Although each of us has its own favourite season, and although Mediterranean countries are considered to be the most important summer destination the Mediterranean region can be also a perfect getaway spot to beat the cold weather blues during the winter season.
Spain.
Spain is a beautiful country that has a lot to offer. If you are looking to spend time in Spain during the autumn, you won’t regret spending time in this beautiful and one of the most climatically diverse country in Europe.
Balearic Islands
The Balearic Islands on the eastern coast of Spain are a popular sunny oasis in the middle of winter.
This popular region of Spain includes Majorca, Ibiza, Menorca, and Formentera and enjoys 300 sunny days a year.
While Ibiza is bait for elite clientele and Formentera for boomers, Mallorca offers contrasting pleasures; both all-inclusive resorts and laidback, nature-oriented getaways. Menorca, a haven for the low-key traveller, entices with its archaeological wonders and a bevvy of postcard-perfect beaches.
Costa Blanca
Costa Blanca (White Coast) sits on the shores of the Mediterranean opposite the Balearic Islands and is particularly popular among British tourists and retired people.
Here are places like Benidorm with sandy beaches and a series of concrete hotels, then Oliva with wonderful beaches, golf resorts, delicious cuisine and a rich cultural heritage and Alicante, as a regional centre and one of the fastest growing cities in Spain.
Costa del Sol
If you want to bathe in the Mediterranean sea in mid-January, Costa del Sol is one of the best winter sunny Mediterranean destinations. Sunlit 320 days a year, the coast stretches 170 km from Granada to the top of the Tarifa, the southernmost European point and is overgrown with high concrete hotels. If you want to avoid large massive hotels complexes and still experience classic Spanish way of life, for example, you can visit the old part of Marbella or in the village of Casares.
Andalusia
The sunniest European continental city, however, is not on Costa del Sol, but in the far east of Andalusia. Almeria, the former host of the Mediterranean Games, is proud of the fantastic 330 sunny days. From olive gardens, awesome landscapes, Sierra Nevada mountain ranges, the famous Costa del Sol to elaborate Moorish palaces and mosques, Andulasia is unlike none other. Other places to place in your itinerary include the steep El Tajo gorge, Nerja caves which houses the world largest stalagmite as well as the architecturally rich cities of Granada, Malaga, Cordoba, and Gibraltar.
Malta
The abundance of cultural sights completely compensates for the inability to swim or lounge in the sun in the winter months. There are not many tourist centres that so successfully combine the cultural heritage with a dynamic nightlife. Between cocktails, you can go to St Paul’s footpaths in the catacombs under Rabat or visit the place where St. John’s Knights defended Christianity at the Holy Elms Fortress. The first step for visitors is the capital and main port of Val.
Gozo Island
Sitting Northwest of the Malta mainland, Gozo littered with sleepy villages it houses some of the most amazing historic structures in the whole of Malta. Apart from this, Gozo also offers a wide selection of wine and food that you can sample in its numerous quirky restaurants.
Littered with various historical sites, Malta is best known for its monuments that display its long history of conquest by Roman, Moors, French, and Britain. One particular island, however, stands out.
Greece.
One of the most famous tourist destinations in the Mediterranean, Greece is undoubtedly a paradise on earth. Apart from the refreshing weather during autumn, Greece has some of the worlds most beautiful islands you must visit:
Crete
This is where almond trees bloom in January, anemones are colourful and citrus grows abundant. The daily temperature on the north side of the island is about 15 degrees °C. It is still warmer on the south coast, which belongs to the North African climate belt. If you come here for culture and tour of the museums, churches and archaeological sites, winter is a great time for a trip to Crete. In fact, only in winter, you don’t have to worry about the crowds when visiting the castle of Knossos with the Labyrinth and the Archaeological Museum in Iraklion. On the island such as Crater and Zakynthos, you may be lucky enough to encounter a beautiful winter time, but these islands are too often affected by winter rains to guarantee a good time.
So full of attractions and history, Crete can be compared to a treasure chest waiting to be uncovered. Visit Crete if you are looking for an explosive mix of adventure, luxury, and cultural experience.
Cyprus
The largest island in the eastern Mediterranean is populated with an average of 300 sunny days a year, and Protaras, a resort on the east coast, rises up to 340 days in the sun at most in Europe. Covered with olive groves, lemon and orange orchards and sandy beaches, Cyprus is open to tourists all year round. There is so much happiness that many cities in winter hold cultural festivals.
While in January, daily temperatures reach 16 degrees °C, in February and early March they reach 20 degrees °C.
In the post-season, you can find accommodation at 50% lower prices than in the summer and for a small budget, you can visit many archaeological sites, hiking, biking or bird watching.
Nicosia
Nicosia is the capital city, a gold mine of culture and history, whose core is surrounded by Venetian walls from the 16th century. Aja Nap, Paralimnija, Protaras and Famagusta on the southeastern coast are places worth to visit and explore.
Restaurants, cafes and souvenir shops provide vitality throughout the 12 months, but the winter atmosphere is much quieter.
Visit Larnaca or the Byzantine Church of Saint Lazarus and the Devon Park at nearby Mazotas.
Italy.
Straddling the Mediterranean is the vast country that is Italy. This nation is predominantly Mediterranean and has a wide array of destinations as well as a wealth of culture to discover. During winter make sure to visit the following places in Italy:
Amalfi Coast
If your destination is Italy, the Amalfi Coast in the southwest is magnetically appealing in the winter months. The season runs from the end of October to the beginning of April, with the exception of Christmas and Easter. Daily temperatures reach 18 degrees °C, but tourists must also prepare for a few rainy days. The Amalfi coast is a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to the beauty and uniqueness of the countryside.
This place is marked by an unusual combination of sea and mountain, fishermen and farmers. The rugged mountains of Lattari rise above the shore and steeply float in the sea, creating dramatic clans and cliffs, hidden caves, deep bay and small pebble beaches. Houses, painted with warm pastel tones, accompany the natural slopes of the Lattari Mountains, leaning against one another.
From the terrace surrounded by stone walls, the scorching smell of lemon and vineyards spreads, which blend with salty air provide a unique sensory experience.
If you visit the Amalfi Coast in winter, be sure to climb to the top of the cathedral in Amalfi, visit the villas in Ravello or buy pottery in Vietri Sul Mare, many shops in the coastal areas have a sale from mid-January to mid-February. Or go on one-day excursions to Naples, Pompeii, Mount Vesuvius and the island of Capri. After New Year prices in hotels like Olimpica near Salerno and Ville Felice in Amalfi are lower than the summer for 45% to 60%.
Tuscany
This wonderful region of Italy has some of the most scenic landscapes, amazing architecture and unforgettable culture. Visit the cities of Florence, Pisa, Ravenna, and Siena to discover their hidden treasures such as cathedrals, breathtaking architecture and unforgettable memories.
Venice
During the warmer months, Venice is full of tourists from all over the world and you have to wait hours to enter the cathedral of St. Brand. During the autumn and winter, tourists are considerably less, and prices are lower. Without the great crowds of tourist, you can see how life in the city naturally moves through waterways: from postal transportation to funeral.
Sicily
If you interested to explore culture treasure then you must visit Sicily because the cultural sights which will see you here are out of this world. Sicily is filled with arrays of beautiful architectural design with a lot of evocative Norman castles. The autumn is the season of harvest and as this place is most cultivated part of Italy, you will find a stretch of plains with lush herbs where you can just take a nap in some corner with the sunlight gazing from in between the leaves. You can taste the fresh grapes, olive oils, chestnuts, and mushrooms right from the farms
Morrocco.
Beautiful, warm, spicy and enveloping. Morrocco can be one of the autumn favourite Mediterranean destinations to visit. Nestled in North Africa in the Islamic Maghreb, Morocco is a hotbed of culture complete with Arabian, European, and African influences. You don’t have to worry about travel logistics since Morrocan cities such as Marrakech, Casablanca, Fes, Meknes, and Rabat are well connected to Europe via cheap flights. Tourist destinations are also not in short supply.
Don’t miss rolling Atlas mountain ranges, the Sahara desert, pristine beaches at Essaouira, the beautiful blue city of Chefchaouen and hospitality of the local Berber people as well as their succulent cuisine.