Your July weather guide
HotWeather in Athens in July
July suits Athens travellers who want hot, dry weather and are happy to slow down at midday. Average highs reach 33°C, nights stay around 22°C, and the sea is about 25°C, so swimming is a strong reason to go. The catch is the heat: this is Athens' warmest month, not the easiest time for long days on foot. Choose it for sunshine and warm evenings rather than comfortable all-day exploring.
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
- 32.7°C
- 9 in 10 days stay below 36°C
- Average night-time low
- 22.2°C
- coldest 10% of nights: 20°C or lower
- Compared with London
- +10.9°C
- London averages 21.8°C in July
- Sea temperature
- 25.4°C
- year to year: 24°C to 26°C
- Sunshine per day (est.)
- 13.4h
- 93% of 14.4 h of daylight
- Rainy days (1 mm+)
- 2
- 7 mm over the month
- Humidity
- 49%
- Days over 25°C
- 100%
- 85% over 30°C
- Record high 1991-2020
- 42.9°C
- 1998-07-03
- Record low 1991-2020
- 16.6°C
- 1992-07-01
- 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 July compares
July is the 1st warmest month of the year in Athens and ranks 14th of 134 destinations we compare for July - see where else is hot in July. Within Greece it is 2nd of 44 (Greece in July). Against London's average high of 21.8°C in July, Athens is 10.9°C warmer by day and 8.7°C warmer at night.
Daytime and night-time in July
The typical July day in Athens peaks at 32.7°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 36.1°C or more. About 100% of days top 25°C and almost every pass 30°C. Nights average 22.2°C; one night in ten drops to 20.1°C or lower, so pack a layer for evenings. Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest July day here reached 42.9°C (1998-07-03) and the coldest night 16.6°C (1992-07-01).
Rain in July
Dry (3 rainy days or fewer): about 2 days with 1 mm or more, 7 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest July was 2018 with 35 mm, the driest 1996 with 0 mm. Humidity averages 49%.
Sea temperature in July
The sea averages 25.4°C - warm enough to swim (22°c+). Depending on the year it ranges from 24.2°C to 26.0°C. For the warmest sea here, come in August (26.3°C).
Sunshine and daylight
Around 13.4 hours of sunshine a day (estimated from cloud cover), 14.4 hours of daylight: the sun rises about 06:15 and sets about 20:47 local time in mid-July. Average cloud cover is 7%.
Is July a good time to visit Athens?
Yes - it is one of the better months: hot days, little rain and long sunny days. The best months for Athens on our scoring are June, September, May; months averaging 25°C or more: May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep.
Plan your day around the heat
The daytime average is already hot, but warmer spells deserve attention: the warmest 10% of days reach 36°C or more. Put longer walks in the morning, keep midday plans light and leave room for breaks indoors. Loose, lightweight clothing, a hat and water are more useful than a packed outdoor schedule. Accommodation with air conditioning is a sensible priority, since the average night low offers limited cooling after a hot day. Evenings are better suited to sitting outdoors than to expecting a refreshing chill. If heat makes you tired or uncomfortable, July is a demanding choice for a city holiday.
Dry days and warm water favour lighter plans
Rain is unlikely to dictate your itinerary, with about 2 rainy days during July. That makes outdoor plans straightforward, but sunshine needs managing rather than simply enjoying: there are about 13.4 hours of it a day. Build in shade and sun protection, especially if you spend time by the water, and use the long daylight to spread activities around the hottest part of the day. The sea is comfortably warm for swimming, with a July range of 24°C to 26°C. For travellers happy to mix city time with swimming and unhurried evenings, the weather works well; for constant walking, the dryness does not cancel out the heat.
A little perspective
Athens through the year
July 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% |
| JulySelected | 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 July
Closest matches on daytime temperature, sea temperature and sunshine, in other countries.
A little more detail
Athens in July FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
Is Athens hot in July?
Athens is hot in July: the average daytime high is 32.7°C and nights average 22.2°C. About 100% of July days reach 25°C or more.
Can you swim in the sea in Athens in July?
The sea around Athens averages 25.4°C in July, which is warm enough for most people to swim comfortably. Between 1991 and 2020 it ranged from 24°C to 26°C depending on the year.
How much does it rain in Athens in July?
Athens sees about 2 rainy days (1 mm or more) and 7 mm of rain in a typical July. The wettest July between 1991 and 2020 was 2018 (35 mm) and the driest was 1996 (0 mm).
How sunny is Athens in July?
Athens gets around 13.4 hours of sunshine a day in July out of 14.4 hours of daylight (estimated from average cloud cover).
How does Athens compare with the UK in July?
Athens is on average 10.9°C warmer than London by day in July (32.7°C against 21.8°C).
What is the hottest July on record in Athens?
Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest July day in Athens reached 42.9°C on 1998-07-03, and the coldest night dropped to 16.6°C on 1992-07-01.
How much hotter is Athens than London in July?
Athens has an average daytime high of 32.7°C, compared with London's 21.8°C - a difference of 10.9°C. That is a substantial step up from a typical London July, so allow for a slower pace rather than planning the same amount of walking.
Would another month be a better choice?
June, September and May are better overall weather choices for Athens. July still suits travellers who actively want heat and warm swimming conditions, but it is the warmest month, so it is less appealing if avoiding peak heat matters most.
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