This autumn, Greece has listened to your dreams and is delivering higher accommodation standards, quality food and wine, a longer summer flight season and memorable holiday experiences. On top of fantastic scenery, a safe environment and a healthy lifestyle in the sun, the news from Greece is looking positive.
This autumn, there’s a real sense of momentum across Greece. Property owners are using the quieter months to upgrade their homes, new rules are improving holiday rental standards and visitor numbers remain high thanks to an extended flight season. Add in international recognition for Greek food, a lively calendar of events and encouraging property investment trends, and all signs point to a season thatโs full of opportunity for homeowners and investors.
Preparing for guests
Property owners that welcome guests, be it family or tourists, are using this quieter period to make improvements to their Greek homes, guided by the new rental standards and local planning regulations.
But it is also a time to relax and visit those places considered too busy in the summer. By gaining knowledge of what the modern traveller is looking for and visiting local attractions, events, cities and restaurants, they can confidently make recommendations to future guests.
The best food regions
Five Greek regions came in the top 11 of the โBest Food Regions in the World Awardsโ, presented by Taste Atlas. But, can you guess which Greek regions scored the highest? Well, second in the world was the Peloponnese, with its high-quality olive oil receiving high acclaim. In this region, you can find traditional tavernas serving dishes such as Paรฏdakia (lamb chops) and spit roasted pig (Gournopoula).
The rankings of other Greek regions were:
- 5th – The Cyclades, for their cheese, cherry tomatoes and flat bread topped with tomatoes, onion and olive oil. Popular places to eat were Oia, in Santorini and the Oasis restaurant in Naxos.
- 6th – Crete, for their oranges, olive oil and graviera cheese. Favourite restaurants included Antikristo, in Chania and Peskesi in Heraklion.
- 10th โ Macedonia, which is known for itโs honey, peaches and sweet pastries. Good traditional restaurants can be found all around Thessaloniki.
- 11th โ The North Aegean islands are recognised for their olive oil, ouzo, wine and the gum resin, mastic.
Autumn weather in Greece
The first dusting of snow has already been reported on the news this autumn. It was spotted on mountain tops in areas of high-altitude, such as Mount Olympus, Kaimaktsalan and Falakro. This is a very rare occurrence in Greece. The last October snowfall occurred in late October 2017.
In general, there have been signs of a decline in snowfall across Greece, with climate researchers noting that between 1991 and 2020, the duration of snow cover has decreased by about a day and a half each year. The ski season generally runs from December to March, particularly in the Peloponnese and Mount Parnassos.
The sun is shining on Greece, with the southern islands like Crete, Rhodes and the Cyclades (Santorini, Milos) getting the warmest autumn weather. Daytime temperatures in Crete in October are around 24ยฐC (75ยฐF).
Travel to the Peloponnese this autumn
The Peloponnese flight season has been getting longer, with some routes starting in April and the last direct Ryanair flight from London to Kalamata on 22nd October 2025.
Drive from Athens
The good thing about the Peloponnese is that you can fly to Athens year-round and then drive there. With easyjet flights in November starting at ยฃ26.99 from London, itโs an economical time to plan a viewing trip and hire a car from the airport.
Drive time from Athens airport right across to Kalamata is only two hours and 45 minutes, and there are other great towns in the Peloponnese to visit on the way, such as Nafplio and Corinth.
Kalamata flights
International arrivals at Kalamata International Airport in the Peloponnese rose significantly in the first eight months of 2025. According to official data, it went up 9.8% compared to the year before. Direct summer flights to the Peloponnese are in great demand from both tourists and owners of holiday homes, with many coming from the United Kingdom, Germany and the Netherlands. Hopefully this demand will encourage airlines to increase services again next year.
Fitness tourism
On 26th November 2025, the Olympic torch lighting ceremony for the 2026 Winter Olympics will be held in Ancient Olympia, in the Peloponnese. Social media is bursting with content built around people exercising in beautiful locations. The autumn weather in Greece is perfect for such energetic outdoor activities.
Sports breaks
According to National Geographic, one of the big travel trends is holidays booked to coincide with fitness events, such as city breaks when there is a marathon on. The Athens Marathon is certainly the most inspiring, as it follows the original marathon route from the city of Marathon to the Panathenaic Stadium in Athens. If you want to rent your property to tourists, sporting events could earn you some extra income in the autumn.
Sporting events in Greece this autumn
- Athens Marathon: 9th November 2025.
- Democritus Half Marathon and 5km city race in Xanthi: 30th November 2025.
- Costa Navarino Golf Tournament: 19th-23rd November 2025.
- Portokali Cup Regatta, Aegina (sailing competition): 1st-8th November 2025.
New rules on renting out your property
New rules for short-term rentals, such as those on Airbnb, took effect this autumn (1st October 2025). It helps distinguish between occasional rentals and professional activities involving three or more properties. It also ensures certain standards are met by those renting out to visitors.
Restricting new rentals
To address the shortage of long-term rentals in Athens, in 2025 and 26, there will be no new registrations allowed in the Short-Term Accommodation Property Registry in the first, second and third municipal districts of Athens.
However, Greek news reports are speculating that similar bans could happen in other parts of the country, such as Thessaloniki, Halkidiki, Santorini, Paros and parts of Crete. These are places that have a lot of tourists, but not enough affordable long-term rentals available for locals and hospitality workers.
However, there are investment opportunities to buy commercial properties for over โฌ250,000, to convert into long-term rental accommodation. Once renovation is completed, you can apply for a residentโs permit.
Raising the holiday rental standards
While it is understood that some people need to make some extra income from their spare rooms, it is important that certain standards are met. The new rules in Greece set minimum operational and safety standards for short-term rental properties, including requirements for natural lighting, ventilation, air conditioning, cleanliness and legal permits.
Safety certificates are required to cover the electrical appliances, fire extinguishers, smoke detectors and circuit breakers. Safety is of the utmost importance; therefore, there must be a first aid kit and clearly displayed fire exits and emergency contact numbers. Plus, properties must have liability insurance.
Size of building plots
Something to be aware of when buying land to build on is that local rules can change. Therefore, itโs important to stay up to date and get your planning permission as soon as possible. For example, Ekathimerini News reported that urban planning experts commissioned by the Environment Ministry are proposing increases in minimum land plot sizes required for construction on the Aegean islands of Ios, Sikinos and Folegandros.
Increasing the minimum plot size required to build is one way that authorities attempt to curb scattered development, particularly in the mountain areas and along the shoreline. A 100-metre coastal buffer zone could also be introduced, with a pause on any further new buildings. In addition, Sikinos has asked for further bans on wind turbines and any new large resorts. On the plus side, itโs good to see that local authorities are realising that overdevelopment could affect the character and appeal of their islands.
Property buying news
According to the Bank of Greece, although foreign real estate investments dropped in the first three months of 2025, it did improve in the second quarter. From 2010 to 2024, the course of foreign investments on the whole had been steadily rising.
Another positive sign is that during the January-July period, applications for residence permits through the golden visa program continued to record an increase of 5.8% compared to the same period last year. Many of these were people wanting to secure residency before the required investment went up, but the numbers are now expected to level out.
In general, overseas buyers are now focusing more on buying holiday homes in areas with lower tourism and more affordable house prices. Although popular islands and the Athenian Riviera are still attracting property buyers with over โฌ800,000 to spend, who are looking for an investment, a residence permit and a better lifestyle by the sea.
Millionaires moving to Greece
Many of the financially wealthy are also looking to enrich their lifestyle. Topping the wish list is to live in a place that offers a safe and healthy environment, economic stability, tax advantages and a high quality of life.
According to the latest Henley Private Wealth Migration Report 2025, around 142,000 millionaires are expected to relocate globally in 2025, bringing investment to their chosen destinations.
Greece was among the top ten countries in the world that millionaires are expected to move to in 2025, with a millionaire migration in Greece estimated at over 1,200. The only EU countries with more were Italy and Portugal.
How to spend your autumn in Greece
Autumn in Greece is a time to enjoy the landscape, cities, beaches and historic sites without the crowds. Bigger towns still have shops and restaurants open, but beach resorts without year-round residents tend to close.
Itโs a good temperature now to do sports, such as hiking, cycling and water sports. Alternatively, you could simply relax and appreciate the peace and quiet at your Greek home. Eating out and having friends round for dinner are popular pastimes.
In the towns you can sometimes find live music playing in bars and restaurants. Check local social media pages for food and wine festivals in your area, or take a tour of a winery or olive press.
Autumn wine tasting
Greece is becoming well known for its wine tourism, climbing to fifth place in the European Wine Tourism Index. People are now turning to Greece for authentic experiences, unique indigenous grapes and centuries-old winemaking traditions.
Greek wine regions provide breathtaking landscapes and historic vineyards to walk around in the autumn. You will find luxury retreats and small family-run wineries offering tasting tours, vineyard visits and hands-on winemaking experiences.
Autumn food and wine festivals
Greeceโs wine festivals are a great introduction to the local wines and culinary traditions. Visitors can sometimes try classic Greek dishes, such as Moussaka and Souvlaki, along with regional wines. Most festivals take place in early autumn, but you will still find some wineries prepared to do tours, with wine tasting and local tavernas offering traditional dishes served with local wine.
Other events in Greece this autumn
- World Wine Tourism Day: Sunday 9th November 2025. At various locations.
- The Map of Flavours: 29th-30th November 2025 in Thessaloniki. Presents more than 1,000 wines from over 160 estates.
- St. Nektarios Day: 9th November. You can see the procession of the saint’s relics in the streets of Aegina town and visit the monastery.
- Exhibition of Contemporary Studio Jewellery at the Museum of Modern Decorative Arts, Athens. Up to 30th November.
- International Kalamata Dance Cup, 15thโ16th November. Kalamata, Peloponnese.
Examples of concerts in Greece this autumn
- Morrisey: 12th December at the Tae Kwon Do Stadium, Faliro.
- Rod Stewart: 13th December at Athens Olympic Sports Complex.
- Candlelight concerts: every Saturday in November in Athens.
