Best time to visit Athens
The best time to visit Athens for a beach holiday is during summer, from mid-June to mid-September. The peak summer months of July and August are very hot, with an average high of 33°C (91°F).
However, to escape the intense heat of July and August, visit during spring and autumn, especially from mid-April to late-May, and from mid-September to early-October.
The mid-season seasons of May, September and October also offer reasonable hotel prices and generally less crowds.
Athens weather
Athens – the capital of Greece – enjoys a Mediterranean climate with hot, sunny summers and mild, wet winters. Athens is considered a year-round destination.
What is the best month to visit Athens?
July and August are the best months to visit Athens if you enjoy very hot and sunny weather with little or no rainfall.
However, the months of May through October enjoy good weather and are all good for a range of outdoor activities.
Which is the hottest month in Athens?
The hottest month in Athens is usually August, with an average daily high temperature of 33°C (91°F), with high heat and humidity, and a low of 23°C (73°F).
On the warmest days of summer – July and August – the temperature usually reaches a high of around 38°C (100°F)
The hot season lasts from mid-June to mid-September, with an average daily high temperature above 29°C (84°F).
Which is the sunniest month in Athens?
The sunniest month of the year in Athens is usually July with an average of 11.5 hours of sunshine per day; that's around 81% of daylight hours.
The months of June through September are the sunniest of the year.
When is the sea warmest in Athens?
The sea is usually at its warmest in Athens in August when the water temperature reaches 25°C (77°F), which is warm for swimming.
The sea temperature is comfortable for swimming from July through to September.
Which is the coldest month in Athens?
The coldest month in Athens is January, with an average high temperature of 13°C (55°F) and an average low temperature of 6°C (42°F).
The cool winter season lasts from late-November to late-March, with an average daily high temperature below 17°C (62°F).
Which month has the most rain in Athens?
December is usually the wettest month in Athens with 60mm (2in) of rainfall on average. There are normally 11 days in December with some rain.
The wet season lasts from mid-October to mid-April, with a greater than 14% chance of a given day being a wet day.
The drier season lasts from mid-April to mid-October; the months with the least rainfall in Athens are June, July and August.
Which is the windiest month in Athens?
The windiest month of the year in Athens is February, with an average hourly wind speed of 17 kilometres per hour (10.6 mph; 9 knots).
The windy part of the year lasts from mid-October to late-March, with average wind speeds of more than 15 kilometres per hour (8 knots; 10 mph).
The less-windy time of year lasts from late-March through to mid-October. The calmest month of the year in Athens is May, with an average hourly wind speed of 13 kilometres per hour (8 mph; 7 knots).
The predominant average hourly wind direction in Athens is from the north throughout the year.
Athens Weather Averages
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| Average high temperature (°C) | |||||||||||
| 13 | 14 | 16 | 20 | 25 | 30 | 33 | 33 | 29 | 23 | 18 | 14 |
| Average low temperature (°C) | |||||||||||
| 6 | 7 | 8 | 11 | 16 | 20 | 23 | 23 | 20 | 16 | 12 | 8 |
| Average daily sunshine (hrs) | |||||||||||
| 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 6 | 5 | 4 |
| Average daily daylight (hrs) | |||||||||||
| 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 |
| Comfort level | |||||||||||
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| Average relative humidity (%) | |||||||||||
| 69 | 67 | 65 | 60 | 58 | 52 | 46 | 46 | 54 | 63 | 69 | 70 |
| UV Index (max) | |||||||||||
| 2 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 2 |
| Average days of rainfall (≥1mm) | |||||||||||
| 9 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 11 |
| Average monthly rainfall (mm) | |||||||||||
| 50 | 40 | 40 | 25 | 14 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 12 | 45 | 60 | 60 |
| Average wind speed (km/h) | |||||||||||
| 17 | 17 | 16 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 17 |
| Average sea temperature (°C) | |||||||||||
| 16 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 18 | 22 | 24 | 25 | 24 | 22 | 19 | 17 |
| Athens, Greece | |||||||||||
Holiday seasons
High season: July and August, when hotel and restaurant prices sky-rocket.
Mid 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.
Source: Meteorological data for Athens is based on weather statistics gathered for the 30-year period 1991 to 2020 by the Hellenic National Meteorological Service (HNMS) from the nearest weather station: Athens Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport (ATH), located about 20km (12mi) east of central Athens, as well as from Ellinikón Airport (formerly Athens International Airport), located about 11km (6mi) south of Athens.
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 Athens: 12 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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