Best time to visit Santorini
The best time to visit Santorini for a beach holiday is during summer from June to September.
The months of May and October are also a good time to visit Santorini – the intense summer heat has diminished, the crowds have left and facilities are still open.
The peak summer months of July and August offer hot weather but at a time when Santorini has the most visitors, with a dramatic increase in hotel and restaurant prices.
Santorini weather
Santorini, the southernmost island in the Cyclades, enjoys a Mediterranean climate with warm, sunny summers and mild, wet winters. Despite winter rainfall, Santorini is considered a year-round destination
Peak season generally runs from July to August; but is best avoided due to the fact that Santorini – together with the major Greek islands – is swamped with European holidaymakers at this time.
Summer, from June to mid-September, is warm and sunny, but also windy.
The Meltimi – a cool and refreshing sea breeze – is fairly consistent throughout summer, ans is especially strong during July and August. The breeze keeps the temperatures lower than elsewhere in the Aegean, with the maximum temperature in Naxos rarely higher than 30°C (86°F).
Autumn, from mid-September to November, is initially warm and sunny, but gradually becomes cool and wet. Autumn is also windy.
Winter, from December to mid-March, is mild, wet and windy. On rare occassions it can snow. December and January are the wettest months.
Spring, from mid-March to May, is mild and sunny, interspersed with wet and windy weather. By mid-May, the Meltimi begins to blow – a persistent cool and dry wind from the north.
What is the best month to visit Santorini?
The summer months of June through September are the best months to visit Santorini – the climate is perfect with hot, sunny weather and little to no rainfall.
July and August are especially popular, however this is peak tourist season in Santorini with greater crowds and higher prices.
May and October are also good months to visit Santorini to avoid the crowds and high-season prices, although these months are cold for swimming.
Which is the hottest month in Santorini?
The hottest month in Santorini is usually August, when maximum daytime temperatures average 29°C (84°F), with moderate to high heat and humidity, and a low of 23°C (73°F).
However, on the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually climbs to around 33°C (91°F).
The warm, summer season lasts from early-June to mid-September, with an average daily high temperature above 27°C (80°F).
Which is the coldest month in Santorini?
The coldest month of the year in Santorini is January, with an average high of 14°C (57°F) and a low of 10°C (50°F).
The cool, winter season lasts from early-December through March, with an average daily high temperature below 17°C (62°F).
Which is the sunniest month in Santorini?
The sunniest time of year in Santorini is usually July with an average of 12 hours of sunshine per day – that's on average 85% of daylight hours.
May through September is the sunniest time of year in Santorini.
What is the humidity in Santorini?
Santorini experiences seasonal variation in perceived humidity, with approximate average relative humidity calculated at between 58% – 70% over the course of the year.
The more humid time of year lasts from mid-June through September, when you can expect the comfort level to be muggy at least 12% of the time.
The month with the most muggy days in Santorini is August, with around 13 days that are muggy.
We derive the humidity comfort level from the dew point temperature, which measures moisture content in the air. A higher dew point feels muggy and uncomfortable.
November through May is generally comfortable, with no days in any month that are muggy.
When is the sea warmest in Santorini?
The sea is usually at its warmest in Santorini in August when the water temperature averages 24°C (75°F), which is warm enough for swimming.
The sea around Santorini is warm enough for swimming from July through September, with an average temperature above 23°C (73°F); and while not very warm, it is acceptable.
Which month has the most rain in Santorini?
January is usually the wettest month in Santorini with 115mm (4.5in) on average. There are normally nine days in January with some rain.
The wet season usually lasts from late-October through March, with a greater than 17% chance of a given day being a wet day.
The drier season lasts from April to mid-October. The month with the least rainfall in Santorini is July.
Which is the windiest month in Santorini?
The windiest month of the year in Santorini is February, with an average hourly wind speed of 25 kilometres per hour (13 knots; 15 mph).
The windy part of the year lasts from early-November through March, with average wind speeds of more than 21 kilometres per hour (11 knots; 13 mph).
The less-windy time of year lasts from early-April through to early-November. The calmest month of the year in Santorini is May, with an average hourly wind speed of 18 kilometres per hour (9 knots; 11 mph).
The predominant average hourly wind direction is from the north throughout the year in Santorini.
Santorini Weather Averages
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| Average high temperature (°C) | |||||||||||
| 14 | 14 | 16 | 19 | 23 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 26 | 23 | 19 | 15 |
| Average low temperature (°C) | |||||||||||
| 10 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 17 | 21 | 23 | 23 | 21 | 17 | 14 | 11 |
| Average daily sunshine (hrs) | |||||||||||
| 4 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 4 |
| Average daily daylight (hrs) | |||||||||||
| 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 |
| Comfort level | |||||||||||
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| Average relative humidity (%) | |||||||||||
| 68 | 68 | 67 | 67 | 65 | 60 | 58 | 61 | 65 | 70 | 70 | 70 |
| UV Index (max) | |||||||||||
| 2 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 2 |
| Average days of rainfall (≥1mm) | |||||||||||
| 9 | 7 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | - | - | 1 | 3 | 5 | 9 |
| Average monthly rainfall (mm) | |||||||||||
| 115 | 80 | 65 | 30 | 15 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 15 | 60 | 70 | 100 |
| Average wind speed (km/h) | |||||||||||
| 25 | 25 | 23 | 20 | 18 | 19 | 23 | 23 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 24 |
| Average sea temperature (°C) | |||||||||||
| 16 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 18 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 22 | 19 | 17 |
| Santorini, Greece | |||||||||||
Holiday Seasons
High season: July and August, when hotel and restaurant prices sky-rocket.
Low season: From March to June and from September to October – the temperature is cooler, hotel prices are more reasonable and the crowds non-existent.
Note: The winter off-season, from November through February, is generally quiet everywhere; many hotels, restaurants and bars close down and the beaches are deserted. Ferry and air services are dramatically reduced.
Santorini weather by month
Source: Weather data for Santorini is based on meteorological statistics gathered for the 30-year period 1991 to 2020 by the Hellenic National Meteorological Service (HNMS) at the closest weather station: Santorini (Thira) International Airport (JTR), located about 5km (3mi) southeast of the capital, Fira.
Advice on the best time to visit a particular destination is based on average local weather statistics, when the weather conditions are generally better than at other times of the year. We consider high and low temperatures, risk of rain (and thunderstorms, etc.), amount of sunshine and sea temperature. For general outdoor activities we favour clear, rainless days with a temperature range between 18°C (64°F) and 27°C (80°F); and for hot-weather activities we favour clear, rainless days with a temperature range between 24°C (75°F) and 32°C (89°F). Often, the best times to visit correspond to high season and therefore involve higher prices.
Latest update: Best time to visit Santorini: 11 May, 2024
Disclaimer: The information on this site is provided as is, without any assurances as to its accuracy or suitability for any purpose. Weather data and conditions at any given location and time are unpredictable and variable. We assume no responsibility and can not be held legally responsible for any decisions made on the basis of the information presented on this site.
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