Destination guide
Zante weather by month
June to August is the best time to visit Zante for warm, dry weather, while September suits travellers who put warm seas ahead of reliably dry days. August is hottest, averaging 28°C by day, and its sea reaches 26°C. May is a gentler option at 21°C, better for spending time outdoors without summer warmth. Winter is mild rather than beach weather, with more frequent rain and cooler evenings.
- Hottest month
- 28.3°CAugust
- Coolest month
- 13.5°CJanuary
- Warmest sea
- 26.2°CAugust
- Flight from London
- 3 h 30 minShort-haul (up to 4.5 h) · estimated
Zante, month by month
A little perspective
Zante through the year
Every month at a glance; "best" marks our three top months on warmth, dryness and sunshine.
| Month | Day | Night | Sea | Sun/day | Rain mm | Rainy days | Days 25°C+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 13.5°C | 10.8°C | 16.2°C | 4.6 | 145 | 13 | 0% |
| February | 13.6°C | 10.6°C | 15.4°C | 5.2 | 116 | 12 | 0% |
| March | 15.0°C | 11.7°C | 15.2°C | 6.3 | 79 | 10 | 0% |
| April | 17.3°C | 13.7°C | 16.1°C | 7.8 | 42 | 7 | 1% |
| May | 21.0°C | 17.3°C | 19.0°C | 9.4 | 22 | 4 | 5% |
| Junebest | 25.0°C | 21.1°C | 22.5°C | 12.2 | 12 | 2 | 41% |
| Julybest | 27.3°C | 23.7°C | 24.7°C | 13.7 | 5 | 0 | 89% |
| Augustbest | 28.3°C | 24.6°C | 26.2°C | 12.6 | 6 | 1 | 99% |
| September | 25.4°C | 22.2°C | 25.2°C | 9.2 | 62 | 6 | 56% |
| October | 22.1°C | 19.1°C | 23.0°C | 6.5 | 112 | 8 | 7% |
| November | 18.4°C | 15.6°C | 20.5°C | 4.7 | 173 | 13 | 0% |
| December | 15.0°C | 12.3°C | 17.9°C | 4.3 | 173 | 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.
When to go to Zante
For beach weather, look at months where the daytime average clears 25°C and rainy days stay low: June, July, August, September. November is the wettest month (173 mm, about 13 rainy days) and July the driest (5 mm). The sea is warmest in August at 26.2°C and coolest in March at 15.2°C.
Getting there
A direct flight from London Gatwick to Zakynthos International Airport Dionysios Solomos (ZTH, 3 km from Zakynthos) takes roughly 3 h 30 min - short-haul (up to 4.5 h) by UK standards. Time-zone: Europe/Athens.
Records and extremes, 1991-2020
The hottest day recorded in Zante between 1991 and 2020 reached 39.9°C on 1 July 2017; the coldest fell to 0.1°C on 8 January 2017. In August one day in ten tops 31.8°C and about 15% of days pass 30°C; in January one night in ten drops to 7.5°C or below. The wettest single month of the period was December 2002 with 448 mm, against a December average of 173 mm.
Sunrise, sunset and daylight in Zante
Local time on the 15th of each month; daylight-saving rules as of 2020.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight | Sunshine/day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 07:51 | 17:40 | 9.8 h | 4.6 h |
| February | 07:27 | 18:14 | 10.8 h | 5.2 h |
| March | 06:47 | 18:43 | 11.9 h | 6.3 h |
| April | 07:01 | 20:12 | 13.2 h | 7.8 h |
| May | 06:26 | 20:39 | 14.2 h | 9.4 h |
| June | 06:14 | 21:00 | 14.8 h | 12.2 h |
| July | 06:27 | 20:58 | 14.5 h | 13.7 h |
| August | 06:52 | 20:30 | 13.6 h | 12.6 h |
| September | 07:18 | 19:45 | 12.4 h | 9.2 h |
| October | 07:45 | 19:00 | 11.2 h | 6.5 h |
| November | 07:17 | 17:25 | 10.1 h | 4.7 h |
| December | 07:45 | 17:18 | 9.6 h | 4.3 h |
Resorts in Zante
Each resort has its own page with a 12-month table.
Jul high 32°C
Kalamaki
Aug high 28°C
Laganas
Aug high 28°C
Zakynthos Town
Winter into spring: layers first, swimming later
December, January and February suit travellers who do not need beach weather and can keep plans flexible around rain. December averages 14 rain days, while January and February have daytime temperatures of 14°C and nights of 11°C: pack a waterproof and warmer evening layers. March brings only a modest improvement, with days at 15°C and 10 rain days, so it still calls for changeable-weather clothing. April is a clearer step towards outdoor days, averaging 17°C with 6 rain days and 8 hours of sunshine. May is the stronger spring choice for warmth, reaching 21°C by day with just 4 rain days. The catch is the sea: even in May it averages 19°C, which may feel cool for lingering swims.
Summer: the strongest choice for dry days and swimming
June offers a useful balance if you want summer weather without the highest temperatures: days average 25°C, nights 21°C and the sea 22°C, with just 2 rain days. July is sunnier and drier, with 14 hours of sunshine and daytime temperatures of 27°C. Its rounded average of 0 rain days should not be read as a guarantee of no showers. August is the hottest choice, with days around 28°C and a sea temperature of 26°C. Nights averaging 25°C bring little cooling, so light sleepwear and accommodation with cooling are sensible priorities. Plan shade breaks around midday rather than expecting to stay comfortable in direct sun.
Autumn: warm water, but increasing rain
September keeps much of summer's warmth, with daytime and sea temperatures both averaging 25°C. It is a good choice if swimming matters more than uninterrupted sunshine, but its 6 rain days make it less dependable than June. October still has appeal for travellers comfortable with mixed weather: days average 22°C and the sea holds at 23°C, though 8 rain days make a waterproof useful. November shifts further away from a beach-focused holiday, with days at 18°C, 12 rain days and 5 hours of sunshine. The sea remains at 20°C, but wetter conditions mean you should treat swimming as an opportunity when the weather suits, not the basis of every day.
A little more detail
Zante weather FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
What is the best time to visit Zante?
Judged on warmth, low rainfall and sunshine, the best months in Zante are July, August and June. August is the hottest month (average high 28.3°C) and January the coolest (13.5°C).
How many months a year is Zante over 25°C?
4 months in Zante average a daytime high of 25°C or more, and 6 average 20°C or more.
When is the rainy season in Zante?
November is the wettest month in Zante (173 mm on average) and July the driest (5 mm). Annual rainfall averages 947 mm.
What is the hottest temperature recorded in Zante?
The hottest day recorded in Zante between 1991 and 2020 reached 39.9°C on 1 July 2017; the coldest fell to 0.1°C on 8 January 2017. Records come from daily data for 1991-2020, not from a single station's all-time history.
When is the sea warmest in Zante?
August has the warmest sea, averaging 26°C. July and September both average 25°C, making September a useful alternative if warm water is your priority. October's sea remains at 23°C, but rain is more frequent by then.
Is May or September better for a beach holiday?
September is the better fit for warmer swimming, with sea temperatures of 25°C compared with May's 19°C. May is cooler and a little drier, averaging 4 rain days against September's 6, so it suits travellers who prefer milder outdoor weather.
Will I need warm clothes in the evening?
Bring warmer layers for winter, when January and February nights average 11°C. Spring evenings also call for a layer, with May nights at 17°C. Summer is much warmer after dark, especially August, when nights average 25°C.
See also: Greece weather by month · where else is hot in August
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 Zakynthos (Zakynthos Town). Sea temperature from the nearest 5 km sea cell, 1.9 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