Best time to visit Greece

May to June and September to October. Month by month below, with the weather, what's on and what it costs to fly there from your city.

May to June and September to October

Late spring (May to June) and early autumn (September to October) give warm weather, a swimmable sea and smaller crowds. July and August are hottest and busiest.

“if you want the easiest, most balanced trip, aim for late spring or early fall” kimkim.com
“Late April to June offers the perfect weather for Greece tours.” traveltalktours.com
“May is a wonderful month to visit Greece.” jacadatravel.com

5 of the 8 travel guides we read name these months.

Greece month by month

Average high and low in Athens

January56°F / 45°FChecking fares…January is among the coldest and rainiest months; many island attractions are closed.Athens Wine Week takes place in January.
February58°F / 45°FChecking fares…Athens averages 7 to 14 C; a fine time for museums and sightseeing without crowds.February carnivals mark the start of Lent with colorful parades.
March63°F / 49°FChecking fares…March is still relatively cold with rain possible, so islands and beaches may not be the best choice.Independence Day and the Annunciation on March 25 close many restaurants and tourist services.Holy Week and Greek Easter
April70°F / 54°FChecking fares…The rainy season ends in April; good for hiking, though the sea has not warmed up yet.Orthodox Easter usually falls in April.Orthodox Easter is huge: banks close and roads are busy with locals.Corfu Orthodox Easter and the pot throwing
Best timeMay80°F / 63°FChecking fares…May is a wonderful month: warm enough for islands, highs 23 to 25 C, and summer crowds have not arrived.By late May the sea is comfortably swimmable and ferries run fully.May brings the Athens and Epidaurus Festival of ancient Greek arts and culture.Anastenaria fire walking
Best timeJune89°F / 71°FChecking fares…June is a transition month: early June avoids big crowds and extreme heat, but gets hotter and busier.By June sea temperatures reach a good level in Santorini, Mykonos and Ios.The Athens and Epidavros Open-Air Festival begins in mid-June and runs three months.Athens Epidaurus Festival
July94°F / 76°FChecking fares…July and August are the height of summer and tourist season; Athens often exceeds 32 C.The Santorini Jazz Festival is held in July.The Philippi Festival in Kavala runs in July.Feast of Prophet Elias in Fira
August94°F / 76°FChecking fares…July and August are the hottest months, reaching 35 C and above, and the busiest on Mykonos, Santorini and Ios.August is when most big-city Greeks head to the coast, and temperatures can top 100 F.Panagia on August 15 is a major national holiday known as Summer Easter.Dormition of the Virgin pilgrimage on Tinos
Best timeSeptember85°F / 69°FChecking fares…Mid to late September is named the best time for Santorini: warm sea, fewer crowds.September has great weather and smaller crowds, with a warm sea and Athens highs around 29 C.The Santorini International Music Festival is in September.
Best timeOctober76°F / 61°FChecking fares…October ends the autumn shoulder season; mostly warm and sunny, with more rain late in the month and some places closing.The olive harvest begins in October; the wine harvest peaks in September.The Santorini Experience sporting event takes place in early October.Ohi Day in Thessaloniki
November66°F / 54°FChecking fares…By November the rainy season is in full swing and temperatures drop; islands enter low season.Ferry routes dwindle and uptick in rain arrives in November.
December58°F / 48°FChecking fares…December is the rainiest month, ideal for museums and cafes, with Athens decked in Christmas lights.Christmas markets in Athens squares like Kotzia and Syntagma open in December.Winter island life slows: hotels shut down and ferry and flight frequency drops.

Weather: Athens averages from National Observatory of Athens (1991 to 2020 averages), as listed in its climate table on Wikipedia.

Every date to Athens from your city

Live fares from your airport. Watch them and we alert you when they drop.

What's on in Greece

Festivals and seasons through the year

Busy, quiet and what to watch for

Busiest

June to AugustPeak season brings higher prices and larger crowds, especially on Santorini and Mykonos.
Mid-June to SeptemberEuropean school holidays make early booking important.

Quietest

November to MarchMany island hotels and restaurants close, but mainland cities stay open and prices are lowest.
WinterWinter is the quietest and least costly period.

Watch for

July and AugustIntense heat; Athens and other cities can feel uncomfortably hot and temperatures can pass 100 F.
October to MarchThe rainy season, with the most rain in December and January.
Late October to MarchFerries and hotels on many islands scale back; getting between islands can be hard in winter.
Orthodox EasterBanks close and roads are busy, so it is smart to stay in one place.

Questions people ask

Can you swim in Greece in April?: Possibly in a few spots, but the sea has not warmed up yet in April; some islands are warm enough for midday swims in the off-season.
What month is the cheapest to go to Greece?: Winter is the quietest and least costly period; shoulder seasons also bring lower prices.
Is Greece crowded in May?: Not much. The peak season has not begun and summer crowds have not arrived yet.

Best time to visit Greece

May to June and September to October

Greece month by month

Every date to Athens from your city

What's on in Greece

Busy, quiet and what to watch for

Busiest

Quietest

Watch for

Questions people ask

More about Greece

Best time to visit other places

Best time to visit Greece

May to June and September to October

Greece month by month

Every date to Athens from your city

What's on in Greece

Busy, quiet and what to watch for

Busiest

Quietest

Watch for

Questions people ask

More about Greece

Best time to visit other places