December in Greece: Where the winter sun meets the vast blue sky

Despite living in Britain for more than a decade now, the intricacies of holiday coordination remain elusive to me. While my colleagues finalise complex itineraries months in advance, I often find myself without a destination. Last December, spurred by the typical London gloom, I sought to retire to a sun-drenched sanctuary. For those starved of sunlight, it is the ultimate travel luxury.

Navigating the chaos of peak season, I searched for a European locale offering a blend of radiant skies and festive Christmas atmosphere, ultimately choosing Greece. In a stroke of luck—owing to my spontaneous planning, I discovered my accommodation was not in central Athens but in the vibrant port of Piraeus, just 30 minutes off the city of Athens. This accidental choice proved perfect, offering a seamless combination of maritime beauty and the profound historical majesty of the nearby capital.

The Island of Agistri

Piraeus serves as a convenient gateway to the Greek islands, with numerous ships and ferries departing directly from its port. For those seeking a world untouched by modern connectivity and frantic busyness, winter explorations of smaller but pristine islands like Agistri and Aegina are a must. There, you can admire the seamless blend of the blue seacoast and skyline, marvel at the monk-like houses perched atop high mountains, and begin to understand why Greek mythology envisioned so many deities inhabiting the areas surrounding Mount Olympus.

A sharp contrast to these quiet islands, Athens demands preparation and planning. The sheer volume of historic landmarks, extensive museums, and lively shopping districts means time can evaporate rapidly. Utilising the Athens City Bus Tours is a practical solution; these frequent services navigate the city’s primary attractions. This hop-on-and-hop-off system allows tourists to investigate specific sites. Since tickets remain active for 24 hours, one can easily hop on and off the whole day. In Athens city, the core historical sites include Acropolis and Parthenon, Acropolis Museum, Ancient Agora and Temple of Hephaestus.

These places can be visited in two days. Both the Acropolis, the ancient site of Greek civilisation and the Acropolis Museum, the more modern curation of the archaeology, can keep tourists spell-bound in reimagining what this ancient civilisation achieved in the 5th Century BC. As ascending the ancient heights of the Acropolis demands significant physical stamina and resolve, travelling with minimal luggage ensures a far more effortless journey.

Food in a flea market tavern

Finally, food and fun! If you are a shopping buff, don’t miss the busy, bustling, and bargaining Monastiraki flea market adjacent to the Ancient Agora. In the flea market, you just follow the crowd and move on. Keep your eyes open for endless stakes of souvenirs, be ready to bargain, but don’t get too carried away in shopping because you really want to taste the gorgeous, sumptuous, and elaborate dishes in traditional Greek taverns.

The Monastiraki flea market houses some of the oldest taverns in Athens, including Thanasis, Bairakaris Taverna and multiple others. You need to be ready to stand in a long queue before you can even enter any tavern. But the wait will absolutely worth it if you have a plateful of kebab, freshly grilled fish, baked moussaka and fresh Greek yoghurt.

To cap it all, I think December is just a perfect time to soothe your eyes with the bounties of Greece. I can only imagine how hot and humid Athens would be in summer. The joy of exploring is marred by heat, sweat and fatigue. So, don’t wait and hesitate. Athens is calling you this December!

Rifat Mahbub, a writer and researcher, lives and works in London, the United Kingdom