Best time to visit Ithaca
The best time to visit Ithaca for a beach holiday is from June to mid-September, while anytime from early-May to early-October is good for a range of outdoor activities.
Note: the summer months of July and August are usually hot and crowded.
Ithaca weather
Ithaca enjoys a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and cold, wet winters.
Ithaca and the Ionian Islands in general escape the heat found in mainland Greece and the strong Meltemi wind that blows across the Aegean Islands. Consequently, the sea is warmer.
Winter is generally mild and rainfall occurs mainly from October to March.
Spring, from mid-March to May, is mild, with rainfall gradually decreasing, and sunny days becoming more frequent. May is very pleasant, before the intense summer heat.
Summer, from June to mid-September, is hot, dry and sunny. Sea breezes provide some relief to the intense summer heat.
Autumn, from mid-September to November, is mild, wet and cloudy, interspersed with occasional sunshine.
Winter, from December to mid-March, is cold, windy, partly cloudy and wet, especially in December and January.
Here are the average temperatures (recorded in Argostoli, on the nearby island of Kefalonia), which has a very similiar climate.
What is the best month to visit Ithaca?
June through September are the best months to visit Ithaca – the climate is perfect with hot, sunny weather and little to no rainfall.
July and August are especially popular, since this is the peak tourist season in Ithaca.
To avoid the crowds, higher prices and extreme heat of summer, the months of May and October are also good for a range of outdoor activities.
Which is the hottest month in Ithaca?
The hottest month in Ithaca is usually August, with an average daily high temperature of 31°C (87°F), with high heat and humidity. Cooling sea breezes are consistent throughout summer.
The hot summer season lasts from mid-June to mid-September, with an average daily high temperature above 27°C (80°F).
Which is the coldest month in Ithaca?
The coldest month in Ithaca is January, with an average daily high temperature of 14°C (57°F) and an average low of 8°C (46°F).
The cool winter season lasts from late-November through March, with an average daily high temperature below 17°C (42°F).
Which is the sunniest month in Ithaca?
The sunniest time of year in Ithaca is normally July with bright sunshine on average for 88% of daylight hours; that's 13 hours of sunshine per day.
When is the sea warmest in Ithaca?
The sea is usually at its warmest in Ithaca in August when the water temperature averages 26°C (78°F), which is warm enough for swimming.
The temperature of the sea in Ithaca is warm enough for swimming from July through September.
Which month has the most rain in Ithaca?
December is usually the wettest month in Ithaca with 190mm (7in) of rainfall on average. There are normally 13 days in December with some rainfall.
The rainy season lasts from early-October to mid-April, with a greater than 21% chance of a given day being a wet day.
The drier season lasts from mid-April through September. The month with the least rainfall is July.
Which is the windiest month in Ithaca?
The windiest month of the year in Ithaca is December, with an average hourly wind speed of 21 kilometres per hour (13 mph; 11 knots).
The windy part of the year lasts from late-October through to early-April, with average wind speeds of more than 17 kilometres per hour (10.6 mph; 9 knots).
The less-windy time of year lasts from early-April through to late-October. The calmest month of the year in Ithaca is June, with an average hourly wind speed of 13 kilometres per hour (8 mph; 7 knots).
The predominant average hourly wind direction in Ithaca varies throughout the year.
Ithaca Weather Averages
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| Average high temperature (°C) | |||||||||||
| 14 | 14 | 16 | 19 | 23 | 27 | 30 | 31 | 27 | 23 | 19 | 16 |
| Average low temperature (°C) | |||||||||||
| 9 | 9 | 10 | 12 | 15 | 19 | 21 | 22 | 20 | 17 | 13 | 10 |
| Average daily sunshine (hrs) | |||||||||||
| 4 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 7 | 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 (%) | |||||||||||
| 71 | 71 | 71 | 71 | 70 | 67 | 64 | 64 | 69 | 72 | 74 | 73 |
| UV Index (max) | |||||||||||
| 2 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 2 |
| Average days of rainfall (≥1mm) | |||||||||||
| 9 | 9 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 13 |
| Average monthly rainfall (mm) | |||||||||||
| 100 | 95 | 75 | 60 | 20 | 10 | 5 | 10 | 40 | 95 | 105 | 110 |
| Average wind speed (km/h) | |||||||||||
| 21 | 21 | 19 | 16 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 20 | 21 |
| Average sea temperature (°C) | |||||||||||
| 16 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 19 | 22 | 25 | 26 | 25 | 23 | 20 | 17 |
| Argostoli, Kefalonia, Greece | |||||||||||
Holiday seasons
High season: June through August, when hotel and restaurant prices are high.
Low season: From March to May and September and October – the temperature is cooler, hotel prices are more reasonable and the crowds non-existent.
Source: Meteorological data for Ithaca 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: Kefalonia Airport (EFL), located 7km (4mi) south of Argostoli, the largest town in Kefalonia. The island of Ithaca lies just to the west of Kefalonia.
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 Ithaca: 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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