Help me plan an easy cycling holiday in Greece

[cb31]

My son is just finishing his GCSE exams so I thought I might take him for a holiday treat, he is unvaccinated so Greece looks great.

What I am looking for:

Direct flights from London area, can be mainland or an island.
Around 5 days in July
Easy cycling, preferably MTB. I don't want to be climbing hills in the heat, it is meant to be pleasurable not a Strava challenge
2-4 hours cycling in the morning after breakfast with a stop for early lunch somewhere
Simple hotel each night, a pool would be very nice
Would like a tour rather than day trips from the same base
I love Greek tavernas, simple local food and drinks would be perfect.

Things to avoid
British egg and chips resorts, although my Greek is nearly zero so can't be too far off the beaten track
Cycling on busy roads

Is this possible or am I asking too much? Can anyone recommend an area to investigate? Is hiring bikes locally going to be too problematic? Thanks

[MattyD803]

Sorry, can't help with Greece really, but I think Spain has just lifted all restrictions on unvaccinated tourists in case that is of interest......and Majorca specifically is an absolute mecca for cyclists, (albeit road cycling) wondering if that is a better shout...? Beautiful scenery, flat bits, hilly bits, beaches and plenty of tree shaded market squares to grab light lunch, drinks, tapas etc. Loads of flight, bike hire and accommodation choices too and likely to be a little cooler than Greece.....? Shorter / cheaper flights too, typically.

If touring, not going out and back from a central base, surely you'll then have 5 days of clothing to lug around with you?

Edited by MattyD803 on Monday 23 May 16:23

[mie1972]

Cant give feedback yet as going in August, but I'm looking to hire bike from this place in Corfu.
https://www.cyclecorfu.com/

I notice they do MTB (I am hiring road) - but notice they also seem to specialise in tours, and Corfu seems particularly good for MTB I think.
I emailed them and got a reply quickly - seem a good outfit to deal with.


Ive been riding in Rhodes these past 2 Augusts - very hilly, more setup for road cycling and very few cafes up in the hills.
But stunning roads, almost deserted, very green. I'll definitely be heading back at some point. I was based in Pefkos, near Lindos while combining with family holiday, so just riding early mornings - as hit 40 degrees by 10am.

Rhodes hire was through - https://getactiverhodes.com/ - who I notice also hire MTB, but not tours.

[Daveyraveygravey]

I think you might find heat a problem. I've never ridden in Greece, but was in Italy last week where it was 32 to 37°; I suspect it will be at least that in Greece. It makes 2 hours feel like 4, you need to think about water and drink, sun cream etc

[Evanivitch]

A tandem cycling couple I know has terrible issue with dogs in Greece. There's a few deterrent devices you might want to consider.

[MattyD803]

Daveyraveygravey said:

I think you might find heat a problem. I've never ridden in Greece, but was in Italy last week where it was 32 to 37 ; I suspect it will be at least that in Greece. It makes 2 hours feel like 4, you need to think about water and drink, sun cream etc

We were in Rhodes for a week in July 2020 and it never dropped below 36 deg on any one day......topped out at 44 deg. Barely able to sit outside, let alone do anything remotely active.

[greygoose]

Kefalonia is a very nice island with plenty of little tavernas, it might be too hot in July for cycling though.

[Bathroom_Security]

MattyD803 said:

Daveyraveygravey said:

I think you might find heat a problem. I've never ridden in Greece, but was in Italy last week where it was 32 to 37 ; I suspect it will be at least that in Greece. It makes 2 hours feel like 4, you need to think about water and drink, sun cream etc

We were in Rhodes for a week in July 2020 and it never dropped below 36 deg on any one day......topped out at 44 deg. Barely able to sit outside, let alone do anything remotely active.

Yeah this would be my biggest problem. Be like riding into a hair dryer

On the road bike

I've done Italy (Tuscany - various between Lucca to Siena) late Sept and that was fine if a little warm at times during the day. Saved most of the cycling for early morning or evening and even got cold one evening.

I've done Croatia early Sept and honestly that was absolutely savage at times, from memory mid 30s+ (in-between Dubrovnik to Split). Dubrovnik was almost unbearable some days until I got out the town and up into the hills. I did sea level from the Harbour to the top of Sveti Jure and only managed it because it got way cooler up in the mountains, started early in the morning to avoid the heat. Even some of my evening rides (arriving back home just after dark) were absolutely brutal. Incredible place to go cycling but I wish I could experience it earlier or later in the year (without the wind...). Determined to go back there some day. Costal roads in places were wonderful, 40mph+ smooth, winding, wide tarmac with not many cars about.

God knows what they would be like in the height of summer. I wouldn't have brought the bike if Id gone mid summer tbf.

[cb31]

Thanks everyone, I hadn't considered the heat and you are absolutely right. I originally wanted to do some car related stuff in Italy but I can't be bothered with the covid rigmarole over there.

I'll have another think as I want it to be relaxing and fun, not an ordeal.

[greygoose]

A cheap hire car and a Greek island can be lots of fun, Crete has lots of interesting sights to see and there are lots of restaurants and tavernas to visit.

[Daveyraveygravey]

cb31 said:

Thanks everyone, I hadn't considered the heat and you are absolutely right. I originally wanted to do some car related stuff in Italy but I can't be bothered with the covid rigmarole over there.

I'll have another think as I want it to be relaxing and fun, not an ordeal.

I was in Italy last week, there was hardly any Covid rigmarole. I have had 3 vaccinations though, but wasn't asked at any stage to prove it. You are meant to wear masks in shops and when you walk into bars and restaurants, but I would say more weren't wearing than were.

I hired a bike for a week, which was ok. My best bike is better, but it did a job. Apart from the saddle, which was murder. Of all the things I thought about, a saddle I could live with wasn't one of them. I would have liked to have ridden every day, but after one all dayer, I HAD to have a day off, then after another all dayer, it was 3 days!😳😱

[mike80]

[quote]"The Italian authorities announced that since May 1, travellers are no longer required to wear a face mask when accessing bars, restaurants, museums, and supermarkets"
[/quote]

I was in Italy a couple of weeks ago, and the only time I wore a mask was in the airport on arrival. On the way back they were playing a message that it was "highly recommended", so most weren't bothering.

[Siao]

July is quite warm in Greece, so be ready for that. You can do your riding early in the morning and late in the afternoon, otherwise it can be very hot. In the meantime you can just go for a swim, whenever you get too hot, that's the beauty of it.

I'd definitely go for an island, maybe one of the bigger ones. Crete (https://cyclingcreta.gr/blog/bike-regions/) or Evia (https://www.cyclist.co.uk/in-depth/7824/greek-epic-evia-big-ride) would be ideal. Evia is a stone's throw from Athens as well, easy to get there, while Crete has it's own airport. Crete is a fantastic island, but the drivers there need to be considered. Mind you, the drivers I came across in Italy were way worse in my opinion, but Cretans are a special breed within the Greeks! Having said that, they are some of the nicest and most hospitable people.

Corfu is a bit hilly and has some awesome things to discover. But you'd need a mountain bike, as in most islands the roads are not perfect. Plus you may want to go off road if you discover a beach or a trail.

They have relaxed the measures in Greece now, you may just want to bring a mask for some shops, if they require it.

[mie1972]

yep this was last August, just outside of Lindos in Rhodes - 40 degrees at 9am.

Definitely not relaxing !

[gifdy]

Siao said:

July is quite warm in Greece, so be ready for that. You can do your riding early in the morning and late in the afternoon, otherwise it can be very hot. In the meantime you can just go for a swim, whenever you get too hot, that's the beauty of it.

I'd definitely go for an island, maybe one of the bigger ones. Crete (https://cyclingcreta.gr/blog/bike-regions/) or Evia (https://www.cyclist.co.uk/in-depth/7824/greek-epic-evia-big-ride) would be ideal. Evia is a stone's throw from Athens as well, easy to get there, while Crete has it's own airport. Crete is a fantastic island, but the drivers there need to be considered. Mind you, the drivers I came across in Italy were way worse in my opinion, but Cretans are a special breed within the Greeks! Having said that, they are some of the nicest and most hospitable people.

Corfu is a bit hilly and has some awesome things to discover. But you'd need a mountain bike, as in most islands the roads are not perfect. Plus you may want to go off road if you discover a beach or a trail.

They have relaxed the measures in Greece now, you may just want to bring a mask for some shops, if they require it.

I went cycling in Crete last year. It was in the East of the island, around Sitia. There was absolutely no issue with cars. Indeed they were more polite and gave me more space than I get in the UK ! The biggest issue as previously stated was the temperature. I was on my road bike and cycled for 2-3 hours in the morning and had to finish before 9am otherwise it got too hot. Not a problem for me though as I could spend the rest of the day with family/ on the beach.

I can't comment on MTB there but the road cycling was excellent.

[Siao]

gifdy said:

Siao said:

July is quite warm in Greece, so be ready for that. You can do your riding early in the morning and late in the afternoon, otherwise it can be very hot. In the meantime you can just go for a swim, whenever you get too hot, that's the beauty of it.

I'd definitely go for an island, maybe one of the bigger ones. Crete (https://cyclingcreta.gr/blog/bike-regions/) or Evia (https://www.cyclist.co.uk/in-depth/7824/greek-epic-evia-big-ride) would be ideal. Evia is a stone's throw from Athens as well, easy to get there, while Crete has it's own airport. Crete is a fantastic island, but the drivers there need to be considered. Mind you, the drivers I came across in Italy were way worse in my opinion, but Cretans are a special breed within the Greeks! Having said that, they are some of the nicest and most hospitable people.

Corfu is a bit hilly and has some awesome things to discover. But you'd need a mountain bike, as in most islands the roads are not perfect. Plus you may want to go off road if you discover a beach or a trail.

They have relaxed the measures in Greece now, you may just want to bring a mask for some shops, if they require it.

I went cycling in Crete last year. It was in the East of the island, around Sitia. There was absolutely no issue with cars. Indeed they were more polite and gave me more space than I get in the UK ! The biggest issue as previously stated was the temperature. I was on my road bike and cycled for 2-3 hours in the morning and had to finish before 9am otherwise it got too hot. Not a problem for me though as I could spend the rest of the day with family/ on the beach.

I can't comment on MTB there but the road cycling was excellent.

Pleasant surprise to hear that about the drivers in Crete! They tend to drive in the emergency lane (hard shoulder), to allow faster cars to overtake easier, as roads can get narrow. Which is something very dangerous for obvious reasons, so it's just for caution that I mentioned it.

The temperature is fine with me normally, I find that you get conditioned after a while (few days). But preferably you need to avoid anything between 10:00-17:00 or so. This means cycling in the cooler hours and spending the hotter part of the day in the beach or wherever you chose to hide from the sun!

Did you enjoy it?

[wobert]

I’m currently in Kassiopi, just down the road from the bike hire shop you’ve identified. At the height of the day it’s nearly 30oC. Mornings are cooler, low 20’s.

When I was here 4 years I ago (in late August), I too had the idea I’d hire a road bike for a few days, from the shop you’ve picked.

I’m glad I didn’t as a few things put me off…

1/ the day time temps are stupidly high to consider doing proper exercise. Even early mornings are warm and you’d be limited to 2-3 hrs tops.

2/ The roads are appalling even by UK standards. The coastal road between here and Corfu town and here and Sidari are a mess of potholes and broken up sections.

3/ As others have noted, this is the hilly corner of Corfu. The highest point is 3k ft and this with a combination of 2/ would make me hesitant to venture up into the hills. Not so much the climbs (they seem to like steep gradients) more the descents on less than forgiving road surfaces.

Imho you be better looking at Majorca or perhaps Girona as alternatives…

[Dammit]

If you want to go Mountain Biking, and for it to be easy/stress-free - I'd head to one of the resorts, PDS for example.

[S100HP]

Dammit said:

If you want to go Mountain Biking, and for it to be easy/stress-free - I'd head to one of the resorts, PDS for example.

I second that idea. Lift up and bike back down. You'll have a blast.

[ReverendCounter]

Evanivitch said:

A tandem cycling couple I know has terrible issue with dogs in Greece. There's a few deterrent devices you might want to consider.

Yep OP, just google 'tourist attacked dogs greece' even with those search terms there are several UK deaths/attacks from dogs.

Myself and an ex were walking on a dirt track up in the hills of Alonissos years ago now and a pack came at us in a vicious manner. We had to pretend to pick up stones and make a threatening throwing stance while screaming at the to drive them off - we had nothing at all to defend ourselves with. it worked and we turned back.