Your February weather guide
CoolWeather in Athens in February
Athens in February suits a city break on foot, not a warm-weather holiday. Average daytime highs of 13°C feel milder than London's 8°C, but nights drop to around 6°C, so a coat still earns its place in your bag. Go if you are happy to make the most of dry spells and keep your plans flexible. If your main aim is outdoor warmth or comfortable sea swimming, choose another month.
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
- 12.8°C
- 9 in 10 days stay below 17°C
- Average night-time low
- 5.7°C
- coldest 10% of nights: 2°C or lower
- Compared with London
- +4.9°C
- London averages 7.9°C in February
- Sea temperature
- 14.3°C
- year to year: 14°C to 15°C
- Sunshine per day (est.)
- 5.2h
- 49% of 10.6 h of daylight
- Rainy days (1 mm+)
- 7
- 48 mm over the month
- Humidity
- 76%
- Days over 25°C
- 0%
- none over 30°C
- Record high 1991-2020
- 22.0°C
- 1995-02-28
- Record low 1991-2020
- -6.6°C
- 2004-02-14
- 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 February compares
February is the 11th warmest month of the year in Athens and ranks 98th of 134 destinations we compare for February - see where else is hot in February. Within Greece it is 29th of 44 (Greece in February). Against London's average high of 7.9°C in February, Athens is 4.9°C warmer by day and 3.7°C warmer at night.
Daytime and night-time in February
The typical February day in Athens peaks at 12.8°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 16.9°C or more. Days over 25°C are rare. Nights average 5.7°C; one night in ten drops to 1.8°C or lower, so pack a layer for evenings - it is genuinely cool after dark. Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest February day here reached 22.0°C (1995-02-28) and the coldest night -6.6°C (2004-02-14).
Rain in February
Some rain (4-8 rainy days): about 7 days with 1 mm or more, 48 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest February was 2011 with 149 mm, the driest 1995 with 4 mm. Humidity averages 76%.
Sea temperature in February
The sea averages 14.3°C - too cold for most (under 18°c). Depending on the year it ranges from 13.8°C to 15.1°C. For the warmest sea here, come in August (26.3°C).
Sunshine and daylight
Around 5.2 hours of sunshine a day (estimated from cloud cover), 10.6 hours of daylight: the sun rises about 07:16 and sets about 18:02 local time in mid-February. Average cloud cover is 51%.
Is February a good time to visit Athens?
February 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.
Mild afternoons, but proper winter evenings
The useful distinction is between weather for walking and weather for sitting outside: February looks better for the former. A daytime high around 13°C can suit exploring on foot with layers, but it is not a reason to pack mainly light clothing. The warmer days reach around 17°C or more, while the coldest nights fall to around 2°C or below. Treat a mild afternoon as a bonus rather than the basis of your packing. Bring a warm outer layer, something you can remove while walking, and closed shoes. Plan your longer outdoor stretches for the warmer part of the day, keeping evenings less dependent on being outside.
Enough light to get out, with room for rain
February brings about 5.2 hours of sunshine within 10.6 hours of daylight, so there is scope for time outdoors without expecting clear skies throughout your stay. About 7 rainy days means rain needs a place in your plans, but it does not justify writing off the month. Pack a waterproof jacket and shoes you are comfortable wearing on wet pavements, and leave yourself flexibility to move outdoor plans into a dry spell. Daylight and sunshine are not the same thing: you can still be out under cloud, provided you dress for the cool air. This is a better fit for flexible travellers than for anyone relying on reliably sunny afternoons.
A little perspective
Athens through the year
February 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% |
| FebruarySelected | 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% |
| 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 February
Closest matches on daytime temperature, sea temperature and sunshine, in other countries.
A little more detail
Athens in February FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
Is Athens hot in February?
Athens is cool in February: the average daytime high is 12.8°C and nights average 5.7°C. Days over 25°C are rare in February.
Can you swim in the sea in Athens in February?
The sea around Athens averages 14.3°C in February, which is cold for swimming without a wetsuit. Between 1991 and 2020 it ranged from 14°C to 15°C depending on the year.
How much does it rain in Athens in February?
Athens sees about 7 rainy days (1 mm or more) and 48 mm of rain in a typical February. The wettest February between 1991 and 2020 was 2011 (149 mm) and the driest was 1995 (4 mm).
How sunny is Athens in February?
Athens gets around 5.2 hours of sunshine a day in February out of 10.6 hours of daylight (estimated from average cloud cover).
How does Athens compare with the UK in February?
Athens is on average 4.9°C warmer than London by day in February (12.8°C against 7.9°C).
What is the hottest February on record in Athens?
Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest February day in Athens reached 22.0°C on 1995-02-28, and the coldest night dropped to -6.6°C on 2004-02-14.
Can I swim in the sea in February?
The sea averages 14.3°C, which is cold rather than comfortably swimmable. If relaxed swimming is central to your holiday, February is a poor fit. Plan around time on land rather than expecting the water to provide a warm-weather break.
How long is the flight from London?
The flight from London takes about 3 h 42 min, making Athens a short-haul option. That makes it worth considering for a city break, but the relatively short journey does not deliver dependable warmth in February.
Would another month be a better choice?
June, September and May are better choices overall for holiday weather in Athens. February still makes sense if you prefer cool conditions for walking and can work around rain, but it is not the month to choose for heat.
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