Your March weather guide
MildWeather in Athens in March
Athens in March is a good choice for a mild city break, but not for dependable warmth or swimming. Average afternoons reach around 16°C, while nights fall to about 8°C, so layers matter more than summer clothes. Expect about 7 rainy days across the month: enough to keep plans flexible, rather than rule out going. It suits travellers who prefer walking in mild weather and can accept cool evenings and occasional wet spells.
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
- 15.6°C
- 9 in 10 days stay below 20°C
- Average night-time low
- 7.6°C
- coldest 10% of nights: 4°C or lower
- Compared with London
- +5.1°C
- London averages 10.5°C in March
- Sea temperature
- 14.4°C
- year to year: 14°C to 15°C
- Sunshine per day (est.)
- 6.2h
- 53% of 11.7 h of daylight
- Rainy days (1 mm+)
- 7
- 50 mm over the month
- Humidity
- 72%
- Days over 25°C
- 1%
- none over 30°C
- Record high 1991-2020
- 28.1°C
- 2001-03-26
- Record low 1991-2020
- 0.1°C
- 1993-03-11
- 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 March compares
March is the 9th warmest month of the year in Athens and ranks 88th of 134 destinations we compare for March - see where else is hot in March. Within Greece it is 17th of 44 (Greece in March). Against London's average high of 10.5°C in March, Athens is 5.1°C warmer by day and 4.3°C warmer at night.
Daytime and night-time in March
The typical March day in Athens peaks at 15.6°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 20.1°C or more. Roughly 1 in 167 days top 25°C. Nights average 7.6°C; one night in ten drops to 4.1°C or lower, so pack a layer for evenings - it is genuinely cool after dark. Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest March day here reached 28.1°C (2001-03-26) and the coldest night 0.1°C (1993-03-11).
Rain in March
Some rain (4-8 rainy days): about 7 days with 1 mm or more, 50 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest March was 1998 with 201 mm, the driest 2001 with 13 mm. Humidity averages 72%.
Sea temperature in March
The sea averages 14.4°C - too cold for most (under 18°c). Depending on the year it ranges from 13.8°C to 15.0°C. For the warmest sea here, come in August (26.3°C).
Sunshine and daylight
Around 6.2 hours of sunshine a day (estimated from cloud cover), 11.7 hours of daylight: the sun rises about 06:36 and sets about 18:32 local time in mid-March. Average cloud cover is 47%.
Is March a good time to visit Athens?
March is not the strongest month here: 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 for walking, cool after dark
The main advantage is being able to spend time outdoors without planning around strong midday heat. Mild afternoons should suit walking, though the average high is not a promise of warmth every day. The warmest days reach around 20°C or more, while the coldest nights drop to about 4°C or below. Pack a jumper and a jacket you will be comfortable wearing after dark, with lighter layers underneath for warmer spells. Summer clothes alone would be a poor bet. If your idea of a March break involves comfortably warm evenings outdoors, Athens is likely to feel too cool.
Some sunshine, with room for rain in your plans
Around 6.2 hours of sunshine within 11.7 hours of daylight gives you scope for outdoor plans, but it is not a forecast of clear skies throughout your stay. With about 7 rainy days during the month, a waterproof jacket and shoes that cope with wet pavements are sensible additions. Keep outdoor time flexible rather than tying everything to a particular day. March works best if you are happy to adjust plans when rain arrives and make use of brighter spells. For a trip built around reliable heat, choose another month; June, September and May are the stronger overall choices here.
A little perspective
Athens through the year
March 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% |
| MarchSelected | 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 March
Closest matches on daytime temperature, sea temperature and sunshine, in other countries.
A little more detail
Athens in March FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
Is Athens hot in March?
Athens is mild in March: the average daytime high is 15.6°C and nights average 7.6°C. Roughly 1 in 167 March days reach 25°C.
Can you swim in the sea in Athens in March?
The sea around Athens averages 14.4°C in March, 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 March?
Athens sees about 7 rainy days (1 mm or more) and 50 mm of rain in a typical March. The wettest March between 1991 and 2020 was 1998 (201 mm) and the driest was 2001 (13 mm).
How sunny is Athens in March?
Athens gets around 6.2 hours of sunshine a day in March out of 11.7 hours of daylight (estimated from average cloud cover).
How does Athens compare with the UK in March?
Athens is on average 5.1°C warmer than London by day in March (15.6°C against 10.5°C).
What is the hottest March on record in Athens?
Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest March day in Athens reached 28.1°C on 2001-03-26, and the coldest night dropped to 0.1°C on 1993-03-11.
How much warmer is Athens than London in March?
Athens has an average daytime high of 15.6°C, compared with London's 10.5°C, a difference of 5.1°C. That makes it a milder option for daytime exploring, but not a switch to summer weather. You will still want warm layers for evenings.
Is the sea warm enough for swimming?
The sea averages 14.4°C in March, which is cold rather than comfortably swimmable. It is well below the 22°C benchmark for swimming, so do not choose this month for a holiday centred on spending time in the water.
Is Athens a practical short-haul March break?
The flight from London takes about 3 h 42 min, making Athens a short-haul option. March suits a break focused on being out in mild daytime weather, provided you pack for cool nights and leave some flexibility for rain.
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