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13 things to know before you go to Greece and the Greek Islands

Mar 6, 2024 • 8 min read

These top planning tips can help you prep for a trip to Greece, from health and safety to local etiquette © EMS-FORSTER-PRODUCTIONS / Getty Images

Get out your bucket list; it’s time to cross off a major line item: Greece . 

The fabled land remains tops for culture , food, outdoor travel, art and, of course, beaches and islands . As part of the border-free Schengen Area, it’s also incredibly easy to visit for many travelers worldwide. From advance booking to local etiquette – and health and safety issues when you're there – here's everything you need to know to plan a memorable trip to Greece.

1. Choose your season wisely

Your experience in Greece will be wildly different depending on when you visit . Summer is tops for action, family fun, and swimming in the Mediterranean Sea, but prices are at their highest and pre-booking is necessary for everything since it’s all so popular.

The shoulder seasons (spring and autumn) are a delight – prices are lower, and rooms and resources are more readily available. Winter offers a moody and budget-friendly retreat, great for walking, hiking and sedate travels where you will often be the only visitor around. Bear in mind that some businesses will shut down completely during the low season.

2. Prioritize your wishlist and make a plan

Do you want a grand tour, taking in the not-to-be-missed highlights all over Greece, or would you prefer to focus your time on exploring your favorite islands  or regions, like the Peloponnese ?

The best way to choose from the dizzying array of options on offer is to focus on what is important to you – relaxing on beautiful beaches, learning more about Greece's fascinating history and culture , museums and archaeology, off-the-beaten-track wildlife, or partying until dawn – and plan accordingly.

3. Find the perfect island or region for you

Greece merits multiple trips as every island offers something different , and each of its regions is equally dazzling – you're never going to see everything on your first visit, and you'll ruin your trip if you pressure yourself to do just that. Also, don’t be fooled that the biggies are the only islands worthy of your attention. Though Mykonos , Santorini and the major names have plenty to offer, lesser-known islands (there are hundreds!) like Amorgos or Kythira are also a delight. They've also got the added bonus of smaller crowds and lower prices if that's a key consideration for you.

4. Athens isn't the only gateway to Greece

In many cases, you will find it useful to transit in or out of Greece via Athens , as its airport has connections with numerous international destinations, and the city itself is a gem . However, there are other international airports around the Greek mainland (such as in Thessaloniki ) and on some major islands (such as Mykonos , Santorini  and  Corfu ).

If you need any internal flights to get to your destination of choice, it's worth checking the price of these individually. Due to government subsidies, it can work out significantly cheaper to book each part of your Greek itinerary separately from your international flights.

5. Book everything in advance during peak season

In peak season , prices are high, and demand for car hire, accommodations and ferry tickets is even higher – this is not the time for ad hoc bookings on the fly. Greece is an incredibly popular summer destination, and the best options get snapped up well in advance.

6. Roads in Greece are for confident drivers

No one who has traveled on Greece’s roads will be surprised to hear that the country’s road fatality rate is one of the highest in Europe. Overtaking is listed as the greatest cause of accidents. Heart-stopping moments aside, your own car is a great way to explore off the beaten track if you are confident in your driving and keep a few key points in mind.

• The road network has improved enormously in recent years; many roads marked as dirt tracks on older maps have now been sealed, and a lot of the islands have very little traffic.
• There are regular (if costly) car-ferry services to almost all islands.
• Greece is not the best place to initiate yourself into motorcycling. If you're not confident on a motorbike, it may be best to park this option until you have more experience.
• All the big multinational car-rental companies are represented in Athens, and most have branches in major towns and popular tourist destinations. The majority of islands have at least one outlet.

7. Greece is not very wheelchair-friendly beyond Athens

Access for travelers with disabilities has improved somewhat in recent years, but the majority of accessible sights, hotels and restaurants tend to be located in Athens. While improvements are on the horizon for beach access,  much of the rest of Greece remains inaccessible to wheelchairs, and the abundance of stones, marble, slippery cobbles and stepped alleys create frustrating barriers for those with mobility issues. People who have visual or hearing impairments are also rarely catered for.

Careful planning before you go can make a world of difference. There are specific resources online that provide links to local articles, resorts and tour groups catering to tourists with physical disabilities.

8. Pack the right kinds of clothing

Athenians are well-dressed, and the younger crowd is trendy, so keep your smart clothes for the urban catwalk of clubs and bars. Nevertheless, in Athens and other metropolises such as Rhodes , Thessaloniki and Iraklio , everyday attire such as shorts or jeans and casual tops are just fine.

Bars or fashionable restaurants require more effort – the scene is stylish rather than dressy. Think tops and trousers rather than T-shirts and cut-offs. In out-of-the-way places, you can wear casual clothing, and in summer, the heat will make you want to wear the least amount of fabric you can get away with – bring quick-drying tank tops and cool dresses.

Sturdy walking shoes are a must for the cobbled roads, and proper hiking boots are key if you're exploring the countryside on foot . It's respectful to cover up before entering churches.

9. Learn some basic Greek phrases

Greek is a tough language to learn thoroughly, but mastering a few basic greetings and niceties will make a world of difference in how Greek speakers receive you. In touristed areas, many people speak English, so rest assured that you can get by as long as you know some key phrases.

10. Carry cash and don't rely on cards or ATMs

As part of the EU, Greece uses the euro. In restaurants, a service charge is normally included in the bill, and while a tip is not expected (as it is in North America), it is always appreciated. Taxi drivers normally expect you to round up the fare, while bellhops who help you carry your luggage to your hotel room or stewards on ferries who take you to your cabin normally expect a small gratuity of between €1 and €3.

ATMs are found in every town large enough to support a bank and in almost all the tourist areas. Be aware that ATMs on the islands can lose their connection for a day or two at a time, making it impossible for anyone (locals included) to withdraw money. It’s useful to keep some backup cash just in case this happens during your visit.

Credit cards are now an accepted part of the commercial scene in Greece, although they’re often not accepted on many of the smaller islands or in small villages. Don't rely on your cards alone, and check in advance when dining or drinking if it's your only option.

11. Make sure you have good travel insurance

Although medical training is of a high standard in Greece, the public health service is underfunded. Hospitals can be overcrowded, and relatives are expected to bring in food for the patient – often a problem for solo travelers. Conditions and treatment are much better in private hospitals, which are expensive. All this means that a comprehensive travel insurance policy is essential.

There is at least one doctor on every island, and larger islands have hospitals. Pharmacies can dispense medicines that are available only on prescription in most European countries. If the situation isn't critical, it's often best to consult a pharmacist first for minor ailments.

12. Stay hydrated and remember how powerful the sun can be

Tap water isn't safe to drink on many islands – if in doubt, ask. Keeping a supply of bottled water to hand is essential for hydration as well as safety; many tourists underestimate how hot it can get in Greece, and heatstroke and serious sunburn are common on beaches with little shade.

Break up your sun-drenched siestas with time in the shade getting hydrated, and pack plenty of high-factor sunscreen. Mosquitos are an irritant rather than a danger – packing insect repellant is recommended.

13. Pickpocketing and other petty crime is common in busy places

The major risks of theft in Greece are pickpockets in the large cities and theft of belongings when lounging on busy, popular beaches (leave passports behind in hotel safes). Never leave your belongings unattended, and don't leave your bags hanging from the back of your seat where you can't keep an eye on them. 

The tourist police work in cooperation with the regular Greek police. Each tourist police office has at least one member of staff who speaks English. If you need to report a theft or loss of passport, go to the tourist police first, and they will act as interpreters between you and the regular police.

Some unscrupulous taxi drivers will try to charge you extortionate rates from the airports to the city centers. Always make sure the meter is running or pre-negotiate and agree on the price before you get in.

This article was first published Mar 1, 2022 and updated Mar 6, 2024.

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Greece sends police to Covid hotspot islands to step up controls

Party islands Mykonos and Ios could be shut down as Delta variant infection rates surge among young people

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Greece has begun deploying police units to holiday island hotspots as the country’s tourism season moves into high gear amid a worrying spread of coronavirus variants.

Authorities moved to beef up police presence on party isles such as Mykonos and Ios as concerns mounted over local entrepreneurs failing to comply with health measures aimed at curbing the pandemic. “The Delta variant has meant that every country is dealing with the fourth wave now and not as expected in November,” the Greek tourism minister Haris Theoharis told the Guardian. “While hotels and family-type venues are implementing protocols diligently, there’s more congestion than we would like to see in bars, especially among the younger crowd ... so we are trying to ensure some balance is kept.”

Some 186 law enforcers have been sent to Mykonos alone, up from the 56 stationed there this time last year.

On Thursday, an additional 30 policemen, backed up by security officials and undercover agents, were dispatched to Ios, the 11-mile-long Cycladic isle popular with younger tourists drawn to its bars, discos and rock clubs.

The Greek deputy civil protection minister, Nikos Hardalias, said Mykonos and Ios were “one step” away from authorities imposing further restrictions, and that the situation on the islands of Zakynthos, Tinos, Lefkada, Santorini, Paros and Rhodes was also worrying.

Greece’s south Aegean islands were marked dark red on the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control’s Covid map on Thursday, meaning all but essential travel to and from the region is discouraged. The cluster of 13 islands includes Mykonos, Santorini and Rhodes.

Infection rates have shot up among people aged between 20 and 30 – with most testing asymptomatic in a country that to date has registered over 485,000 confirmed coronavirus cases and nearly 13,000 Covid-19 deaths. In contrast to the rest of Europe, Greece’s holiday industry has fared comparatively well in the 10 weeks since the popular destination opened , with hoteliers reporting a noticeable increase in reservations from both Europeans and US travellers.

Arrivals have soared by 130% since last year when the tourist-dependent nation experienced a 75% drop in visitors – even if they still pale next to 2019 when Greece attracted a record 33.1 million people. Tourism revenues last month rose by “more than 400% compared to June last year,” said Theoharis.

“We have made up for some lost ground … around 140,000 visitors from the UK have flown in since 19 July. They are coming in in big numbers though there is still some way to go. Britain is an important market.”

But with the highly transmissible Delta variant also in the ascendant, industry officials speak of “managing the unmanageable” as new challenges emerge daily.

Earlier this month, authorities were forced to impose a week-long curfew and music ban on Mykonos after contagion rates skyrocketed on the “anything goes” island. On Wednesday, the citizens’ protection minister Michalis Chrisochidois warned it was only a matter of time before a similar lockdown was enforced on Ios. “There is now a visible danger that the island will be shut down,” he said, having flown into Ios earlier in the day. “Fines have already been imposed on enterprises which don’t uphold the law and … police who are very active and combative are being dispatched to apply the law and ensure enforcement of measures.”

Theoharis, the tourism minister, said islands Greece had promoted as “Covid-free” , following a campaign to vaccinate entire populations ahead of the country formally accepting tourists, were having a better season. “Smaller islands are fuller than bigger islands,” he said.

This week Greek health officials announced five million people had been vaccinated, still well short of herd immunity being achieved, according to epidemiologists, but a milestone nonetheless. “We’re seeing a fourth wave but no wave at all in terms of hospitalisations and stress on the health system,” said Theoharis. “There is a shift in the pattern of the disease and that requires a shift in mindset as to how we respond to it.”

Tourism accounts for almost 25% of Greek GDP with one in five jobs reliant on the sector. In June the Bank of Greece predicted it would take two to three years for travel and spending to return to pre-pandemic levels, saying revenues for this year were unlikely to exceed 40% of those in 2019 when industry earnings reached an all-time high of 18bn euros.

Reuters contributed to this report

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This Iconic Tour Operator Now Offers Private Jet Trips With Exclusive Tours — Here's What It's Like

Once you get a taste of the private jet life, it’s hard to go back to flying commercial.

Laura Itzkowitz is a freelance writer and editor based in Rome. She has been contributing to Travel + Leisure since 2014, when she started as a fact checker before becoming a contributing digital editor in 2015 and going freelance in 2016. She has also held positions as a contributing editor at The Points Guy and the NYC cities editor at DuJour Magazine. In addition to Travel + Leisure , her writing has appeared in Architectural Digest , Surface Magazine , Brooklyn Magazine , T Magazine , The Wall Street Journal , Vogue, GQ, Departures, Afar, Fodor's, Town & Country , Condé Nast Traveler , Robb Report , Hemispheres, and others. When she's not jetsetting around Italy and beyond, she can be found in Rome, enjoying some cacio e pepe or relaxing at home with her husband and two dogs. Originally from the Boston area, Laura moved to New York City in 2011 to pursue a master's degree in creative writing and translation at Columbia University. She also holds a bachelor's degree in French from Smith College. * 10+ years of experience writing and editing * Co-wrote "New York: Hidden Bars & Restaurants," an award-winning guide to New York City's speakeasy scene published by Jonglez Editions in 2015 * Contributed to "Fodor's Brooklyn," published by Penguin Random House in 2015, which won silver in the Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism competition * Contributed an essay to "Epic Hikes of Europe," published by Lonely Planet in 2021 * Updated the 2022 edition of "Fodor's Essential Italy"

Laura Itzkowitz/Travel + Leisure

“Yahoo!” yelled Jason, our safari guide from Manchester.

The sound echoed back to us. We had climbed onto a precipice overlooking a deep gorge in the mountains. We weren’t on safari in Africa, though — we were in Crete, the largest island in Greece.

Jason and two other guides had picked up our group of 11 (including our resident tour director, Kapi) at Daios Cove , the luxe resort on a secluded bay where we were staying, and after just a few minutes, we were driving on rocky unpaved roads up into the mountains. Now and then, we would stop on the side of the road, and Jason would grab some wild sage or thyme and give it to us to smell.

Laura Itzkowitz/Travel + Leisure

It’s especially fitting that we were doing a safari on Crete because that’s how Abercrombie & Kent originated: Geoffrey Kent was born on safari, raised on a farm in Kenya, and founded Abercrombie & Kent with his parents in 1962.

Over the years, A&K grew from a pioneering safari operator into one of the world’s leading travel companies that brings people worldwide. I was lucky enough to embark on a whirlwind tour of India with A&K a few years ago and was impressed by how seamless the trip was as well as the quality of the knowledgeable guides, so when I got the chance to join them for a tour of Rome and Crete via private jet, I didn’t hesitate to accept.

But back to Crete. As we rode up into the mountains, passing through little villages, we peppered Jason with questions, and he overloaded us with information about the island, its history, landscape, wildlife, and inhabitants, who identify as Cretan first and Greek second. He told us how Hitler sent his stormtroopers to capture the island in 1943 but was met with fierce resistance from pitchfork-wielding farmers who refused to back down. He showed us the bomb bells on the churches that Cretans made after the war using the tops of undetonated bombs since the Nazis had melted down many of the island’s church bells to make bullets. Fascinating didn't even begin to describe it.

We had arrived in Crete the day prior and went straight from the airport to Lyrarakis Winery , where we learned how the owners revived nearly extinct varietals and tasted four of their wines with lunch. We then visited the ancient Knossos Palace — home of King Minos and the Minotaur — with a wonderful guide named Marinella, who explained how the ancient Greeks had plumbing and flush toilets at the palace. We gawked at the reconstructed frescoes depicting men, women, and animals.

The trip had started in Rome, where an incredibly knowledgeable guide named Eva — who also had a wonderfully dry sense of humor — brought us to the off-limits Church of San Lorenzo in Miranda. Inside the nave, we watched as she and the church’s guardian unbolted and opened a heavy wooden door, revealing breathtaking views of the Roman Forum just below. In the basement, we saw centuries-old pharmacists’ tools and canisters that once held natural remedies. Eva then brought us down into the Forum, led us along a less-trod path to the Curia Iulia (the ancient senate house), and brought us right to the base of Trajan’s Column, regaling us with tales along the way.

The following day, Eva met us bright and early for a tour of Castel Sant’Angelo , known as the pope’s fortress. Originally built as the emperor Hadrian’s tomb, it became a fortress in the 6th century and was the hiding place for Pope Clement VII when Rome was sacked in 1527. Nowadays, you can see models of what it looked like in its previous iterations and climb up to the rooftop terrace for panoramic views of Rome.

After that, we were off to Trastevere — one of Rome’s most charming neighborhoods — for a food tour with Toni and Walter, our guides from Eating Europe . We stopped at la Norcineria di Iacozzilli , where they explained the difference between Parmigiano Reggiano and pecorino romano and gave us a taste of porchetta , the slow-roasted pork that’s a specialty of the hill towns outside of Rome. From there, they led us across the Tiber to Campo de’ Fiori, Rome’s most famous open-air market, where we watched a vendor clean artichokes and got a taste of mozzarella di bufala with fresh tomatoes. Finally, we walked around the corner to a restaurant for a pasta-making class. After eating our homemade ravioli filled with lemon-scented ricotta and tagliatelle all’amatriciana , we walked a few more blocks to the Gelateria Alberto Pica for a sweet end to the tour.

Our next activity brought us to one of Rome’s most incredible hidden gems. A&K had arranged for us to have private access to the Villa Farnesina , a Renaissance villa with frescoes by Raphael. As we stood outside the villa, Eva explained that it should have been called Villa Chigi because the man who commissioned it was the wealthy banker Agostino Chigi, who made a fortune lending money to the popes. On the occasion of his wedding, he commissioned Raphael to paint frescoes depicting the marriage of Cupid and Psyche. I had been there before, but every time I visit, I can’t help but stare up in awe at the figures, knowing that Raphael was in his late twenties when he created this masterpiece.

Dinner that evening was at another one of Rome’s most beautiful places: Le Jardin de Russie restaurant at the Hotel de Russie , which T+L readers consistently rank among the best hotels in the world in our annual World’s Best Awards survey. Our group had a private table in the secret garden, originally designed by Giuseppe Valadier and recently refreshed. It was the perfect setting to enjoy fresh burrata with tomatoes, risotto with pesto trapanese , and sea bream with artichokes served by the hotel’s charming staff. Walking back to the Hotel de la Ville , de Russie’s sister hotel also run by Rocco Forte, we made a little detour to Via Margutta to see where famed filmmaker Federico Fellini lived and the building where some scenes of "Roman Holiday" were filmed.

The next morning, we were whisked off to the executive terminal at Ciampino Airport to board the private jet to Crete. After a brief wait, we put our things through the X-ray scanner, walked through a metal detector, and were bused onto the tarmac to board the jet, which welcomed us onboard with Champagne and snacks. The whole experience couldn’t have been smoother.

Justin Weiler/Courtesy of Abercrombie & Kent

Travelers interested in traveling around Europe by private jet can book one of A&K’s Wings Over the World trips, which offer the chance to explore off-the-beaten-path destinations and enjoy exclusive experiences like these in Europe’s most alluring cities. The European itineraries are limited to a maximum of 13 guests and start at $37,995 per person for a 13-day journey, which includes private jet charters and transfers between destinations, accommodations at luxury hotels, a resident tour director, and local guides, most meals, luggage handling, and entrance fees for scheduled visits to museums and archeological sites. A&K also offers Wings Over the World journeys in Africa, Australia, India, and South America.

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When Is the First Day of Summer 2024? 32 Facts About the Summer Solstice

When is the first day of summer in 2024.

T his year, the summer solstice falls on Thursday, June 20 at 4:50 p.m. EDT. In the Northern Hemisphere, the summer solstice is the longest day of the year and occurs when the sun crosses its highest and northernmost points in the sky. This day is the most sunlight we will receive all year! If you’re asking “when is the first day of summer?” note that the summer solstice marks the first day of summer for Northern Hemisphere dwellers (meaning they fall on the same day). So yes, you can start bookmarking summer quotes and summer memes to share with friends and family in celebration of sun-filled days ahead.

There’s plenty more to know about the first day of summer though. Read on to learn key facts about the summer solstice and its impact on the world. Then, check out what the summer solstice means for your zodiac .

Get  Reader’s Digest ’s  Read Up newsletter  for more holiday tips, fun facts, humor, cleaning, travel and tech all week long.

The summer solstice isn’t always on the same day

Unlike Christmas or Valentine’s Day , which fall on the same calendar date every year, the summer solstice varies by a few days. This is because the date doesn’t depend on the human calendar but on the physics of our solar system. The summer solstice is exactly when the sun reaches its northernmost point from the equator. Based on our current orbit, the date rotates between June 20, 21 and 22.

When it’s summer in the north, it’s winter in the south

During the summer solstice, the North Pole is tilted closest to the sun. In the Southern Hemisphere, it’s the opposite, so the South Pole is tilted farthest from the sun. That’s why when it’s the summer solstice in the north, it’s the winter solstice in the south. The winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere is also the same day as the summer solstice in the Southern Hemisphere.

The summer solstice isn’t exclusive to Earth

All the planets in our solar system have summer solstices. On Mars, the solstice occurs a few days after Earth’s, in June. On Uranus, the summer solstice happens once every 84 years. The next one will occur on October 9, 2069! Each season lasts for 21 years, which makes for one long winter .

One of the Seven Wonders of the World may have been built around it

Here’s an ancient mystery to mull over: Stonehenge in England is thought to have been constructed to celebrate the summer solstice. To this day, tourists flock to the ancient site to witness the sunrise right through the center stone during the summer solstice.

The word “solstice” comes from Latin

“Solstice” comes from the Latin words for “sun stand still,” because the sun will reach its highest point at noon on that day and appear not to move for a short period of time.

The summer solstice goes by many different names

In northern Europe, the summer solstice is often referred to as Midsummer, while Wiccans and other Neopagan groups call it Litha. Some Christian churches recognize the summer solstice as St. John’s Day, to commemorate the birth of John the Baptist. Here are some fascinating summer solstice traditions from around the world.

The bright day has a dark history

Many ancient cultures worshiped the sun and/or had deities or rulers called Sun Kings and practiced ritual human sacrifice, especially at the solstice. The Vikings were said to have hung dead human and animal bodies from trees as an offering to the gods. Thankfully, this tradition hasn’t survived the passage of time. Check out these weird (but awesome) things that happen in the summer .

Those flower garlands aren’t just for show

According to pagan folklore, evil spirits would appear on the summer solstice. To ward them off, people would wear protective garlands of herbs and flowers . One of the most powerful of these plants was known as “chase devil,” today referred to as St. John’s Wort.

It’s how the Tropic of Cancer got its name

The Tropic of Cancer got its name because when the ancients established the day, the sun appeared in the constellation Cancer. The Tropic of Cancer is the northernmost point on Earth , where the sun’s rays appear directly overhead at local noon on the summer solstice.

You can watch the sun “not set”

In northern Iceland, you can perch on a cliff overlooking the sea and physically watch the sun “not set,” says Ryan Connolly, co-founder of Hidden Iceland. “The sun dips all the way down to the horizon, brushes the water then starts to rise again.” Iceland is the only place outside of the Arctic Circle where you can experience this phenomenon, according to Connolly.

Midnight sports are a thing during the summer solstice

In Alaska, the summer solstice is celebrated with a midnight baseball game. The game starts around 10 p.m. and goes into the next morning. This tradition started in 1906, and 2023 marks the 118th game. Or, if you prefer a nine-iron, head to Iceland for a round of midnight golf.

No shadows during the summer solstice!

If you’re somewhere in the Tropic of Cancer during the solstice, you’ll note that at the stroke of noon, you won’t see any shadows. That’s because that is the precise time when the sun is directly overhead at a 90-degree angle to the Earth. It’s a great time to play a prank on your friends by sneaking up on them.

More sunlight doesn’t mean more heat

While the Northern Hemisphere receives more sunlight on the summer solstice than on any other day of the year, that doesn’t mean the first day of summer is also the hottest. Even though the planet absorbs a lot of sunlight on the summer solstice, it takes several weeks to release it. As a result, the hottest days usually occur in July (just in time for Independence Day ) or August.

Earth is nowhere near the sun

Another popular misconception is that during the summer solstice, Earth is the closest it can get to the sun. In reality, the planet reaches this point, also called the perihelion, about two weeks after the winter solstice. On the summer solstice, the Northern Hemisphere is actually near the furthest point from the sun, or the aphelion.

The planet’s tilt causes all the sunlight

The tilt of the Earth has more influence on the seasons and the amount of daylight we get than does our planet’s distance from the sun. Earth maintains its tilt as we circle the sun, so for half the year ( spring and summer), the Northern Hemisphere faces the sun more directly, while the Southern Hemisphere faces away from it. As we circle around and the Northern Hemisphere tilts away from the sun, we experience winter while the Southern Hemisphere experiences their summer.

The days halfway between solstices are called equinoxes

The half of the year when the Northern Hemisphere is facing the sun starts with the spring equinox (which was March 19 this year) and ends with the fall equinox (September 22 this year). On those days, there’s just about the same amount of daylight and darkness because the Earth is tilting in such a way that neither hemisphere is receiving more light.

The Earth’s tilt was probably caused by a major collision in space

When a Mars-sized object (named Theia by scientists) crashed into Earth 4.5 billion years ago, the resulting debris is thought to have collected in orbit around our young planet until it coalesced into the moon. The Earth, meanwhile, might have been knocked over at a 60- to 80-degree angle and made to spin about ten times as fast as it does today. It’s been stabilizing ever since, and we’re now spinning on a 23.5-degree angle, which causes our seasons.

Different latitudes get different amounts of sunlight on the solstice

The longest day of the year at the equator (around 12 hours) will never be as long as the longest day at the North Pole (24 hours). In fact, at the equator, the amount of daylight really doesn’t change at all over the entire course of the year. In the United States on the solstice, for example, in southern Texas, you’ll get a little less than 14 hours of daylight; in northern California or Pennsylvania, you’ll get more than 15 hours; and in Washington and Maine, you’ll get almost 16 hours.

The longest day ever was back in 1912

The Earth’s spin has been slowing down for the past four billion years, ever since the big smash-up with Theia that created the moon. About 350 million years ago, one rotation of our planet lasted 23 hours, and now it’s up to 24. Other factors can speed up Earth’s rotation, including melting glacial ice, earthquakes and seasonal wind changes. The longest day that’s ever been measured was in 1912, and it was almost four milliseconds longer than 24 hours.

Animals in higher latitudes make the most of the longest summer days

“Generally, there’s a lot of food for a short period of time, and animals have adapted to take advantage of those windows,” Thomas Jung, a senior wildlife biologist with the Yukon Government, told Up Here magazine. Pikas, which are rabbit-like mammals, busily store piles of food under rocks for the darker times of the year, and birds that normally do most of their singing around dawn keep calling all day and night.

Nocturnal animals have to get a lot done in hardly any time

Alaska’s Chugach National Forest gets more than 20 hours of sunlight on the summer solstice, which leaves very little time for its resident bats to find food. One study found that they started hunting a little earlier and kept hunting a little later when they were far from buildings and roads—probably because those areas have less artificial light and more shady cover. Another researcher in Canada found that bats there spent less than two hours hunting on the solstice.

Good thing there are more bugs out in summer for them to eat! If you’re trying to keep the mosquitos away this summer, consider planting these mosquito-repelling plants .

Rats get summertime blues

Some humans get sad and anxious during the winter when there’s little daylight, and it turns out that nocturnal rats can have the opposite reaction. “For a rat, it’s the longer days that produce stress, while for us it’s the longer nights that create stress,” Nicholas Spitzer, a University of California-San Diego biology professor, told the university’s news center. In his study, rats that were exposed to 19 hours of daylight and only five hours of darkness were less likely to explore the open end of a maze and less willing to swim.

Ancient Egyptians might have marked the summer solstice when building the pyramids

Mark Lehner, an Egyptologist and Sphinx expert, has observed that when a person stands near the Sphinx on the summer solstice, the sun looks like it’s setting halfway between the pyramids Khafre and Khufu. The sight is remarkably similar to a hieroglyph called akhet, which translates roughly as “horizon.” Pretty impressive!

Ancient Greeks used the summer solstice to figure out the size of the Earth

During the third century BC, Greek astronomer and mathematician Eratosthenes (who also worked as chief librarian for the Library of Alexandria) knew that the sun on the solstice would be directly overhead in the town of Syene (now known as Aswan), Egypt, which lies almost directly on the Tropic of Cancer. North of Syene, in Alexandria, the sun always casts a shadow (even on the solstice), so Eratosthenes realized he could use the sun’s angle in Alexandria and the known distance between the two cities to figure out the Earth’s circumference. He was very close to the figure we now know to be accurate (24,902 miles), and he also figured out the Earth’s tilt!

Ancient Greek slaves were allowed to party on the summer solstice

By some calendars, the Greeks marked the beginning of a new year on the solstice, and they celebrated the festival of Kronia in honor of the god of agriculture, Cronus. During the celebration, for just that one day every year, enslaved people were allowed to join in the feasts and games as equals with the free people.

Plains Indians in Wyoming tracked astronomical events

The Bighorn Medicine Wheel in Wyoming is a 28-spoked stone diagram laid out at the top of Medicine Mountain in the Bighorn National Forest. Researchers think it was built by Plains Indians between 300 and 800 years ago, and it could predict where the sun and other bright stars would appear in the sky. Two aligned points show where the sun rises and sets on the summer solstice, and other lines of sight track the stars Sirius, Rigel and Aldebaran.

The Maya built monuments to the sun and stars

El Caracol is considered the observatory at the Mayan city of Chichén Itzá in the Yucatán jungle in Mexico. The structure’s front staircase corresponds with the northernmost position of Venus, and the building’s corners point toward the summer solstice sunrise and the winter solstice sunset. Another structure in Chichén Itzá was built so that as the sun sets during the spring and fall equinoxes, shadows form the illusion of a snake moving along the staircase.

The earliest sunrise and the latest sunset don’t necessarily happen on the solstice

Even though the solstice happens on the day of the year with the longest continuous stretch of daylight, it isn’t actually the day with the earliest sunrise. That falls a few days earlier, and the day with the latest sunset comes a few days after the solstice. This, again, is a result of the Earth’s tilt.

Dawn and dusk last longer on the solstice too

It’s not just the period from sunrise to sunset that’s extended on and around the solstice. It feels like twilight lasts a lot longer as well, and that feeling is accurate. The sun simply never goes quite as far below the horizon as it does in the winter, so it rises and falls at a shallower angle and gives us more light, even though it’s technically out of sight.

In St. Petersburg, Russia, the White Nights festival lasts a month

Daylight lasts almost 19 hours in St. Petersburg on the summer solstice, and Russia makes the most of it. During the White Nights festival, ballet and opera performances can start as late as midnight, and many events take place outdoors, where the light never completely fades to full darkness.

Shakespeare even wrote about the solstice

According to European legends, fairies and other mythical creatures were more likely to come out on the night of the winter solstice. This was likely the basis for William Shakespeare’s rowdy comedy  A Midsummer Night’s Dream . (Remember: Midsummer is another name for the solstice.)

The story centers on Oberon, king of the fairies, his mischievous servant Puck, and the fairy queen Titania, who accidentally gets dosed with a magic potion that makes her fall in love with a human whose head has been transformed into a donkey’s. The fairies’ magic causes two human couples to fall in love with the wrong people, fight with each other unnecessarily and get lost in the forest. Most everything has returned to normal by morning, naturally.

The summer solstice might be the happiest day of the year

A Cornell study that analyzed Twitter posts from about two million people around the globe found positive messages become more frequent as days got longer, and negative messages went up as days got shorter. More conclusive results showed people having identifiable peaks of happiness early in the day and then trending toward negativity in the evening, so make sure to really enjoy yourself the morning of the summer solstice. It’s the start of summer! That means it’s time to dust off your bathing suit , stock the freezer with ice cream  and best of all: plan your vacation .

Additional reporting by Charlotte Hilton Andersen. 

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• Ryan Connolly, co-founder of Hidden Iceland
• The Farmer’s Almanac : “Summer Solstice 2024: The First Day of Summer”
• NASA.gov : “Uranus”
• The Guardian : “Stonehenge was built on solstice axis, dig confirms”
• National Museum of Denmark : “The Viking blót sacrifices”
• History.com : “Summer Solstice”
• Major League Baseball : “The glory of the Midnight Sun Game”