When is the Best Time to Go to Greece?

Updated September 2nd, 2022 by Travel the Greek Way

Are you wondering when is the best time to go to Greece and the Greek islands? Are you thinking of visiting Greece during the high season (July, August) but you are not sure if summer-crazy high temperatures (32C-42C) are suitable for you?

As Greece has four distinct seasons, you can choose the shoulder season (May, June, September, October). During those months the temperature in southern Greek islands is considerably cooler and still quite warm to swim.

Or perhaps you would you like to hike the Greek high mountains (Olympus, Taygetos, Mainalo,) which is great all year round except during the hot months. Or you are looking for unique wintry experiences in one of the 19 organized ski resorts all around Greece (December-March)?

What I am trying to say is that the best time of the year to travel to Greece depends on what you want to do and expect from your vacation.

I will explain in this post which is the best season to go to Greece, what the weather is like in Greece during its four seasons and you can make up your mind when is best time of year to travel to Greece!

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Athens Quick Reference

• Where to stay in Athens: Four Seasons Astir Palace Hotel Athens (Doubles from €629 Β&Β) & Ancient Agora Apartments (Doubles from €95 Β&Β), Attalos Hotel (Doubles from €62 Β&Β)
• Heading to the Greek Islands from Athens? Book your ferry tickets in advance with no-hidden-fees FerryScanner or FerryHopper
• Essential Things to Have for Athens Metro: An anti-theft design Backpack, a World Travel Adapter Kit & Microfiber Quick Drying Beach Towel that looks like the Greek Flag!
• Private transfer with English-speaking driver from Athens International Airport to Piraeus Ferries. Check availability and prices on Viator here
• Map of Athens Metro
• COVID INFO FOR GREECE: Ministry of Tourism Official Website

What kind of Climate does Greece have?

The climate of Greece is typically Mediterranean: mild and wet winters, relatively hot and dry summers, and, in general, long periods of sunshine during most of the year.

Greece has four seasons but the year can roughly be divided into two main seasons: The cold/rainy/snowy winter period that lasts from mid-October to the end of March and the warm and dry season that lasts from April to October.

Monthly Temperature in Athens

Athens is a good base to measure average temperatures in Greece as it is roughly at the center of the country. The northern and mountainous areas can be much colder whereas the south (Peloponnese and south islands like Cyclades and Crete) can be warmer.

See below the chart from Meteorological Station in Acharnai Athens for 2021. The months start from January(Ιαν) all the way to December(Δεκ) and it is in Celcius.

As you can see, the hot weather starts in June with days of extreme heat, in July and in August and also for 3 days during 18-20 September.

Best Time to Go to Greece for Swimming?

The sea starts getting warmer (still it will be on the chill side rather in the warm but can be swimmable!) mid to late May and is really perfect and warm until mid – October.

Best Time to Hike in Greece?

Any time of the year except Jun, July, and August, and especially avoid hiking in the bare islands such as the Cyclades. Hiking on the rugged terrain of islands in the summer is a guarantee for heatstroke.

If you would like to hike in the summer in Greece, choose the mainland and a forested mountain, like Mainalon in the Peloponnese or Pelion.

Read here for detailed information on how best to travel and hike safely in Greece.

When do Local Businesses Close?

Some businesses do close for winter on the islands. That doesn’t mean that the islands are closed too! Santorini has some 15.000 permanent residents, Mykonos more than 10.000, and so on.

If for instance, you go to Mykonos in April, not everything will be open but there will be open quite a few hotels/taverns and bars, probably more than you can make use of all of them. There are still restaurants and cafes that the locals go to and many of those are open year-round. Bigger or more popular islands like Santorini are nowadays an all-year-round destination.

When is the High Season in Greece?

July and August and if I were you, I wouldn’t go in those months to Santorini or Mykonos when it is excruciatingly hot, Europeans are on vacation, everything is super expensive and there are crowds everywhere. I would certainly avoid islands that have endless cruise ships dropping off thousands of tourists at a time unless the crowds are what you are looking for on your vacation?

The costs will also depend on which island/s you visit. Cheaper options (and more “real Greece”) would be the islands of the North Aegean eg Lesvos, Chios, or Ikaria. The most expensive options are the likes of Mykonos and Santorini.

Cheapest Time to Visit Greece

Visiting Greece on a budget is possible, you just have to plan everything early. You have to check the flights often and see when they will offer good discount seats. A good idea is to ask for their weekly newsletter with their deals.

Generally speaking, the cheapest months to book a flight to Greece are September, October, and November. Visiting during the shoulder season – March and April, late September and October – also offer good deals both on flight tickets and accommodation.

Affordable Hotels 

The most expensive time to book a hotel room is generally in the summer, especially on popular islands like Mykonos and Santorini. If you are planning to travel to popular destinations in Greece you should plan ahead as much as possible and if you find a deal, go ahead and book it.

According to Booking.com, hotels in Athens are 33% cheaper in February, and the hotels in Santorini are 51% cheaper than they are in August, and for Mykonos, March is 73% more affordable than August.

When to visit Greece for Weather and Activities

Find below when is the best time to travel to Greece for various activities and interests:

• Best time to go to Greece for the Weather: May and June, September and October
• Best time to do Greek Island Hopping: Between May and October
• Best time to go to Greece for Swimming: Between May and October
• Best time to go to Greece for Sightseeing: Throughout the year
• Best time to go to Greece for Hiking: Between September and May
• Best time to go to Greece on a Budget: Between October and April
• Best time to go to Greece for Skiing: Between December and March

What to do in Greece for Every Season

How to Get to Greece

Like most visitors to Greece, you will probably have to fly to Athens or Thessaloniki International Airports to get to your final destinations.

For the Cheapest, Fastest, Best Worldwide Flights, I highly recommend the Skyscanner search engine site.

If you prefer to avoid the hassle of public transport and wish for some luxury pampering, you should book a private transfer with an English-speaking driver from Athens International Airport to Piraeus Ferries. Check availability and prices on Viator here

Some of my Favorite Travel Resources for Greece

More Reading on Greece