Your April weather guide
MildWeather in Athens in April
April is a good time for Athens if you want mild weather for exploring the city rather than a hot beach holiday. Daytime highs average around 20°C, but nights drop to about 11°C, so packing only summer clothes would be a mistake. The sea is cold at 15.6°C. For a UK traveller, the appeal is warmer afternoons and time outdoors without relying on strong heat; the catch is cool evenings and some rain.
Long-term climate averages for Athens, not a forecast · 1991-2020
Athens, month by month
Your snapshot
At a glance
The useful details for Athens.
- Average daytime high
- 19.8°C
- 9 in 10 days stay below 24°C
- Average night-time low
- 10.6°C
- coldest 10% of nights: 8°C or lower
- Compared with London
- +6.3°C
- London averages 13.5°C in April
- Sea temperature
- 15.6°C
- year to year: 15°C to 16°C
- Sunshine per day (est.)
- 7.7h
- 59% of 13.0 h of daylight
- Rainy days (1 mm+)
- 6
- 28 mm over the month
- Humidity
- 66%
- Days over 25°C
- 6%
- 0% over 30°C
- Record high 1991-2020
- 30.7°C
- 2013-04-30
- Record low 1991-2020
- 3.2°C
- 1997-04-09
- Flight from London
- ≈ 3 h 42 min
- 2376 km, short-haul (estimate for a direct flight)
Records are observed extremes within 1991-2020, not typical holiday conditions. Warm-day percentages are shares of days, not day counts.
How April compares
April is the 7th warmest month of the year in Athens and ranks 73rd of 134 destinations we compare for April - see where else is hot in April. Within Greece it is 9th of 44 (Greece in April). Against London's average high of 13.5°C in April, Athens is 6.3°C warmer by day and 5.5°C warmer at night.
Daytime and night-time in April
The typical April day in Athens peaks at 19.8°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 23.9°C or more. Roughly 1 in 16 days top 25°C and 1 in 1000 pass 30°C. Nights average 10.6°C; one night in ten drops to 7.5°C or lower, so pack a layer for evenings - it is genuinely cool after dark. Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest April day here reached 30.7°C (2013-04-30) and the coldest night 3.2°C (1997-04-09).
Rain in April
Some rain (4-8 rainy days): about 6 days with 1 mm or more, 28 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest April was 2020 with 74 mm, the driest 2016 with 1 mm. Humidity averages 66%.
Sea temperature in April
The sea averages 15.6°C - too cold for most (under 18°c). Depending on the year it ranges from 15.0°C to 16.4°C. For the warmest sea here, come in August (26.3°C).
Sunshine and daylight
Around 7.7 hours of sunshine a day (estimated from cloud cover), 13.0 hours of daylight: the sun rises about 06:50 and sets about 20:01 local time in mid-April. Average cloud cover is 41%.
Is April a good time to visit Athens?
It is a reasonable choice: mild days. The best months for Athens on our scoring are June, September, May; months averaging 25°C or more: May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep.
Comfortable afternoons, but keep a layer handy
Athens offers a noticeable step up from London's average April high of 13.5°C. Light clothes can work during warmer afternoons, with a jumper or jacket ready for shade and the evening. The warmest days reach 23.9°C or more, so April can feel warm, but it is not reliably hot: only 6% of days reach 25°C. That makes it a sensible choice if you prefer walking around without intense midday heat. Cooler spells still matter, especially after dark, when the coldest nights fall to 7.5°C or below. Pack trousers and closed shoes alongside lighter options, rather than treating this as a summer trip.
Plenty of outdoor time, with room for rain
About 7.7 hours of sunshine within 13.0 hours of daylight gives you a useful window for spending time outside, though sunshine is not guaranteed throughout the day. There are about 6 rainy days in April, so bring a light waterproof and keep your plans flexible enough to move outdoor time around a wet spell. Rain is a reason to prepare, not necessarily a reason to rule the month out. April suits a city break better than a holiday built around swimming or consistently warm evenings. If your main aim is mild daytime weather, it is a reasonable choice; if dependable heat matters most, it is less convincing.
A little perspective
Athens through the year
April is highlighted. See how it compares with the rest of the year.
| Month | Day | Night | Sea | Sun/day | Rain mm | Rainy days | Days 25°C+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 11.8°C | 5.4°C | 15.2°C | 4.4 | 56 | 7 | 0% |
| February | 12.8°C | 5.7°C | 14.3°C | 5.2 | 48 | 7 | 0% |
| March | 15.6°C | 7.6°C | 14.4°C | 6.2 | 50 | 7 | 1% |
| AprilSelected | 19.8°C | 10.6°C | 15.6°C | 7.7 | 28 | 6 | 6% |
| Maybest | 25.2°C | 15.3°C | 18.8°C | 9.3 | 23 | 5 | 52% |
| Junebest | 30.3°C | 19.8°C | 22.6°C | 12.1 | 12 | 3 | 95% |
| July | 32.7°C | 22.2°C | 25.4°C | 13.4 | 7 | 2 | 100% |
| August | 32.6°C | 22.1°C | 26.3°C | 12.5 | 5 | 1 | 100% |
| Septemberbest | 28.2°C | 18.9°C | 25.2°C | 9.7 | 17 | 3 | 83% |
| October | 23.0°C | 15.1°C | 22.9°C | 6.7 | 28 | 4 | 31% |
| November | 17.6°C | 10.9°C | 20.1°C | 4.8 | 50 | 7 | 2% |
| December | 13.2°C | 7.2°C | 17.3°C | 4.1 | 64 | 8 | 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
Best months here
On warmth, low rainfall and sunshine, start with these.
Keep exploring
Similar in April
Closest matches on daytime temperature, sea temperature and sunshine, in other countries.
A little more detail
Athens in April FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
Is Athens hot in April?
Athens is mild in April: the average daytime high is 19.8°C and nights average 10.6°C. Roughly 1 in 16 April days reach 25°C.
Can you swim in the sea in Athens in April?
The sea around Athens averages 15.6°C in April, which is cold for swimming without a wetsuit. Between 1991 and 2020 it ranged from 15°C to 16°C depending on the year.
How much does it rain in Athens in April?
Athens sees about 6 rainy days (1 mm or more) and 28 mm of rain in a typical April. The wettest April between 1991 and 2020 was 2020 (74 mm) and the driest was 2016 (1 mm).
How sunny is Athens in April?
Athens gets around 7.7 hours of sunshine a day in April out of 13.0 hours of daylight (estimated from average cloud cover).
How does Athens compare with the UK in April?
Athens is on average 6.3°C warmer than London by day in April (19.8°C against 13.5°C).
What is the hottest April on record in Athens?
Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest April day in Athens reached 30.7°C on 2013-04-30, and the coldest night dropped to 3.2°C on 1997-04-09.
Is the sea warm enough for swimming in April?
The sea averages 15.6°C, which is cold rather than merely bracing. If you are hoping for comfortable, leisurely swims, April is not a good fit. Choose it for time outdoors in mild air, not for warm-water swimming.
Should I choose April or go later?
Choose April if mild afternoons suit you and you can accept cool nights and occasional rain. May, June and September are stronger overall weather choices. April still makes sense for a city-focused trip where sustained heat and sea swimming are not priorities.
About these averages
ERA5-Land climate reanalysis via Open-Meteo (11 km grid) and NOAA Coral Reef Watch 5 km sea temperatures, 1991-2020
Averages computed from daily values at Athens. Sea temperature from the nearest 5 km sea cell, 8 km from that point. Sunshine hours are estimated from average cloud cover.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