Your January weather guide
CoolWeather in Corfu in January
Corfu in January suits a break in cool weather, not a beach holiday. Daytime temperatures average around 12°C, rain falls on about 11 days, and the sea is cold at 15.4°C. It is milder than London, but that difference does not turn it into a winter sun destination. Go if you are happy to dress in layers and work around showers; choose another month if warmth and swimming are the main reasons for travelling.
Long-term climate averages for Corfu Town, not a forecast · 1991-2020
Corfu, month by month
Your snapshot
At a glance
The useful details for Corfu Town.
- Average daytime high
- 12.1°C
- 9 in 10 days stay below 15°C
- Average night-time low
- 8.6°C
- coldest 10% of nights: 5°C or lower
- Compared with London
- +4.7°C
- London averages 7.4°C in January
- Sea temperature
- 15.4°C
- year to year: 15°C to 16°C
- Sunshine per day (est.)
- 4.5h
- 47% of 9.5 h of daylight
- Rainy days (1 mm+)
- 11
- 129 mm over the month
- Humidity
- 71%
- Days over 25°C
- 0%
- none over 30°C
- Record high 1991-2020
- 16.9°C
- 2003-01-11
- Record low 1991-2020
- 0.1°C
- 2004-01-23
- Flight from London
- ≈ 3 h 18 min
- 2015 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 January compares
January is the 12th warmest month of the year in Corfu and ranks 100th of 134 destinations we compare for January - see where else is hot in January. Within Greece it is 32nd of 44 (Greece in January). Against London's average high of 7.4°C in January, Corfu is 4.7°C warmer by day and 6.4°C warmer at night.
Daytime and night-time in January
The typical January day in Corfu peaks at 12.1°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 14.6°C or more. Days over 25°C are rare. Nights average 8.6°C; one night in ten drops to 5.4°C or lower, so pack a layer for evenings - it is genuinely cool after dark. Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest January day here reached 16.9°C (2003-01-11) and the coldest night 0.1°C (2004-01-23).
Rain in January
Wet (more than 8 rainy days): about 11 days with 1 mm or more, 129 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest January was 2019 with 440 mm, the driest 1992 with 13 mm. Humidity averages 71%.
Sea temperature in January
The sea averages 15.4°C - too cold for most (under 18°c). Depending on the year it ranges from 14.7°C to 16.0°C. For the warmest sea here, come in August (25.9°C).
Sunshine and daylight
Around 4.5 hours of sunshine a day (estimated from cloud cover), 9.5 hours of daylight: the sun rises about 08:00 and sets about 17:39 local time in mid-January. Average cloud cover is 53%.
Is January a good time to visit Corfu?
January is not the strongest month here: cool days and frequent rain. The best months for Corfu on our scoring are July, August, June; months averaging 25°C or more: Jul, Aug.
Cool days and evenings that need a coat
January is Corfu's coldest month, so plan for outdoor time in a jacket rather than shirtsleeves. The average night falls to around 9°C, while the coldest nights can drop to about 5°C or below. Even warmer days reaching around 15°C are mild rather than hot. Pack layers you can adjust, with something warmer for evenings instead of relying on a light jumper alone. This weather is better suited to walking when it is dry than sitting still outdoors for long stretches. The sea is cold too, so do not make comfortable swimming a central part of your plans.
Leave room to change plans when it rains
Rain is the main catch: about 11 days have measurable rainfall, so a fully outdoor itinerary would be a gamble. That does not mean those days are wet throughout, but it does make a waterproof jacket and shoes that cope with wet ground sensible choices. There are about 4.5 hours of sunshine within 9.5 hours of daylight, leaving scope for time outside without promising clear skies all day. Keep your plans flexible and use dry spells when they arrive. For a UK traveller, the appeal is a milder setting rather than dependable sunshine; January is a poor fit if rain would spoil the trip.
A little perspective
Corfu through the year
January 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+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuarySelected | 12.1°C | 8.6°C | 15.4°C | 4.5 | 129 | 11 | 0% |
| February | 12.3°C | 8.6°C | 14.5°C | 4.9 | 123 | 11 | 0% |
| March | 14.0°C | 10.0°C | 14.6°C | 5.8 | 111 | 11 | 0% |
| April | 16.6°C | 12.3°C | 16.0°C | 6.5 | 76 | 10 | 1% |
| May | 20.4°C | 16.2°C | 19.3°C | 8.0 | 51 | 7 | 3% |
| Junebest | 24.5°C | 20.2°C | 22.7°C | 10.9 | 25 | 4 | 39% |
| Julybest | 27.1°C | 22.7°C | 24.7°C | 12.9 | 15 | 3 | 85% |
| Augustbest | 27.9°C | 23.5°C | 25.9°C | 11.8 | 20 | 3 | 94% |
| September | 24.4°C | 20.6°C | 24.6°C | 8.1 | 110 | 8 | 37% |
| October | 20.9°C | 17.2°C | 22.4°C | 5.8 | 141 | 10 | 3% |
| November | 17.0°C | 13.6°C | 19.9°C | 4.1 | 214 | 13 | 0% |
| December | 13.3°C | 10.1°C | 17.3°C | 3.9 | 191 | 14 | 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 January
Closest matches on daytime temperature, sea temperature and sunshine, in other countries.
Italy · 12°C by day · sea 15°C
Sorrento
Italy · 12°C by day · sea 15°C
Naples
Italy · 12°C by day · sea 15°C
Amalfi Coast
Albania · 12°C by day · sea 15°C
Saranda
Italy · 12°C by day · sea 15°C
Rome
A little more detail
Corfu in January FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
Is Corfu hot in January?
Corfu is cool in January: the average daytime high is 12.1°C and nights average 8.6°C. Days over 25°C are rare in January.
Can you swim in the sea in Corfu in January?
The sea around Corfu averages 15.4°C in January, 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 Corfu in January?
Corfu sees about 11 rainy days (1 mm or more) and 129 mm of rain in a typical January. The wettest January between 1991 and 2020 was 2019 (440 mm) and the driest was 1992 (13 mm).
How sunny is Corfu in January?
Corfu gets around 4.5 hours of sunshine a day in January out of 9.5 hours of daylight (estimated from average cloud cover).
How does Corfu compare with the UK in January?
Corfu is on average 4.7°C warmer than London by day in January (12.1°C against 7.4°C).
What is the hottest January on record in Corfu?
Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest January day in Corfu reached 16.9°C on 2003-01-11, and the coldest night dropped to 0.1°C on 2004-01-23.
How much warmer is Corfu than London in January?
Corfu's average daytime high is 12.1°C, compared with London's 7.4°C, a difference of 4.7°C. That is a useful lift in temperature, but you will still need layers and rain protection. Think milder winter weather, not summer warmth.
Is the sea warm enough for a holiday swim?
At an average of 15.4°C, the sea is cold rather than comfortably swimmable. If relaxed swimming is important to your holiday, January is not a good choice. Plan around time on land rather than expecting beach weather.
When should I go instead for warmer weather?
July, August and June are the better choices for a warmer-weather trip to Corfu. January is the island's coldest month, so changing the timing makes more sense than hoping for an unusually warm spell if heat is your priority.
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 Corfu (Corfu Town). Sea temperature from the nearest 5 km sea cell, 0.4 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