Live Greece

Winter opening hours apply from 1 November to 31 March

• Greek sources confirm the winter schedule runs 1 November to 31 March and is set each period by a Ministry of Culture decision. The latest decision we could find covers 2025–26 (Government Gazette B’ 5655/24.10.2025); we did not find the 2026–27 decision.
• Entry is allowed up to 20 minutes before closing time, unless the table says otherwise. Sites are closed on 25–26 December, 1 January and 25 March.
• Free-entry Sundays are announced: Sunday 1 November 2026 was a free-entry day at state sites and museums.

Our advice: We confirm exact hours on the Ministry’s site on the day you visit, and book the first slot.

Sources: Odigos tou Politi (el): winter hours 2025–26; Odigos tou Politi (el): free entry, Sunday 1 November 2026 · checked 7 November 2026

Timed-entry tickets via the official platform; 2026–27 winter hours not yet confirmed

• Greek-language guides report timed entry only, sold on hhticket.gr, with a standard adult ticket of €30 and a daily cap of about 20,000 visitors.
• Summer hours are widely reported as 08:00–20:00; sources disagree on winter closing time.
• The Acropolis and other state sites have closed during national strikes by antiquities-guard staff (for example, a 24-hour ΠΕΥΦΑ strike). We found no strike reported for November 2026.

Our advice: Check hhticket.gr the day before, and have a flexible plan in case of a strike or heat closure.

Sources: Ministry of Culture e-ticketing (hhticket.gr); Parapolitika (el): Acropolis strike, participation figures · checked 7 November 2026

Opened for 2026 on 19 May; closes on bad-weather and fire-risk days; end-of-season date not confirmed

• The management body (ΟΦΥΠΕΚΑ) opened the park for the 2026 season on Tuesday 19 May. It is a summer-season walk, and closures on days of high fire risk or severe weather are routine; the gorge was closed at both entrances on 22 September 2026 for a storm forecast.
• We could not find the official 2026 closing date. The gorge normally shuts for winter, so treat it as closed unless an official notice says otherwise.

Our advice: Not recommended in November. We route Crete guests to Knossos, Chania and the south-coast villages instead.

Sources: Naftemporiki (el): Samaria Gorge opens for 2026; Greek City Times: Samaria Gorge reopens with new safety measures · checked 7 November 2026

Reopened to the public on 11 April 2025 after roof works; 2026 hours not confirmed

• The Cyclades Ephorate of Antiquities announced that the Akrotiri site would reopen on 11 April 2025. The site had previously been closed for protective-roof works.
• Summer hours are set by Government Gazette each year (1 April to 31 October); we found the 2025 decision but not a 2026 equivalent.

Our advice: Visit in the morning; we confirm hours with the Ephorate when we schedule your day.

Sources: Cyclades Ephorate of Antiquities: Akrotiri reopens · checked 7 November 2026

No current advisory found; the last major episode was February 2025

• Greek reporting on seismic activity around Santorini and neighbouring islands dates from early February 2025, when extra sailings were added and schedules later returned to normal. We found nothing for November 2026.
• Ferry services are reduced in winter and cancelled in strong winds regardless of seismic activity.

Our advice: Fly to Santorini in winter, and check the Ministry of Shipping and the ferry operators before sailing.

Sources: Ferryhopper (el): Santorini earthquakes, travel advice; Skai (el): Ministry of Shipping measures · checked 7 November 2026

Each monastery has its own closing day; no official 2026 winter hours found

• Guides report about €3 per monastery, a strict dress code, and different weekly closing days. For example, Varlaam is reported closed on Fridays in summer and on Thursdays and Fridays in winter.
• Church feast days override the weekly schedule, and individual monasteries have announced short closures in past winters.

Our advice: We confirm which monasteries are open on your date and choose two or three accordingly.

Sources: All Over Greece (el): Varlaam Monastery hours; Visit Meteora · checked 7 November 2026

Check official warnings daily in summer and storm season

• Samaria Gorge and some archaeological sites close on days of extreme heat, fire risk or storms. The Hellenic National Meteorological Service (ΕΜΥ) publishes warnings, and the Civil Protection authority publishes the daily fire-risk map in the fire season.
• The European emergency number in Greece is 112.

Our advice: We monitor warnings for the days of your trip and move outdoor visits to safe hours or days.

Sources: Hellenic National Meteorological Service (HNMS/ΕΜΥ); Civil Protection, Greece · checked 7 November 2026