Greece: the island season runs into October

The Greek islands stay open long after the school season ends. In September the water is warmer than it was in June, and in the south people are still swimming in October.

Where to go

Crete and Rhodes hold their temperature longer than the mainland. Corfu is greener and wetter, but less crowded. Zakynthos and Lefkada suit anyone planning to hire a car and work their way around the bays.

The late season costs about a quarter less than the peak, and it is the same Greece — just without the queues outside the tavernas.