When is the Best Time to Go to Greece?

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-45C) are suitable for you?

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

Or perhaps you would like to hike the Greek high mountains (Olympus, Taygetos, ) which are 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 the best time of the year to travel to Greece!

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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.

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. From May to June 2023, Greece had a lot of rain with warm weather. The sea was great to swim to but it is not a safe place if there are thunderstorms. During summer we had a difficult 2 week heatwave that reached 45 C in Athens.

Best Time to Hike in Greece?

Any time of the year except June, 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 Menalon Trail 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?

The very large resorts 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 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 (eg Santorini) 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 offers 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 Hotels, 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

Spring in Greece

Spring in Greece is beautiful as everything has blossomed. The Cyclades become green with wildflowers, the mainland is a paradise of herbs and flowers. It is an ideal season for hiking although the high mountains will still have snow until May.

The Islands, like the Argosaronic close to Athens, are quiet from tourists but in early May in Greece, everything is more or less open.

Easter celebrations (check out Easter Tinos island) are glorious in Greece and a truly unique experience that you should definitely see up close.

Summer in Greece

Summer is the peak season for Greece as everyone wants to enjoy those warm welcoming Aegean Sea waters. The sky is almost always a beautiful Mediterranean blue, the sea is azure or blue or green colored, golden beaches and rugged landscapes.

You are looking for luxury and nightlife? Then Mykonos, Santorini, Paros, and Ios are hard to beat. Do you want a quieter island in the Cyclades? Visit Sifnos, Folegandros, Anafi.

You are a history buff but also love the diversity of the landscape. Go to the Peloponnese!

Fall in Greece

Fall in Greece can be warm enough to swim until mid-October so go to any of your favorite islands such as Crete or Rhodes and enjoy low prices and the much quieter atmosphere.

Fall is a fantastic month for outdoor activities, especially in October, as there are many outdoor festivals all around Greece.

Go to Nemea in September for the grape harvesting, ask to participate if possible, and enjoy wine tasting in one of the many wineries there.

Winter in Greece

There are so many things to do in Greece during winter: There are 19 organized ski resorts usually close to an archaeological site such as Parnassos ski resort in Delphi.

If you are looking more for a city break then Christmas in Athens is just magical. Do you prefer the north Greece? Go to UNESCO-listed traditional Zagorochoria in Epirus or Makrinitsa in Pelion.

The warmest area in Greece will be Crete in Winter!

Plan My Trip to Greece

Do you need a custom travel itinerary for Greece? Are you traveling solo, with your family or your friends and you need a tailor-made multi-day tour or a transfer within Greece?

If yes, please visit my dedicated Plan My Trip Page for a free itinerary!

How to Get to Athens Port (Piraeus) from Athens Airport

• Bus: If you are arriving at Athens International Airport you can travel straight to the port by taking the X96 express bus (€5.5, children <6 yo, free entrance), which departs every 40 minutes and the average trip lasts 1 hour – runs 24/7.
• Metro: (€9) is easily found across airport arrivals (blue line – M3) going directly to Piraeus port. The average trip to Piraeus lasts 1 hour.
• Taxis are available in front of the airport (around €40 to Athens, €55-60 to Piraeus (depending on the traffic in Kifisos), and take up to 3 or 4 people with small luggage)
• Rent a car with Discover Cars to rent reliable new cars at affordable prices
• You don’t like driving but love hassle-free solutions? Book a Private transfer with an English-speaking driver from Athens International Airport to Piraeus Ferries, or anywhere else in Greece
• Check out an entire post on Lavrio Port in Athens

Essential Travel Resources for Greece