Not sure what is the best time to visit Greece? I used to live in Greece and visit frequently so I’ve put together a month by month guide to help you figure out the best time to go to Greece depending on your interests and weather preferences.
I have broken down the best time of the year to visit Greece by season and even further by month.
Finally, I have a summary of the best time to visit depending on your interests and my overall top pick for most people.
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What is the Best Season to Visit Greece
Not sure what season to go to Greece? Here are some pros and cons about visiting Greece and the Greek islands in each of the four seasons. Once you have a general idea of what season you would like to visit, make sure to check out my month by month guide for more detailed information. Even in the same season, your experience in Greece will vary depending on the month you visit.
Visiting Greece in the Spring
Spring is generally a great time to explore Greece as temperatures start to warm up making it very pleasant to walk around and sightsee. Tourism starts to increase every month especially around Easter week when locals head to the Greek islands. In May, weather is warm enough to sunbathe but the sea might still feel too cool to swim.
Easter is a big holiday in Greece. The date changes every year – this year Orthodox Easter is May 5, 2024 which is fairly late in spring.
Visiting Greece in the Summer
Summer is the busiest and the most popular time to visit Greece. The summer months bring the iconic Greek summer experience, attracting sun-seekers from around the world. The Greek Islands become bustling with life, offering a perfect setting for beach lovers and party enthusiasts.
June offers warm to hot temperatures making it a great time to visit for those that want to enjoy beach time as well as sightsee. July and August are the hottest summer months (temperatures can reach ) so they are not the ideal months for hiking or sightseeing.
Keep in mind that popular destinations (such as Athens, Santorini and Mykonos) are very crowded during the summer, so book hotels and flights in advance.
If you would like to visit the Greek islands in the summer but avoid crowds, choose less well known Greek islands.
Visiting Greece in Autumn
Autumn is an excellent time to explore both the mainland and islands without the intense summer crowds.
Early Autumn is usually the best time to visit in terms of good weather – the weather is usually more pleasant (still relatively warm and less likely to rain).
During early autumn (September and early October), you can still enjoy the Greek summer experience (go to the beach and swim in the sea) with fewer crowds.
Late autumn (late October and November) is a bit more unpredictable-temperatures will start to cool and rainy season begins. The weather might still be warm outside but it might be too cold to go swimming. If you want to visit the Greek islands in late autumn, head to warmer southern Greek islands (including Crete and Rhodes).
Athens and the mainland will be pleasant for walking around, hiking and sightseeing.
Visiting Greece in the Winter (November to February)
While winter may not be the most popular time to visit Greece, it is not a bad time to visit Greece especially if you just want to sightsee. November offers a quieter experience, and you can still enjoy mild temperatures. December brings festive vibes, with Christmas markets and celebrations throughout the country.
The winter months are perfect for exploring historical sites without the crowds, although some islands and coastal areas may experience cooler and rainy weather.
While it can get cold and snowy in the mountains and northern Greece, the temperatures in most of Greece (including Athens) are usually not very cold so it is a good time to sightsee.
Winter is not the best time to visit the Greek islands and it is usually too cold for sunbathing and swimming. If you can only visit the Greek islands in the winter, choose warmer Greek islands in the South like Crete and Rhodes.
Winter is rainy season in Greece, so pack a travel umbrella.
Pros: Winter is low season in Greece so winter offers the fewest crowds and lowest prices.
Cons: Winter is too cold for swimming. It is more likely to rain that the rest of the year. Snow in Athens in rare but can happen. Many restaurants, hotels and shops in the Greek islands are closed for the season. Some attractions might have reduced hours.
What is the Best Month to Visit Greece
Hopefully you now have a general idea of the season you want to visit Greece. If you want to narrow it down further, here is a month by month guide.
Visiting Greece in January
January is the middle of winter and one the coldest and rainiest months in winter.
There are fewer tourists and lower prices on accommodations.
Visiting Greece in February
February is one of coldest months in Greece. There are not a lot off tourists and you can expect lower prices.
Since most of Greece has mild weather in the winter, it is not a bad time to explore historical attractions.
Visiting Greece in March
March is a transitional month. Spring blooms begin and temperatures are more moderate than January and February. It is still more likely to rain in March than later in the spring. It is a good month for walking around and exploring ancient ruins and historical sites
Visiting Greece in April
April is particularly delightful, with comfortable temperatures and fewer crowds, making it an ideal time to explore historic sites.
April is considered shoulder season. Tourism starts to increase but there are still lower tourist numbers compared to summer.
The weather starts to get warmer making it a good month for those that enjoy hiking and other outdoor activities. A Most places are still too cold for swimming, but some
April is is good time to visit Santorini and Mykonos before it gets crowded but it will still be too cold for swimming for most people. If you are hoping to spend time at the beach, head to southern islands south such as Crete and Rhodes which are typically a bit warmer.
Visiting Greece in May
May tends to be one of the best months for good weather as temparatures are warm. It is a great time to visit Greece before schools go on summer break and the busy summer season starts.
May is a good month for island hopping and beach activities but some people might find the water a bit cold for swimming especially in the first half of the month.
Around mid to late May, tourism start to increase substantially as schools let out for summer.
Visiting Greece in June
June is the start of summer with rising temperatures. It can start to feel very hot especially later in the month.
This is a good time to visit the Greek islands. There is bustling nightlife on the islands and some crowds but less busy than later in the summer.
June is definitely hot enough to visit the beach although some people might still find the water a bit cold for swimming in early June. By late June, the sea has warmed up making it an ideal time for beachgoers and water sports enthusiasts.
Visiting Greece in July
July is usually the hottest month in Greece and many places (including Athens) might feel too hot for sightseeing.
Greece is very crowded with tourists at this time as all students are on summer break. Advance bookings are recommended for popular destinations.
The Cyclades (including Mykonos and Santorini) will be hot but the breeze makes it feel less hot than Athens and the mainland. If you want to visit the Greek islands in July but want to avoid crowds, head to less popular islands.
Visiting Greece in August
August is the peak of summer tourism with crowded beaches and nightclubs. It is perfect for those seeking a lively atmosphere.
August is one of the two hottest months in Greece in terms of temperature. This is a great time for swimming as the sea will be the warmest.-
Many Europeans take their vacation in August, so Greece is very crowded especially the first half of the month. August 15 is a big national holiday in Greece.
Visiting Greece in September
As the summer rush subsides, September sees a gradual decrease in temperature and tourist numbers. The weather remains warm, and the sea is still inviting for a swim. This is an excellent time to explore both the mainland and islands without the large summer crowds.
I consider September to be the BEST time to visit Greece for warm weather with fewer crowds. The temperature in early September is still hot and the water is warm enough to swim. Late September is usually still warm, but it starts to get a bit cooler especially at night.
Visiting Greece in October
October is the start of shoulder season. Attractions become less crowded and you can find lower accommodation prices.
October brings cooler but still pleasant temperatures. It is still a good time to visit, especially if you enjoy hiking and outdoor activities.
Early October is typically warm enough for swimming. Temperatures start to cool mid to late October with autumn temperatures but you might still be able to go swimming in some parts of Greece such as Crete. Rainy season starts around mid to late October so it is more likely to rain than earlier in the month.
Visiting Greece in November
If you enjoy moderate temperatures, November is a great time to visit in Greece. Weather can be a bit unpredictable, and it does occasionally rain in November. Attractions are much less crowded, so this is a good time to visit Greece if you want to sightsee with fewer crowds.
Visiting Greece in December
December usually has mild winter temperatures so this is a good time to visit Greece if you want to sightsee with few crowds. Attractions are not crowded at this time. Flights will probably not be that cheap, as many Greeks that live abroad will be traveling back to visit family for the holidays. You can enjoy festive Christmas markets and celebrations at this time, but Christmas is not as much of a big deal as it is in western Europe and the US.
Worst Time to Visit Greece
If I had to pick the worst time to visit Greece, it would be August when it is the most crowded and also very hot. Many Europeans (including Greeks) take their annual vacation in August, so beach destinations will be very busy. Athens will not be as crowded as early in the summer (as many Athenians will be on beach vacations) but there are still many foreign tourists in the city.
Should you visit Greece if you can only go in August? Yes! I used to visit Greece every August when I was still a student and still enjoyed it.
If you want to visit the popular islands in August, book early and expect high prices.
If you want to avoid crowds in the Greek islands, skip the most popular islands like Mykonos and Santorini and head to less well known islands. The end of the August will be less crowded as the first half as some students are already back in school.
What is the Best Time of the Year to Visit Greece For…
Good Weather – The months with the most comfortable weather in Greece are typically May through June and September and October. During this time the weather is warm but usually not as painfully hot as the peak summer (July and August).
In April and November, temperatures are still very pleasant enough to sightsee comfortably but might not be warm enough for a beach vacation.
March and December are cooler but still mild but it is more likely to rain than summer season.
The months that typically have the worst weather (colder, rainier and occasional snow) are January and February.
Swimming – The water in the sea is warmest and pleasant for swimming from mid-June through mid-September. May and October are usually warm enough to swim but some people might find the water too cold. Most people will find late autumn, winter and early spring, too cold for sunbathing and swimming.
Keep in mind that the sea warms up as the weather gets hotter but there is a lag of a few weeks. In late spring and early summer the weather can be hot outside, but the sea a bit cool for swimming. In autumn, it can start to feel cooler outside, but the water can still be warm for swimming. You can find current and historical sea temperature data here.
Most locals and tourists start heading to the beach sometime in May and June but for some people the water in Greece gets comfortably warm for swimming around late June. When I lived in Greece (in the Peloponnese), I would usually start swimming the second week of May.
Avoiding Crowds – The busiest time in terms of tourism is the summer (and Easter week). If you want to avoid fellow tourists at popular tourist attractions, visit in the low season (January through March). Shoulder season (April through mid-May and mid-September through October) is a good balance of fewer crowds but pleasant and warm weather.
Party Animals – If partying in the Greek islands is the reason for your trip, then you will want to visit in the summer. Lots of bars and clubs in the Greek islands (such as Ios) do not open until around Easter and close down around September.
Low Prices – You are most likely to find the biggest hotel and flight bargains in January and February because there are fewer tourists visiting Greece at this time. There will be slightly more visitors in March and November, but prices are still low at this time.
Best Time to Visit Greece – My Overall Recommendation
Most people would enjoy visiting Greece (including the Greek islands) in early autumn (September and early October). In early fall, the weather is still warm and you can enjoy beach time and outdoor activities with fewer crowds because kids and students are back in school. If you enjoy hot weather, September is the best month to visit. If you prefer more mild and pleasant temperatures, October is a great month to visit and might still be warm enough to swim in the ocean. The reason I chose autumn over spring is that even if the outside temperature is the same, the ocean in autumn will be warmer for swimming versus in the spring when the water temperatures are still cold.
My second choice of the best time to visit Greece depends on your interests. If you are visiting Greece for a beach vacation or nightlife, my second choice for the best time to visit Greece is June (as there are fewer crowds than July and August). If you are visiting Greece for sightseeing, my second choice for the best time to visit Greece is late spring (especially April and May) for warm and pleasant temperatures and pretty spring flowers.
If you enjoy hot weather, beach time and a party atmosphere, then summer is a good time to visit but it will be crowded and more expensive. If you want to visit Greece on a budget and want to avoid crowds, then consider visiting in the winter but it might be rainy and somewhat cold.
Ultimately when to visit Greece depends on you so hopefully this guide has helped you make a decision on the best time to visit Greece. If you are still not sure, feel free to ask me any questions in the comments below.
