The weather in Greece varies from region to region, but generally there are hot and relatively dry summers and mild, rainy winters.

The climate in the north of the country and in the mountainous areas is more like a temperate climate, i.e. milder summers and harder winters with more rainfall.

Most of Greece and the Greek islands, however, lie in the Mediterranean subtropical belt, which is characterised by warm, dry summers with virtually no rain and short, mild winters with frequent short rain showers.

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Regions of Greece with different climates

Greece can be divided into 3 zones with slightly different climates and weather.

• Typical Mediterranean climate - warm dry summers with temperatures of around 29°C to 34°C, short mild winters with temperatures of around 14°C to 20°C
  • Most of the Greek coastline, the major cities (Athens and Thessaloniki) and all the Greek islands
• Alpine Mediterranean climate - dry summers with temperatures around 21 °C to 30 °C, short winters with frequent snow showers and temperatures between -1 °C and 10 °C
  • The mountain ranges of central and northern Greece
• Transitional continental-Mediterranean climate - wetter climate with more rainfall, warm summers between 24 °C and 30 °C and cooler winters between 8 °C and 15 °C
  • Northern Greece near the borders with Bulgaria and Northern Macedonia

Weather in Greece during the year

What is the weather like in Greece at different times of the year?

Weather in January

The first month of the year in Greece sees changeable weather with frequent light showers interspersed with sunny skies.

Normal temperatures reach 17°C (63°F), but in the evenings and mornings it can drop to 7°C (45°F) and there is snow at the highest parts of the mountains at this time.

• Where to go - Athens, Thessaloniki, ancient monuments

Weather in February

February weather in Greece is very similar to January. Average temperatures hover around 17°C, with frequent showers, but these don't last long and won't significantly restrict your exploration of the towns and villages.

Even during February, the mountain peaks are covered with snow and skiing is possible.

• Where to go - Athens, Thessaloniki, ancient monuments

Weather in March

Temperatures rise slowly in March, with the highest daily average around 20°C, although it is still cold in the mornings and evenings (even below 15°C).

Rain showers are less frequent than in winter, but it does rain occasionally, especially in northern Greece, in the mountains and on the Ionian islands of Corfu, Cephalonia and Zakynthos.

March is thus the ideal month for exploring the cities and sights.

• Where to go - Athens, Thessaloniki, ancient monuments

Weather in April

April sees spring in full swing in Greece. Daytime temperatures regularly reach 21°C, it rarely rains anymore, but nature is still saturated with water from the winter and everything is blooming beautifully.

The islands and forests in the mountains are beautifully green and tourists are at a minimum outside the big cities, as the season of direct flights from Europe has not yet got underway.

Mostly sunny weather with little chance of extremes encourages exploring Greece both in the countryside and in the cities.

• Where to go - Athens, Thessaloniki, ancient sites, hiking in the countryside and islands where swimming in the sea is not the main objective (e.g. Santorini, Crete)

Weather in May

May in Greece is the first month when air temperatures regularly rise above the summer 25°C. Rain is rare and sunny days dominate the whole month.

Wait until the end of May for a dip in the sea, when the water in shallow waters is already over 20 °C.

• Where to go - Athens, Thessaloniki, ancient monuments, hiking in the countryside and islands where swimming in the sea is not the main objective ( Santorini, Crete, but also Rhodes and Corfu)

Weather in June

In June, the weather in Greece gets into full summer mode.

Average temperatures soar to 30°C, but there are no exceptions to the sweltering 35°C heat that can only be escaped in the mountains. Rain in June is a rare phenomenon, as are clouds in the sky.

The sea is already pleasantly warm all along the coast - the summer season is in full swing.

• Where to go - all islands, the whole coast and mountain areas

Weather in July

Holidays in Greece are marked by high temperatures averaging over 32°C and cloudless skies.

July is especially good for sunbathing and swimming in the sea, while the high temperatures are not so good for exploring the cities and sights.

The only cooler weather is in the forested mountains, where hiking can be resorted to for a few days.

• Where to go - all islands, the whole coast and mountain areas

Weather in August

August is the hottest month of the year, with average temperatures hovering around 33°C. However, maximum temperatures of over 40°C are not exceptional, making it virtually impossible to do anything other than sunbathing and swimming in the sea.

You won't get too cold even in the sea, whose water is over 30 °C. Rainfall in August is rare and there are no summer storms.

• Where to go - all the islands, the whole coast and the mountain areas

Weather in September

Greek September hasn't lost any of its summer flavour. Temperatures are considerably more pleasant than during the holidays, when they are normally around a balmy 30°C.

It doesn't rain at all in September in most of Greece, with rainfall being quite exceptional except perhaps in the northernmost mountainous areas.

The water temperature is then almost the same as the air temperature, normally around 30 °C.

• Where to go - all islands, the whole coast and mountainous areas

Weather in October

Summer in October? No problem in the southern parts of Greece and most of the islands. Air temperatures average around 28 °C, as do sea water temperatures.

Rain is also exceptional in October, with very light showers more frequent towards the end of October and into November.

• Where to go - Athens, Thessaloniki, all islands, the whole coast and mountainous areas

Weather in November

It's not until November that the summer weather slowly fades away, with average temperatures dropping to 22°C, but days with temperatures over 25°C are no exception.

Rain is also on the increase, but no long-lasting showers can be expected; it rains on average 5 days a month, and only for a few dozen minutes.

However, many tourist services are not operating on the Greek islands and direct flights from Europe are practically only to Athens or Thessaloniki.

• Where to go - Athens, Thessaloniki, ancient monuments, hiking in the countryside and islands where swimming in the sea is not the main goal ( Santorini, Crete, but also Rhodes or Corfu)

Weather in December

December is the rainiest month in Greece with normal rainfall around 76 and 150 mm. This means fairly frequent showers, but they don't matter as much as in the same period in colder continental Europe.

In fact, average December temperatures rise to around 18°C.

• Where to go - Athens, Thessaloniki, ancient monuments

Sea temperatures and when to swim in Greece

Greece is the destination with the third longest bathing season in Europe after Cyprus and Malta. The sea water starts to warm up as early as May, when it is regularly over 21°C at the end of the month.

Best beach hotels - Greece

Temperatures vary only slightly from resort to resort.

In Greece, you can comfortably bathe between May and October, when sea temperatures typically exceed 20 °C.

• May - 21 °C
• June - 24 °C
• July - 27 °C
• August - 30 °C
• September - 30 °C
• October - 25 °C
• November - 22 °C

During winter the sea cools down to between 15 and 20 °C.

Check out the tips for the most beautiful beaches in Greece in the What to do and What to see in Greece chapters.