Your December weather guide
CoolWeather in Athens in December
Athens in December suits a cool-weather city break, not a winter sun holiday. Average afternoons reach 13°C, nights fall to 7°C, and there are about 8 rainy days, so pack for changeable weather rather than warmth. It is a reasonable choice if you enjoy being outdoors without summer heat and can keep your plans flexible. The catch is short daylight, chilly evenings and a sea that is too cold for casual swimming.
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
- 13.2°C
- 9 in 10 days stay below 17°C
- Average night-time low
- 7.2°C
- coldest 10% of nights: 3°C or lower
- Compared with London
- +5.5°C
- London averages 7.7°C in December
- Sea temperature
- 17.3°C
- year to year: 16°C to 18°C
- Sunshine per day (est.)
- 4.1h
- 44% of 9.4 h of daylight
- Rainy days (1 mm+)
- 8
- 64 mm over the month
- Humidity
- 79%
- Days over 25°C
- 0%
- none over 30°C
- Record high 1991-2020
- 22.4°C
- 2010-12-02
- Record low 1991-2020
- -6.4°C
- 2001-12-19
- 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 December compares
December is the 10th warmest month of the year in Athens and ranks 99th of 134 destinations we compare for December - see where else is hot in December. Within Greece it is 33rd of 44 (Greece in December). Against London's average high of 7.7°C in December, Athens is 5.5°C warmer by day and 4.5°C warmer at night.
Daytime and night-time in December
The typical December day in Athens peaks at 13.2°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 17.1°C or more. Days over 25°C are rare. Nights average 7.2°C; one night in ten drops to 3.3°C or lower, so pack a layer for evenings - it is genuinely cool after dark. Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest December day here reached 22.4°C (2010-12-02) and the coldest night -6.4°C (2001-12-19).
Rain in December
Some rain (4-8 rainy days): about 8 days with 1 mm or more, 64 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest December was 2020 with 160 mm, the driest 2015 with 1 mm. Humidity averages 79%.
Sea temperature in December
The sea averages 17.3°C - too cold for most (under 18°c). Depending on the year it ranges from 16.3°C to 18.2°C. For the warmest sea here, come in August (26.3°C).
Sunshine and daylight
Around 4.1 hours of sunshine a day (estimated from cloud cover), 9.4 hours of daylight: the sun rises about 07:34 and sets about 17:07 local time in mid-December. Average cloud cover is 57%.
Is December a good time to visit Athens?
December is not the strongest month here: cool 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 for walking, chilly when you stop
December temperatures make walking more appealing than sitting outside for long stretches. A mild afternoon can reach 17°C or more, but that is the warmer end of the month, not something to expect every day. At the colder end, nights can fall to 3°C or below, so bring a proper jacket and layers you can remove as the day warms up. Plan longer outdoor stretches around the middle of the day rather than worrying about midday heat. With about 9.4 hours of daylight and 4.1 hours of sunshine, getting out early makes better use of the available light; evenings are better approached with warm clothing than hopes of lingering outdoors.
Keep rain plans flexible and skip the beach-holiday mindset
Rain is a practical drawback rather than a reason to rule December out. About 8 rainy days means waterproof outerwear and shoes that cope with wet pavements deserve space in your bag. Keep outdoor plans movable and leave room for time indoors if a wet spell arrives; the monthly average cannot tell you how rain will fall during your stay. The sea averages 17.3°C, which is cold rather than comfortably swimmable, so do not choose December for relaxed dips. This month works best if your priority is spending time in the city in cool conditions, and you are happy to trade reliable sunshine for manageable daytime temperatures.
A little perspective
Athens through the year
December 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% |
| April | 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% |
| DecemberSelected | 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 December
Closest matches on daytime temperature, sea temperature and sunshine, in other countries.
Italy · 13°C by day · sea 17°C
Sorrento
Italy · 13°C by day · sea 17°C
Amalfi Coast
Italy · 13°C by day · sea 17°C
Naples
Albania · 13°C by day · sea 17°C
Saranda
Turkey · 14°C by day · sea 18°C
Kusadasi
A little more detail
Athens in December FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
Is Athens hot in December?
Athens is cool in December: the average daytime high is 13.2°C and nights average 7.2°C. Days over 25°C are rare in December.
Can you swim in the sea in Athens in December?
The sea around Athens averages 17.3°C in December, which is cold for swimming without a wetsuit. Between 1991 and 2020 it ranged from 16°C to 18°C depending on the year.
How much does it rain in Athens in December?
Athens sees about 8 rainy days (1 mm or more) and 64 mm of rain in a typical December. The wettest December between 1991 and 2020 was 2020 (160 mm) and the driest was 2015 (1 mm).
How sunny is Athens in December?
Athens gets around 4.1 hours of sunshine a day in December out of 9.4 hours of daylight (estimated from average cloud cover).
How does Athens compare with the UK in December?
Athens is on average 5.5°C warmer than London by day in December (13.2°C against 7.7°C).
What is the hottest December on record in Athens?
Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest December day in Athens reached 22.4°C on 2010-12-02, and the coldest night dropped to -6.4°C on 2001-12-19.
How much warmer is Athens than London in December?
Athens has an average daytime high of 13.2°C, compared with London's 7.7°C - a difference of 5.5°C. That is a useful lift in afternoon temperature, but it still calls for a jacket rather than summer clothes.
Would another month be a better choice?
June, September and May are stronger overall choices for Athens weather. December makes more sense if you actively prefer cool days and accept some rain. If warmth is central to your holiday, choose another month rather than relying on a mild spell.
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