Greece has quietly become one of Europe's best all-inclusive destinations, thanks largely to a wave of luxury resorts (Ikos chief among them) that reinvented the format on islands like Crete, Corfu, Kos, and the Halkidiki peninsula. Here's what to know before you book.
- Language
- Greek
- English widely spoken
- Currency
- Euro
- Power
- 230V, European Type C/F plugs
- Driving
- On the right
- Main airports
- Athens (ATH) + island airports
Where Greece splits
The resort areas are not interchangeable. What each one is actually for.
Crete
The biggest island and the deepest choice, with a season that runs longer at both ends than the rest of Greece manages. Pick it for food, for Knossos and the Samaria gorge on your days off the beach, and for finding a resort at any price. It is also large enough that the drive from the airport to your hotel can be two hours, so check before you book.
Start with Grecotel Caramel Boutique Resort, five-star, adults-only.
Rhodes
The reliable-sun island: long sandy beaches down the east coast, a medieval walled city that is a proper day out, and a short transfer from the airport. Pick it for the best value big-resort beaches in the country. The Aegean wind is a real feature here, so the west-facing side is for windsurfers rather than for lilos.
Start with Atrium Prestige Thalasso Spa Resort and Villas, five-star.
Corfu
Green, Italian-inflected and softer than the Aegean islands: olive groves down to the water, calm bays on the east coast, and a Venetian old town worth a day. Pick it for scenery and for the country's best luxury all-inclusives. It is the wettest of these islands, which is exactly why it is the greenest.
Start with Ikos Dassia, five-star.
When to go to Greece
Climate normals for Crete, and our verdict on each month.
| Measure | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average daily high | 60 degrees Fahrenheit | 61 degrees Fahrenheit | 64 degrees Fahrenheit | 69 degrees Fahrenheit | 76 degrees Fahrenheit | 83 degrees Fahrenheit | 85 degrees Fahrenheit | 85 degrees Fahrenheit | 81 degrees Fahrenheit | 74 degrees Fahrenheit | 68 degrees Fahrenheit | 62 degrees Fahrenheit |
| Rainfall | 3.5″ | 3″ | 2.2″ | 1″ | 0.6″ | 0.1″ | 0.1″ | 0.1″ | 0.8″ | 2.7″ | 2.3″ | 3″ |
| Verdict | Off-peak | Off-peak | Shoulder | Good | Prime | Prime | Good | Good | Prime | Prime | Shoulder | Off-peak |
Sweet spot. Late May–June and September–early October (July–August is hottest and busiest); rainy season runs November–February.
Storm risk. No tropical systems: Mediterranean weather, with essentially rain-free summers.
Figures are long-term climate normals for Crete, good for planning. They are not a forecast.
Do you need a visa for Greece?
U.S. and Canadian citizens can visit Greece visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period; you just need a passport valid for at least three months beyond your stay.
One change is on the horizon: the EU's new ETIAS travel authorization is set to launch in late 2026 and become required around 2027. It's a quick online approval (about €20), valid for multiple trips over several years, not a visa. Until it's required you travel as before, but check the official EU site (travel-europe.europa.eu) for current timing.
Is Greece safe?
Greece is among the safer countries you can visit, and the resort islands are especially low-key. The usual European caveats apply: watch for pickpockets in tourist crowds, and note the occasional strike or demonstration in Athens. Use normal precautions and you'll have no issues; check travel.state.gov for the current advisory.
Currency and tipping
Greece uses the euro. Tipping is modest and not aggressively expected: round up or leave 5–10% at restaurants for good service, and a euro or two for housekeeping and drivers. Cards are widely accepted, but carry some cash for small tavernas and island shops.
When to visit
Greek-island season runs May through October. July and August are hot, busy, and priciest, while late May, June, and September give you warm seas with thinner crowds and better value. Many island resorts close over winter.
Getting there & around
Many island resorts have direct seasonal flights from European hubs; otherwise you'll connect through Athens (ATH), or Thessaloniki (SKG) for the Halkidiki peninsula, to island airports like Crete (Heraklion or Chania), Corfu, Kos, or Rhodes. Greece drives on the right; resort transfers cover arrivals, and a rental car is handy for exploring an island independently.
What to do beyond the resort
Beyond the beach, explore whitewashed villages and harbors, take a boat day-trip to hidden coves, and eat your way through family tavernas. Crete has the Minoan palace of Knossos and dramatic gorges; Corfu its Venetian old town; Rhodes its walled medieval city; and almost everywhere, sunsets worth planning dinner around.
Good to know
Power & plugs: 230V, European Type C/F; bring an adapter. Language: Greek, with English widely spoken in tourism. Water: tap water is fine on the mainland and many islands, though bottled is common on smaller ones. Dress: beach-casual, smart-casual at à la carte dinners, and cover up at monasteries.
Getting to Greece
Indicative round-trip fares into Athens (ATH) from the major US gateways, cheapest first. Tap through for live prices and dates.
| From | Airport | Round trip |
|---|---|---|
| New York | JFK | $669Cheapest |
| Newark | EWR | $712 |
| Chicago | ORD | $736 |
| Boston | BOS | $768 |
| Miami | MIA | $785 |
| Atlanta | ATL | $879 |
| Los Angeles | LAX | $882 |
| Dallas | DFW | $951 |
Where the Greece resorts are
37 resorts mapped stars are five-star properties
The best all-inclusive resorts in Greece
The Greece properties we would actually book. For the full numbered ranking, see the best all-inclusive resorts in Greece.
Where to stay in Greece
The resort areas we cover, and which properties sit in each.
Resort chains in Greece
The brands operating here. The ones we rank in full link through to the chain, what its plan really covers, and every resort of theirs we track.
Where these companies came from
Almost nobody in this category publishes it. Read oldest first and the list is a short history of how Greece came to look the way it does.
Greece, head to head
Price, flights, sand, food and safety, compared honestly.
Greece vs JamaicaMexicoDominican RepublicMaldivesSpainTurks & CaicosArubaBarbadosSt. LuciaItalyPortugalTurkeyAntiguaCuraçaoBrazilCosta RicaPhilippinesFrench PolynesiaMoroccoEgyptSouth AfricaMauritiusKenyaTanzaniaMozambiqueThailandIndonesiaMalaysiaPunta CanaCancúnRiviera MayaLos CabosPuerto VallartaMontego BayNegrilOcho RiosGuanacasteBahiaBora BoraMalé AtollsRodney BayBarbados South CoastBarbados West CoastViti LevuVanua LevuCanary IslandsBalearic IslandsCosta del SolSharm el-SheikhHurghada & the Red Sea CoastBelekLara & AntalyaMaldives Outer AtollsSoufrière & South St. LuciaGrenadaFijiCroatiaU.S. Virgin IslandsSri LankaSeychellesBahamasChileArgentinaUnited States
Reading on Greece
- GuideKids' club ages, decoded: the fine print under "family-friendly"Most kids' clubs start at four, which is news to every parent of a toddler who booked around one. Drop-off ages, potty rules, the 11-to-13 dead zone, and the questions to email before you book.Jul 12, 2026 · 5 min read
- GuideThe girlfriends' trip playbookHow to pick an all-inclusive a whole group will love: the room math, the vibe question, and the conversations to have before anyone puts down a deposit.Jul 9, 2026 · 3 min read
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a visa for Greece?
No: U.S. and Canadian citizens can visit visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180. The EU's ETIAS authorization launches in late 2026 and becomes required around 2027 (a ~€20 online approval, not a visa); check the official EU site for timing.
What is ETIAS?
A new EU travel authorization for visa-exempt visitors, launching late 2026 and expected to be required in 2027. It's a quick online application (about €20) valid for multiple trips over several years, not a visa. Until it's required, you travel as before.
Is Greece safe?
Yes: it's among the safer destinations, and resort islands are very low-key. Use normal precautions against pickpockets in tourist crowds, and note occasional strikes in Athens. Check travel.state.gov for the current advisory.
Do you tip in Greece?
Modestly. Round up or leave 5–10% at restaurants, and a euro or two for housekeeping and drivers. It's appreciated, not obligatory.
When is the best time to visit the Greek islands?
May through October. July–August are hottest and busiest; late May, June, and September give you warm seas, fewer crowds, and better prices. Many island resorts close in winter.
Do I need a rental car?
Not at an all-inclusive; resort transfers cover arrivals. A car is handy for exploring an island independently, but it's optional.