Where you can travel to safely – NOW!
You want to escape from the bleak autumn days, but don’t know where it’s safe right now? We can help you find the perfect places. Greece and especially the Greek islands have reacted early to Covid-19 and got great safety measures in place right from the get-go. As a result, the Corona Pandemic was kept under control which means you can travel there safely today without having to worry. We have compiled our Top 5 most beautiful Greek islands for you!
1. Chania on Crete – discovering the old and new
Chania is located on probably the most popular islands in Greece, Crete. There are a lot of beautiful places to discover, which are super safe because you will not meet many people in the vastness of nature. One of these places is the botanical garden in Crete. Only 30 minutes away from Chania you can really immerse yourself in the Mediterranean scents here. Stroll through oregano and mint, past papayas and guavas to the beautiful restaurant in the middle of the park. Outside of Chania, you can also find the Verekinthos Arts & Crafts Village. Here you can experience up close how beautiful little figures are carved from wood or how leather bags are made from scratch. So you will find unusual souvenirs for your friends and family at home which they will certainly be happy about. When you return to Chania with your travel partners in the evening, the port is your port of call. Here you can enjoy the sunset and admire the colourful little houses. Crete and Chania are tourist hotspots, especially in summer, so you should definitely come here in autumn and winter when it is emptier and therefore safer.
For a trip to the water, you will find the Balos Lagoon about 1.5 hours away from Chania. Deep blue water and beautiful nature await you there. It is very easy to get there by car and you can park in the designated parking lot and do the rest on foot. After 4:30 pm there are no more excursion boats, so you are almost alone and can enjoy the sunset with your travel partners.
2. Zakynthos – a paradise for beach lovers
The island of Zakynthos is the most southern Ionian island. Zakynthos has become more and more popular in recent years, but it is always an insider tip among many travelers. Steep coasts, turquoise water and lush green spaces await you here. The best way for you to explore this island is by car. You can easily share the costs for the rental car with your travel buddies! Zakynthos is especially popular among beach lovers, the most popular beach is the Smugglers’ Bay. Here you will find a real shipwreck, which ran aground in the bay in 1980. The bay is framed by hills that you can easily climb to get a great view over the water and the wreck.
On another beach, Kalamaki Beach, you will encounter numerous turtles. They hatch in the summer, but you will certainly be able to see some more in the water. If you want to be sure to see turtles, you should book a trip with a glass-bottom boat.
You don’t want to just relax on the beach? Then visit the small town Limni Keri and the Keri Caves. Near Keri, you will find Cameo Island, a piece of land that was separated from the mainland by an earthquake and can be reached via a wooden bridge. Zakynthos is not only a beautiful destination in summer but also in October and November, you will have pleasant temperatures, which is definitely a great reason to escape the German autumn and travel there safely right now.
If you want to know more about the most beautiful beaches and snorkeling spots, read our article about “The 10 most beautiful snorkeling spots in Europe”.
3. Thassos – a Greek insider tip
Thassos is not exactly a well-known spot for many travelers. This island in Greece is located in the northeast of the country and therefore a little bit off the radar from the other touristic hotspots. Thus, Thassos is rather a quiet destination, but this does not mean that you do not have a lot to experience and discover here.
The capital of the island Limenas is pretty small with around 3000 inhabitants but nevertheless, this place is full of amazing spots to discover. The enchanting fishing port invites you to enjoy delicious food and the lively shopping street is also perfect for catching authentic souvenirs. There are also excavation sites, such as the 2500-year-old theater. Right next to the city there are gently sloping sandy beaches where you can relax and enjoy the autumn sun.
On the east side of the island is one of the most beautiful beaches of all time, the Golden Beach. On the promenade, you will find numerous taverns, pensions and cafes.
If you like it more touristy or international, you should go to the south, to Potos and Pefkari. Both places are designed for foreign travelers, so you will find a lot of different accommodations, restaurants and activities.
In October it will be a bit fresher here compared to the other islands, but the sun will still warm you up. As Thassos is an insider tip, you won’t meet many people, especially in autumn, so this place is very safe.
4. Kos – an island for every type of travel
The island of Kos with its 33,000 inhabitants is also one of the most developed islands. You can relax on the beach, walk in the dense forests or go hiking in the Dikeos mountains. Kos is located in the east of the Greek mainland, close to the Turkish mainland.
Of course, there are also numerous beaches and possibilities to practice water sports. Due to the strong winds, many windsurfers and kiters come to the island to pursue their hobby. Around the places Marmari, Cape Psalidi and on the peninsula Kefalos there are surf stations where you can rent equipment.
The capital of the island, Kos City, is a lively port city that will immediately appeal to you and your Greek travel buddies. Here you will find hip bars, fancy restaurants and really good shopping facilities. The city is best explored by bike because the whole island is known as a bike mecca. You can rent bikes almost everywhere. Also in Kos town, you will find numerous excavation sites and an archaeological museum.
Hotels in Kos are open until the end of October because the rainy season starts in November. If you still want to spend your late autumn here, there are of course other places to stay. Just talk to your TripMates about what suits you best and together you can discover this beautiful and safe island in Greece.
5. Euboea – an undiscovered pearl
Evia is the second-largest island in Greece after Crete, but hardly anyone knows the island. So there are few hotel complexes and almost no tourist infrastructure, but this is what makes the island so special. Euboea is very close to the mainland, you can easily reach the island by car over a bridge.
You should travel to Euboea if you are looking for peace and quiet. There are no noisy clubs or crowded beaches here, only the harmony with nature. But the beaches are unique. In the low seasons, you won’t even find locals here. There are numerous bays to which you can drive or walk to reach the crystal clear water. The best place to stay is in Platane or Kymi, two small villages on the island with small cafes and also shopping facilities if you want to stay in a vacation apartment.
Otherwise, you will find a lot of breathtaking nature on Euboea. From dark blue water, over wide fields and deep canyons with high mountains – you should definitely explore this island by car! If you don’t always want to drive yourself, you can also enter a second driver, so that your road trip partner can take over from you.
As you can see, the islands in Greece, in particular, can be a great destination right now in the fall of 2020. Although this country is very popular with European tourists, there are still places where you can be completely alone with your Travel Buddies if you want to. So don’t wait and create your trip today on JoinMyTrip! Or find cool trips that have already been planned by our trip leaders in Greece and participate directly.
More helpful tips for traveling in these special times can be found here:
- Where to go in Spring 2021
- 6 Best Autumn Destinations in Europe
- Canary Islands – The New Coworking Paradise
- Best Caribbean Islands to Visit
