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Best Time to Visit
Greece at a Glance
Monthly weather, crowds, prices, and the best times for every type of trip
Best Months For...
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
🏖️ Beach & Islands
⛴️ Island Hopping
🏛️ Athens & History
🥾 Hiking & Nature
⛵ Sailing
🍷 Food & Wine
👨👩👧👦 Family Travel
💰 Budget Travel
🌅 Santorini & Mykonos
Best
Good
Possible but not ideal
Not recommended
Crowd Level
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Relative Price Level
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Quick Answers
Overall best time?
May–June and September–October – warm seas, fewer crowds, best prices
Best for islands?
June and September – warm enough to swim, islands not at peak capacity
Cheapest time?
November–March – 50–60% savings on accommodation, but many islands close
When to avoid?
August – extreme heat (40°C+), peak prices, ferries and islands at max capacity
Best for Athens?
March–May and October–November – mild weather, no summer heat
Worth visiting in winter?
Yes for mainland – Athens, Thessaloniki, Meteora, skiing in Parnassos. Most islands close
Public Holidays That Affect Travelers
Mar 25 Independence Day – parades, national celebration
Apr / May Orthodox Easter – the biggest holiday, major travel impact
May 1 Labour Day – shops closed, beach season starts
Aug 15 Assumption of Mary – peak holiday, islands packed
Oct 28 Ochi Day – military parades, national pride
Dec 25–26 Christmas – mainland celebrations
🔗 See all Greek public holidays with exact dates on Beevago
Typical Daytime Temperature (°C) – What It Actually Feels Like
| Region | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🏛️ Athens Central Greece |
13° | 13° | 16° | 20° | 25° | 30° | 33° | 33° | 29° | 23° | 18° | 14° |
| 🏝️ Santorini / Cyclades Islands |
14° | 14° | 16° | 19° | 23° | 27° | 29° | 29° | 27° | 23° | 19° | 15° |
| 🏝️ Crete Southern island |
15° | 15° | 17° | 20° | 24° | 28° | 30° | 30° | 27° | 23° | 19° | 16° |
| 🌊 Sea temperature Aegean avg |
15° | 15° | 15° | 17° | 19° | 22° | 25° | 26° | 24° | 22° | 19° | 16° |
Athens heat waves in Jul–Aug can push temps to 40°C+
Comfortable swimming: Jun–Oct (sea above 22°C)
Meltemi winds (Jul–Aug) keep islands cooler but can disrupt ferries
Rainfall – How It Actually Affects Your Trip
| Region | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🏛️ Athens | 7d | 6d | 5d | 4d | 3d | 1d | 1d | 1d | 2d | 4d | 6d | 7d |
| 🏝️ Cyclades | 8d | 6d | 5d | 3d | 2d | 1d | 0d | 0d | 1d | 3d | 5d | 7d |
| 🏝️ Crete | 9d | 7d | 5d | 3d | 2d | 1d | 0d | 0d | 1d | 3d | 6d | 8d |
Dry (≤5 days) – Sunny, barely a cloud. Perfect beach weather.
Light (6–8 days) – Occasional brief showers, mostly sunny. No trip impact.
Moderate (9–11 days) – Mix of sun and rain. Short showers, usually clearing quickly.
Wet (12+ days) – Frequent rain, sometimes heavy. Pack waterproofs.
💡 Mediterranean perfection: Greek summers are virtually rain-free – the Cyclades see zero rain days in July and August. The famous Meltemi winds (July–August) keep islands cool but can disrupt ferries. Winter brings rain to the mainland and dramatic storms to the islands, but Athens stays mild. Northern Greece (Thessaloniki) is colder and wetter.
