The best trips for October’s long weekend
If you're already missing the summer, check your 2022 bank holiday calendar and discover that the 28th of October, that is a Greek National Holiday, starts on a Friday, making this a delicious long weekend. It’s about to get really busy, so you better get planning! With high-speed vessels, even the most distant destinations are close to you, while with all the ports scattered all over Greece, you can travel from anywhere in Greece you desire. Choose your destination and book ferry tickets today with Let's Ferry!
October getaways from Athens
The ports of Piraeus, Rafina and Lavrio are the best starting point for your journey. Find routes that leave on Thursday evening or bright and early on Friday morning and get on your way back to Athens late Sunday evening. Apart from the Argosaronic islands which are always a good idea, you can try out many other destinations that will offer you unforgettable mini holidays.
View of Kea island
Photo courtesy of Triton Ferries
Kea: This especially charming island, also known as Tzia, is just 1 hour away from Lavrio. The Chora is called Ioulida and it is located at the top of the island overseeing the deep blue Aegean Sea. Kea is particularly loved by divers, since 3 sunken ships and 1 aircraft can be found at its bottom. Here you will also find the largest oak forest in the Cycladic complex.
Tinos: Now that the big wave of tourists has left, the Cycladic island is just perfect for some further exploration. See its mountain villages such as Volax with its eerie lunar landscape, and Pyrgos, which has been branded a traditional settlement. Tinos is one of the islands that produces its own beer at the award-winning Nisos brewery, and in autumn you will be able to visit it for some beer tasting. From Tinos, easily and quickly, with coastal ferry tickets from Let's Ferry, you can go to Mykonos, Syros and Andros, the islands you can already point to on the horizon.
Wild landscape of Andros
Photo courtesy of Eleftherios Plakidas
Crete: Crete is not such a far destination for a three-day getaway. Choose any of its ports you wish, see trips and offers for the long October weekend and get ready for three-days filled with gastronomy and tradition. Both Heraklion, Rethymnon and Chania are modern cities that are vibrant and lively all year round. Universities, museums, public services and many permanent residents make the island an attractive destination.
The port of Heraklion, Crete
See the Palace of Knossos, walk along the Venetian Harbor in Chania and hike in Omalos before the first snows cover the mountain. You will definitely be looking forward to returning to the island for more.
October excursions from Kilini and Patras
Western Greece has its own gateway to the Greek islands. The Ionian Sea is a breath away from most areas of the Peloponnese and the Western Mainland, all you have to do is reach the ports of Patras and Kilini. See where you can go on excursions for the long weekend of the National Holiday on October 28, 2022: Kefalonia: The verdant Ionian island has two cities just waiting for you: Argostoli and Lixouri.
Kefalonia's port with yachts
Most services and shops are located in the capital, Argostoli, while the airport is also close. The island has many award-winning beaches with blue waters, but it also has beauties you can enjoy all year round. Here, you can dabble into wine-making! Did you know the vineyards of Kefalonia produce Robola, one of the most famous Greek wines? Near Sami, you will find Melissani, one of the most impressive caves in Greece. It is open all year round, so let the locals take you boating and tell you all the fascinating stories of the cave.
Travelling from Thessaloniki
At the end of October, the city puts on her best face, as Saint Dimitrios that is celebrated on the 26th of October, as well as the National Holiday on the 28th are reason enough to be in a festive mood. This long weekend is a good opportunity to travel to the surrounding areas and admire the beauty of Northern Greece. Lake Kerkini, the delta of Axios, Kavala, the waterfalls in Edessa are places of special natural beauty. But if you are craving for an island, log on here at the Let's Ferry website to see all the available itineraries from the port of Thessaloniki.
Alternatively, travel approximately 3.5 hours by car to the port of Igoumenitsa or only 2.5 hours to Volos. See where you can travel from these two ports:
Corfu: The princess of the Ionian Sea with its unsurpassed Old Town has so many attractions that three days is never enough to visit them all. Palio and Neo Fourio and Pontikonissi are must-visit spots, and classic dishes include pastitsada, burdeto and bianca.
Skiathos island in a panoramic view
Skiathos: The Sporades island has the most intense vibe of them all. Combine your trip to Volos and the tsipouradika (tavernas that serve local tsipouro spirit) with a visit to Skiathos to enjoy the cobbled streets of its Chora without the large summer crowds. The Museum of Alexandros Papadiamantis and the walk in Strofilia Lagoon in Koukounaries will give you a much needed break until the Christmas holidays.
Destinations in Greece are always countless. In October, the sea is still warm, and the islands are a great idea. Take advantage of the long weekend and book your tickets early with Let's Ferry.