Best time to visit Zakynthos
The best time to visit Zakynthos (or Zante) for a beach holiday is from mid-June to mid-September.
However, anytime from early-May to mid-October is good for a range of outdoor activities.
Note: the summer months of July and August are usually hot and crowded.
Zakynthos weather
Zakynthos enjoys a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters.
The southeast coast of Zakynthos is relatively sheltered and is often a few degrees warmer than the northwest coast, which receives slightly more rain due to the prevailing northwest winds.
Spring, from mid-March to May, is mild, with frequent rainfall easing to fine, sunny weather. May is very pleasant, before the intense summer heat.
Summer, from June to mid-September, is hot and sunny, with an average high temperature above 30°C (86°F). Sea breezes provide some relief.
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 for Zante Town, located on the southeast coast.
What is the best month to visit Zante?
June through September are the best months to visit Zante for a beach holiday – the climate is perfect with hot and sunny weather, clear blue skies and little or no rainfall.
May and the first half of October are also considered good, and preferable for excursions around the island, since summer may be too hot for this kind of activity.
Which is the hottest month in Zakynthos?
The hottest month in Zakynthos is usually August, with an average daily high temperature of 33°C (91°F), with high heat and humidity. Cooling sea breezes are consistent throughout summer.
However, on the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches 37°C (99°F)
The hot summer season lasts from mid-June to mid-September, with an average daily high temperature above 30°C (86°F).
Which is the coldest month in Zakynthos?
The coldest month in Zakynthos is January, with an average daily high temperature of 14°C (57°F) and an average low of 7°C (44°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 Zakynthos?
The sunniest time of year in Zakynthos is normally July with bright sunshine on average for 91% of daylight hours; that's 13 hours of sunshine per day.
What is the humidity in Zakynthos?
Zakynthos experiences seasonal variation in perceived humidity, with approximate average relative humidity calculated at between 57% – 72% over the course of the year.
The more humid time of year lasts from June through to mid-October, when you can expect the comfort level to be muggy at least 15% of the time.
The month with the most muggy days in Zakynthos is August, with around 17 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 to April is generally comfortable, with no days in any month that feel muggy.
When is the sea warmest in Zakynthos?
The sea is usually at its warmest in Zakynthos in August when the water temperature averages 26°C (78°F), which is warm enough for swimming.
The time of year with warmer water lasts from July through September, with an average temperature above 24°C (75°F).
Which month has the most rain in Zakynthos?
December is usually the wettest month in Zakynthos with 200mm (8in) of rainfall on average. There are normally 12 days in December with some rainfall.
The rainy season lasts from early-October to early-April, with a greater than 21% chance of a given day being a wet day.
The drier season lasts from early-April to early-October. The month with the least rainfall is July.
Which is the windiest month in Zakynthos?
The windiest month of the year in Zakynthos is December, with an average hourly wind speed of 20 kilometres per hour (10 knots; 12 mph).
The windy part of the year lasts from November through to early-April, with average wind speeds of more than 17 kilometres per hour (9 knots; 11 mph).
The less-windy time of year lasts from early-April through through October. The calmest month of the year in Zakynthos is June, with an average hourly wind speed of 13 kilometres per hour (7 knots; 9 mph).
The predominant average hourly wind direction in Zakynthos varies throughout the year.
Zakynthos Weather Averages
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| Average high temperature (°C) | |||||||||||
| 14 | 14 | 16 | 19 | 24 | 29 | 32 | 33 | 28 | 23 | 19 | 15 |
| Average low temperature (°C) | |||||||||||
| 7 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 14 | 18 | 21 | 21 | 18 | 15 | 12 | 9 |
| Average daily sunshine (hrs) | |||||||||||
| 4 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 7 | 5 | 4 |
| Average daily daylight (hrs) | |||||||||||
| 9 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 |
| Comfort level | |||||||||||
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| Average relative humidity (%) | |||||||||||
| 78 | 76 | 74 | 72 | 67 | 60 | 57 | 59 | 68 | 74 | 78 | 79 |
| UV Index (max) | |||||||||||
| 2 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 2 |
| Average days of rainfall (≥1mm) | |||||||||||
| 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 10 | 12 |
| Average monthly rainfall (mm) | |||||||||||
| 160 | 105 | 90 | 50 | 20 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 35 | 140 | 155 | 200 |
| Average wind speed (km/h) | |||||||||||
| 20 | 20 | 18 | 16 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 19 | 20 |
| Average sea temperature (°C) | |||||||||||
| 16 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 19 | 22 | 25 | 26 | 25 | 23 | 20 | 17 |
| Zante Town, Zakynthos, 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.
Zakynthos weather by month
Source: Meteorological data for Zakynthos 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: Zakynthos International Airport (ZTH), located 5km (3mi) south of Zakynthos Town.
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 Zakynthos: 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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