September is the perfect month for hiking in Greece. The weather is still warm enough for a swim, but the crowds and prices have decreased significantly.

Here are some of our favorite suggestions for hiking and swimming, with ideas for September excursions.

 

Suggestions for Hiking and Swimming

Aegina and the Saronic Islands

Aegina: Palaiochora & Temple of Aphaia

The medieval capital of Aegina, Palaiochora, is located on a hill opposite the famous monastery of Saint Nektarios, 6 km from the port. It's worth a walk on the sunny slope with its dry-stone walls, where dozens of churches with beautiful fragments of frescoes still stand among the ruins of houses. Five kilometers to the east is the Temple of Aphaia, which dominates the top of a pine-covered hill with an exceptional view. The Doric temple, with its impressive monolithic columns, is in a quite good state of preservation. Information on the network of trails that run through the island can be found on the Anavasi hiking map for Aegina.

 

Salamina: Mycenaean Acropolis of Kanakia

On a hill overlooking the sea at Kanakia on the southwest coast of Salamina, a city has been excavated where a fortified palatial complex dominates. The site flourished in the 13th century BC—at the same time as the great centers of Mycenae and Pylos in southern Greece—and was abandoned about 100 years later (with the decline of the Mycenaean world).

Exo Mani and Messenia

You can combine sea with history. Kalamata has a wonderful beach and an interesting city. Nearby is the Bilovo stone-paved path, which is perhaps the best-preserved stone-built path in Messenia, connecting the settlements of Sotirianika and Altomira. The path's turns wind and disappear into the steep gorge, ending up in the mountainous Altomira. The master craftsmen from Altomira who carved the path also built the intricate stone houses of the settlement. The route starts in Sotirianika on an asphalt road and continues on a dirt road.

The path is on a steep slope and was constructed using the dry-stone method, with stone and chisel. The first stones were laid in 1904, and the work was completed in 1928. To make the steep hill more accessible, especially for animals, the path has 83 turns to ascend the 500 meters to Altomira. And as you arrive in Altomira, the Taygetus mountain range rises directly above you. Along the way, turn your head to enjoy the panoramic view of the Kalamata bay.

No matter which option you choose, September is the perfect time to enjoy Greece without the crowds of August tourists.