Best time to go to South Aegean Islands

Summer sun is pretty much a given in the South Aegean Islands. Rhodes boasts more days of sunshine than any other Greek Island – a massive 300 a year – and the average temperature in July and August is 28°C. Over on Kos, you’ll rarely see the mercury dipping below 30 in the summer, and in the spring and autumn, temperatures are still comfortably in the mid-20s. The island gets most of its rain in the winter, too, so summers are nice and dry. Temperatures on Santorini and Mykonos tend to hit the 30°C mark in the summer, but sea breezes tend to take the edge off the heat, especially in the afternoons. Things are a bit cooler in spring and autumn, so they’re great times to visit if you want to sightsee rather than sunbathe.

Passports & Visas

Irish citizens don’t need a visa to enter Greece but must have a valid passport. For the most up-to-date passport and visa info, visit https://www.dfa.ie/travel/travel-advice/a-z-list-of-countries/greece/

Just so you know, the Greek government has a Climate Resilience Tax in place for all those visiting Greece. It was previously known as the Greek Tourism Tax. It's calculated per room, per night and is payable by cash or card when you check in at your accommodation. For stays between April and October, the fees are €2 per room, per night, for 1 and 2-star accommodation, €5 per room, per night, for 3-star accommodation, €10 per room, per night, for 4-star accommodation, and €15 per room, per night, for 5-star accommodation and villas. For stays between November and March, the fees are €0.50 per room, per night, for 1 and 2-star accommodation, €1.50 per room, per night, for 3-star accommodation, €3 per room, per night, for 4-star accommodation, and lastly, €4 per room, per night, for 5-star accommodation. These fees are subject to change and are based on the Greek official rating and not our own TUI tour operator T-rating.

Health & Safety

You should take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance to cover you while you’re away. It’s also a good idea to get a European Health Insurance Card – or EHIC – before leaving Ireland. Though it’s not a substitute for travel insurance, it entitles you to emergency medical treatment on the same terms as Greek nationals. It won't, however, cover you for medical repatriation, ongoing medical treatment or non-urgent treatment. For the latest health and safety info, visit https://www.dfa.ie/travel/travel-advice/a-z-list-of-countries/greece/