Kastoria, Greece. Photo: Shutterstock On October 27, 2025, almost a year ago, a heat wave hit Crete, bringing 32 degrees in the shade. A perfect day for the sea by all accounts, and also for some taverna on the beach. But at the end of October, traditionally, it is a bit difficult to find a quality taverna open on the beach in the Chania area. Open hotels are also, to be honest, a bit difficult to find. This is one example of a phenomenon that has been going on for years.
Historically, the holiday season in Greece and the islands ends somewhere between September and October; Greeks on the islands move to work in the olive harvest, and some also leave the island for the big cities where they own houses. And if we're honest, maybe it's a chicken-and-egg situation, but tourists from all over the world don't flock to Greece in seasons other than summer either.
Chania, Crete. Photo: SHUTTERSTOCKSeveral years ago, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis expressed his intention and shared his plan to make Greece a "365-day-a-year vacation destination." But the response from locals, who are accustomed to a certain lifestyle (and work very hard during the tourist summer months), was mediocre, sometimes even dismissive.
Greek Prime Minister Mitsotakis. Photo: SHUTTERSTOCKOn the other hand, the aforementioned conditions work in the country's favor. The weather is pleasant even in the fall and not freezing like in Europe in the winter, the facilities are there (hotels, restaurants, taxis even on some of the islands) and the need is there too - to disperse the residents throughout the year and relieve the unbearable burdens in the summer months.
However, the lack of direct flights to some areas of the country in the winter, the traditional complete closure of parts of the country in the fall, winter, and even spring months, and the reluctance of the locals - all of these make it very difficult to implement the plan.
Now, the Greek Ministry of Tourism is picking up the stick thrown by the Prime Minister and trying to begin adapting the country to 365-day-a-year tourism activity. One example of this is the increasing investment in mountain tourism and lesser-known destinations.
In Western Macedonia, for example, the potential of mountain ranges, lakes and rivers is emphasized, along with nature trails, traditional villages, wineries, culinary delights and heritage sites. The message being promoted by the Greek Ministry of Tourism, whose representatives visited the place this week, is clear: Greece is not only "sun and sea", but also a land of mountains, forests, lakes and authentic experiences.
And indeed, Athens and Thessaloniki can attract tourists all year round and are suitable for vacations in all seasons, the mountain areas offer opportunities for hiking, skiing and nature activities, and the wine and gastronomy regions can become centers of attraction even in the cold months. Also religious-Christian tourism, health tourism and wellness vacations.
Representatives of the Greek Ministry of Tourism in Kastoria. Photo: Greek Ministry of TourismAmong the destinations we marked at the Greek Ministry of Tourism is Kastoria. One of the most beautiful cities in the northwest of the country, located on a peninsula in the middle of a lake. The city combines history with spectacular nature, magnificent mansions and ancient churches. A vacation that can also be suitable for the months after the hot summer.
The bottom line is not whether Greece can offer a vacation every day of the year, but whether Greece wants to and whether the tourists will come. Whether the country can provide all the services, flights, catering, accommodation and everything else needed to turn the summer tourism powerhouse into one of the most visited countries in the world, 12 months a year.