Zakynthos has a Mediterranean climate, which means hot, dry summers and mild winters with plenty of rainfall.

The hottest months are July and August, when temperatures hover around 30°C, resulting in very warm seawater that often doesn't even refresh. In summer, it rarely rains and when it does, it is only briefly. Zakynthos is also the sunniest Greek island.

In September, temperatures exceed 25 °C and the water is suitable for swimming. However, the rainfall gradually increases and by the end of the month it is raining steadily. From October to April, the island is cool, with January and February being the coldest months, with temperatures of around 10 °C or lower, accompanied by very frequent rain. March and April see pleasant spring temperatures and the rainfall gradually decreases. At the end of May, spring gives way to summer weather.

Zakynthos during the year

Wondering whether it makes sense to explore Zakynthos in the low season? Take a look at our weather summary of the island.

Weather in January

January weather in Zakynthos is marked by frequent precipitation, with rain usually falling every other day.

It's often cloudy for days on end, with average daily temperatures around 12°C. In January, most tourist services on the island are closed.

Weather in February

Even during February, Zakynthos is scratched by regular and very frequent rains, but these gradually turn into showers with occasional breaks in the sky and sunny weather. During February, the air normally warms up to 13-15 °C.

Weather in March

During March, the intensity of rainfall decreases noticeably. Rain is still very frequent, but largely in the form of short showers, interspersed with partly cloudy skies. Temperatures of around 16°C are accompanied by a cool wind and most services in Zakynthos remain closed in March.

Weather in April

April weather in Zakynthos means light showers twice a day for about an hour on average, temperatures around 16-17 °C and a light cool breeze from the west.

April can already be a good month to visit if you want to explore the island in beautiful green, with pleasant weather but an absence of tourists. It is still necessary to take into account that the vast majority of hotels are closed and accommodation offers are limited to Zakynthos town.

Aegean Airlines, the Greek airline, has good deals on flights to Zakynthos during this period - check flight prices at aegenair.com.

Weather in May

May is the first month when temperatures go beyond summer, although the average is only 23°C. The rain is significantly less, with only sporadic showers and sunshine most days. Slowly, life in the resorts wakes up, the first hotels open and the first charter and low-cost flights start to arrive.

But the sea temperature is low, averaging around 19°C.

Weather in June

June sees the summer season in full swing on Zakynthos. Temperatures regularly range between 26 and 31 °C, the sun shines almost constantly and rain is very rare. In June, a large number of tours and airlines are already heading to Zakynthos and all hotels are already open.

The sea warms up quickly and the temperature is around 23 °C.

Weather in July

July is the hottest and sunniest month of the year. Normal average temperatures soar to 31 °C, but hot temperatures of over 36 °C are no exception. There are clear skies all day and no rain at all, and there are no heat storms.

Expect sea water temperatures around 25 °C.

Weather in August

August is also one of the typical very warm summer months, with average temperatures between 30 and 34 °C. Rainfall occurs only sporadically 1-2 times a month and the weather is clear and sunny most of the day.

During August, Zakynthos receives a large number of tourists from Italy and accommodation prices are at their highest during this period.

The sea temperature in August is about 27 °C.

Book your hotel in advance

Weather in September

September is one of the best months for summer holidays in Zakynthos. There are significantly fewer tourists than during the holidays, accommodation and tour prices are slightly lower, but temperatures are still in the summer range of 25-30 °C. Even the occasional evening thunderstorm won't affect your holiday.

The sea is still beautifully warm at 25 °C.

Weather in October

If you are looking for pleasant temperatures of around 23 °C rather than hot weather and don't mind frequent afternoon or evening showers, usually lasting 20-30 minutes, then you can enjoy a nice holiday in Zakynthos in October.

Many hotels are closing, but the main resorts still have a good range of accommodation and tour operators are still heading here.

The sea temperature is still swimmable: it's around 22-23°C.

The weather in November

During November, Zakynthos goes into hibernation. Tours are no longer on sale, low-cost airlines fly only to Athens and most accommodation is closed.

Normal air temperatures rise to 19°C, but it rains very often and the skies remain overcast for most of the month.

Weather in December

December is the rainiest month of the year on Zakynthos. On average, it rains every other day, the sky remains overcast for most of the day and temperatures rise to a maximum of 15 °C.