Country guide
Greece weather by month
For beach weather in Greece, June to September is the clearest choice; for city days on foot, April, May and October offer a gentler balance. July and August bring average daytime temperatures of 29°C, while the sea reaches 26°C in August. September keeps the water warm as the air cools. The catch is that Greece does not have a uniform climate: destination choice matters, especially when you are travelling outside summer and hoping to spend most of the day outdoors.
- Hottest month
- 29.0°CAugust
- Coolest month
- 12.9°CJanuary
- Warmest sea
- 26.0°CAugust
- Destinations tracked
- 44warmest: Skala
Greece, month by month
A little perspective
Greece through the year
Country figures are the mean of the 44 destinations listed below; individual resorts can differ by several degrees.
| Month | Day | Night | Sea | Sun/day | Rain mm | Rainy days | Days 25°C+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 12.9°C | 9.0°C | 16.0°C | 4.5 | 97 | 11 | 0% |
| February | 13.3°C | 9.0°C | 15.2°C | 5.2 | 84 | 10 | 0% |
| March | 15.2°C | 10.4°C | 15.2°C | 6.4 | 66 | 9 | 1% |
| April | 18.0°C | 12.7°C | 16.1°C | 7.8 | 39 | 6 | 4% |
| May | 22.1°C | 16.6°C | 19.0°C | 9.5 | 28 | 5 | 19% |
| Junebest | 26.3°C | 20.7°C | 22.6°C | 12.3 | 12 | 2 | 59% |
| Julybest | 28.6°C | 23.1°C | 24.9°C | 13.4 | 8 | 1 | 91% |
| Augustbest | 29.0°C | 23.7°C | 26.0°C | 12.5 | 9 | 1 | 95% |
| September | 26.0°C | 21.1°C | 24.9°C | 9.8 | 37 | 4 | 61% |
| October | 22.2°C | 17.7°C | 22.6°C | 6.8 | 65 | 6 | 18% |
| November | 18.0°C | 13.9°C | 20.0°C | 4.9 | 95 | 9 | 1% |
| December | 14.4°C | 10.6°C | 17.5°C | 4.2 | 115 | 11 | 0% |
Day = average daytime high, night = average night-time low, 1991-2020.Sun is hours per day; rainy days count 1 mm or more.
Day, night and sea
Monthly average temperatures, 1991-2020
- Day
- Night
- Sea
When to go to Greece
Daytime highs average 25°C or more in June, July, August, September. The sea reaches a swimmable 22°C from June to October. Winter (December to February) averages 14°C by day - cool, closer to a British spring. December is the wettest month (115 mm) and July the driest (8 mm).
Destinations in Greece
Each has a 12-month table; our most searched places have month-by-month detail pages.
| Destination | Hottest month | Coolest month | Months 25°C+ | Sea (warmest) | Flight from London |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crete | July 31°C | January 14°C | 5 | 26°C | 4 h 6 min |
| Rhodes | August 29°C | January 14°C | 4 | 27°C | 4 h 12 min |
| Kos | August 27°C | January 14°C | 3 | 25°C | 4 h 6 min |
| Corfu | August 28°C | January 12°C | 2 | 26°C | 3 h 18 min |
| Zante | August 28°C | January 14°C | 4 | 26°C | 3 h 30 min |
| Santorini | August 26°C | January 13°C | 2 | 25°C | 4 h |
| Kefalonia | August 28°C | February 13°C | 3 | 26°C | 3 h 30 min |
| Halkidiki | August 29°C | January 10°C | 3 | 27°C | 3 h 30 min |
| Mykonos | August 26°C | January 13°C | 2 | 24°C | 3 h 54 min |
| Athens | July 33°C | January 12°C | 5 | 26°C | 3 h 42 min |
| Rhodes Townin Rhodes | August 29°C | January 14°C | 4 | 27°C | 4 h 12 min |
| Skiathos | August 27°C | January 12°C | 2 | 26°C | 3 h 36 min |
| Parga | August 29°C | January 12°C | 4 | 26°C | 3 h 18 min |
| Falirakiin Rhodes | August 29°C | January 14°C | 4 | 27°C | 4 h 12 min |
| Hersonissosin Crete | July 31°C | January 15°C | 5 | 26°C | 4 h 6 min |
| Ixiain Rhodes | August 29°C | January 14°C | 4 | 27°C | 4 h 12 min |
| Kalamakiin Zante | July 32°C | January 12°C | 4 | 26°C | 3 h 42 min |
| Skiathos Townin Skiathos | August 27°C | January 12°C | 2 | 26°C | 3 h 36 min |
| Rodain Corfu | August 28°C | January 13°C | 2 | 25°C | 3 h 12 min |
| Sissiin Crete | July 31°C | January 15°C | 5 | 26°C | 4 h 6 min |
| Kalivesin Halkidiki | August 30°C | January 10°C | 4 | 27°C | 3 h 30 min |
| Thassos | August 28°C | January 9°C | 2 | 26°C | 3 h 30 min |
| Sidariin Corfu | August 27°C | January 12°C | 2 | 25°C | 3 h 12 min |
| Lindosin Rhodes | August 31°C | January 14°C | 4 | 28°C | 4 h 12 min |
| Eloundain Crete | July 30°C | January 15°C | 4 | 26°C | 4 h 6 min |
| Naxos | August 26°C | January 13°C | 2 | 24°C | 3 h 54 min |
| Pefkosin Rhodes | July 32°C | January 11°C | 5 | 25°C | 3 h 42 min |
| Chaniain Crete | August 28°C | January 13°C | 4 | 26°C | 4 h |
| Paxos | August 27°C | January 12°C | 2 | 26°C | 3 h 18 min |
| Kardamenain Kos | August 27°C | January 14°C | 3 | 25°C | 4 h 6 min |
| Kavosin Corfu | August 30°C | January 13°C | 4 | 26°C | 3 h 18 min |
| Kiotariin Rhodes | August 31°C | January 14°C | 4 | 28°C | 4 h 12 min |
| Stalisin Crete | July 31°C | January 15°C | 5 | 26°C | 4 h 6 min |
| Lassiin Kefalonia | August 28°C | February 13°C | 3 | 26°C | 3 h 30 min |
| Laganasin Zante | August 28°C | January 14°C | 4 | 26°C | 3 h 30 min |
| Kefalosin Kos | August 27°C | January 13°C | 2 | 25°C | 4 h 6 min |
| Afitosin Halkidiki | August 28°C | January 10°C | 2 | 27°C | 3 h 30 min |
| Skalain Kefalonia | August 34°C | January 13°C | 5 | 27°C | 3 h 48 min |
| Gouvesin Crete | July 30°C | January 14°C | 5 | 26°C | 4 h 6 min |
| Zakynthos Townin Zante | August 28°C | January 14°C | 4 | 26°C | 3 h 30 min |
| Kolymbiain Rhodes | August 30°C | January 14°C | 4 | 27°C | 4 h 12 min |
| Saniin Halkidiki | August 28°C | January 10°C | 2 | 27°C | 3 h 30 min |
| Koutouloufariin Crete | July 31°C | January 15°C | 5 | 26°C | 4 h 6 min |
| Alonissos | August 27°C | January 11°C | 2 | 26°C | 3 h 36 min |
Warmest place in Greece each month
| Month | Warmest destination | Day | Coolest destination | Day | Warmest sea |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Hersonissos | 15°C | Thassos | 9°C | Ixia 18°C |
| February | Hersonissos | 15°C | Thassos | 10°C | Faliraki 17°C |
| March | Hersonissos | 18°C | Thassos | 12°C | Kolymbia 17°C |
| April | Sissi | 21°C | Thassos | 15°C | Kiotari 17°C |
| May | Skala | 26°C | Skiathos Town | 19°C | Kiotari 20°C |
| June | Skala | 31°C | Paxos | 23°C | Kalives 23°C |
| July | Skala | 34°C | Santorini | 25°C | Kalives 26°C |
| August | Skala | 34°C | Santorini | 26°C | Kiotari 28°C |
| September | Skala | 30°C | Alonissos | 24°C | Kiotari 26°C |
| October | Sissi | 25°C | Thassos | 19°C | Faliraki 24°C |
| November | Sissi | 20°C | Thassos | 15°C | Faliraki 22°C |
| December | Elounda | 16°C | Thassos | 10°C | Faliraki 19°C |
Winter into spring: better for walking than swimming
January and February average 13°C by day and 9°C at night, so pack layers and a waterproof rather than treating Greece as a winter beach destination. December is only slightly milder, and wet days are a regular consideration throughout winter. March lifts daytime temperatures to 15°C, but the sea stays cool. April is a more comfortable prospect for city walking at 18°C, with fewer rainy days than winter. May reaches 22°C by day and 17°C at night, making it a useful balance for outdoor plans. The catch for beach travellers is the water: May's 19°C sea may still feel brisk, even when the air feels pleasant.
Summer into autumn: the sea holds its warmth
June brings a convincing beach balance: daytime temperatures average 26°C, the sea reaches 23°C and rain is infrequent. July and August are hotter and drier, with 29°C days and warm nights, so leave strenuous walking for mornings and keep midday plans flexible. August has the warmest sea at 26°C. September is particularly useful if you want swimming without the highest average daytime heat: the air eases to 26°C while the sea remains at 25°C. October still offers 22°C days and 23°C water, but rain becomes more of a consideration. November's 18°C days and more frequent wet weather make a beach-led trip less dependable, even though the sea retains some warmth.
Where you stay changes the balance
The clearest destination contrast is between Skala, the warmest year-round at an average daytime temperature of 23.3°C, and Thassos, the coolest at 17.9°C. That makes Skala the warmer starting point if mild weather matters most, while Thassos deserves more cautious expectations outside summer. These annual figures do not guarantee conditions in a particular month. For a city stay in Athens, spring or October is the more comfortable choice for long days on foot than midsummer. For a beach-led holiday, prioritise the warmer sea from June into autumn rather than judging by daytime warmth alone. Keep an extra layer handy when travelling outside the warmest months.
A little more detail
Greece weather FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
When is the best time to visit Greece?
Weighing warmth, low rainfall and sunshine across 44 destinations, the best months for Greece are August, July, June. August is the hottest month (average high 29.0°C) and January the coolest (12.9°C).
How many months is Greece over 25°C?
4 months average a daytime high of 25°C or more across our Greece destinations.
Which is the hottest place in Greece?
Over the year, Skala has the highest average daytime temperature of the 44 Greece destinations we track (23.3°C averaged across all months).
Is May warm enough for a beach holiday in Greece?
May averages 22°C by day, so it can suit time on the beach as well as walking. Swimming is the compromise: the sea averages 19°C. If warm water matters more than gentle daytime temperatures, June is a stronger choice at 23°C in the sea.
Is September or October better for swimming?
September is the stronger all-round choice, with sea temperatures of 25°C, daytime temperatures of 26°C and fewer rainy days than October. October's sea is still 23°C, but cooler air and more frequent rain make it sensible to have plans beyond the beach.
What should I pack for Greece in winter?
Pack layers, a waterproof and clothing suited to cool evenings. January and February average 13°C by day and 9°C at night, while winter rain is frequent enough to affect outdoor plans. Dress for walking in changeable weather rather than for a beach holiday.
About these averages
ERA5-Land climate reanalysis via Open-Meteo (11 km grid), 1991-2020
Averages computed from daily values at 44 destination points.Records are the highest and lowest daily values in that 30-year period, not all-time records. These are climate averages, not a forecast for your trip. How we measure holiday weather
- Hot · 25°C+
- Warm · 20°C to below 25°C
- Mild · 15°C to below 20°C
- Cool · below 15°C