Refusing to put away their beach towel and swimsuit, August the 83rd or whatever the number may be is a typical Greek joke when it comes to prolonging the summer! After all, with autumn temperatures hovering around the mid-20s and even winter ones as high as 18C (64F) in November and December in the southern parts of the country, a trip to Greece promises coastal charm and the familiar diverse landscape.
Athenian Riviera: A whole coastal winter scene
The Greek capital would undoubtedly star among the top-beaches for a winter swim. In less than 40’ minutes from the Acropolis you can reach the 35-mile coastline of the Athenian Riviera, home to year-round swimmers, water skiers and tanned racquetball players. Vouliagmeni Beach, a meeting point for the locals or a dip in the thermal Vouliagmeni lake will heal your winter blues. In fact, a very vibrant open-water swimming community WeSwim organizes swimming sessions every Sunday from October to May swimming briskly across the coast.
Crete: Swimming season never really ends
With an average of 300 days of sunshine a year, Crete is one of your best options for a warm winter in the Mediterranean. While snow glitters on the peaks of the White Mountains, the coastal areas, particularly in the south, are warmer and drier. Amnisos beach in Heraklion is the meeting point for winter swimmers and the best proof for that is the beach volley net that stands on the beach all year round. In Chania, the fans of winter swimming gather on the beautiful beach of Kalamaki, where they usually cut the New Year cake. In Agios Nikolaos swimmers meeting place is the bay of Ammoudi, while in Rethymnon, Sitia and Ierapetra they meet on the long beach next to the city center.
Rhodes: Clear blue skies and delightful sea waters
As the gloomy northern European winter is looming, Rhodes benefits from the mild winters in the Mediterranean. Sweet November is delightful for strolls in the nature or around the eclectic mix of Gothic, Byzantine, and Renaissance buildings plus it is still warm enough to swim in the sea and all the crowds have gone. The island enjoys temperature with highs around 14-16° C (58-61° F) and lows around 9-11° C (48-51° F) but still, it is much warmer here than in many parts of northern Europe. Water sports can be enjoyed too as Rhodes boasts many surf and snorkeling aficionados.
Diaporos, Chalkidiki: No wetsuits required
Diaporos, a picturesque islet with natural beauty and pristine blue waters, lies right across Vourvourou village in the Sithonia peninsula. Due to its location, Diaporos has always calm and warm waters all year round, making it, a paradise for those who swim in the winter. As there are many reefs where one can snorkel, the place is well worth exploring. Diaporos belongs to a complex of islets together with Kalogria, Ambelitsi, Kalamonisia, Prassonisi, Peristera, Agios Isodoros.
Kos: Winter swimming in warm thermal waters
Relaxing in a hot spring or thermal bath is one the most popular winter activities as a mineral-rich bath is refreshing and restorative especially after a couple of hours of sightseeing or walking! The Therma Hot Springs and Beach in Kos feature an amazing combination of both soaking in the rejuvenating waters of the hot spring and vibrantly swimming along the beach. Some 10kms away from Kos Town and 8kms away from Psalidi, a pool area has been created where the hot springs emerge into the sea. The water flows into it at a temperature of 45-50 degrees and mingles with the sea water creating different levels of heat across the pool area and more bearable ones beyond the pool area.
Tip: If you are a beginner and want to start winter swimming, running on the wet sand is the best warm-up, before entering the cold water. It is best to avoid direct dives but enter gradually. Finally, there is an unwritten rule for the ideal time for staying in water. Stay in water for as minutes, as the sea temperature is (in Celcius degrees): if the temperature is 18 ° C, then the proposed swimming time is 18 minutes. The sea temperature in November is not lower than in June. The lowest temperatures occur on January, February and March and they start decreasing significantly when the first snow melts on the mountains, especially on beaches with rivers.
Read also:
An exotic beach with fine white-pink sand in Crete
The best beaches of Central Greece – Serviced or secluded, with amazing waters
5 spots for the perfect Greek autumn picnic in nature
