathe its soul, then this is the tour to go on!... Be cognizant of the way of life in Greece – you will be advised not to waste natural resources (water, paper etc.)….Keep a good water proof jacket and fleece jacket handy – the weather in the mountains changes without warning – being prepared helps! Good shoes, sunglasses and sunscreen and you are all set! Wi-Fi is available in all the places, you will be staying, but a little piece of advice from a fellow traveller – leave those phones and tablets in the room – go out there – talk to the locals, enjoy a glass of wine and hear what they have to say – you will be amazed at what you will hear and how much there is to see.” – Sarita Chitrapu

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Take some reef shoes for kayaking and you will need walking trainers or boots. A pole is very useful too.

- Diana Rybinski on our Cyclades walking holidays in Greece

"It's a relaxing trip, most on board are of a more mature age. Shame there are not more round the mid 40's - mid 50's yr looking for this type of fulfilment. It’s a lovely trip.” - Rosanne Sene on an Island hopping cruise in the Aegean

“Travel light, and leave the hair dryer at home, you only need basic gear, and sunblock... the islands were not crowded and beautiful. The sailing was great fun, I had never been sailing before, and both Annie and Sorteris knew their stuff. You were asked to help if you wanted to as well.” – Louise Jones on a sailing and walking holiday

More relevant guides

Written by Catherine Mack

Best time to go to the Cyclades