Greece is my favourite nation in all of Europe and is a spot I’ve traveled again to time and time once more. From the turquoise waters of the Ionian islands, to the long-lasting white homes of the Cyclades, to the mountains of Meteora, and every part in between, Greece is a spot that everybody wants to go to. After all, let’s not additionally neglect about the very best delicacies Europe has to supply and world class hospitality.
Whether or not you’re coming for per week or a month, this submit will assist you to resolve on the very best time of yr to go to Greece. Not all months of the yr are created equal and there are definitively higher occasions of the yr to go to Greece.
Checklist of all my Greece posts
Greece has many alternative areas
Greece is a really various nation with many extra landscapes and climates than folks assume. Whereas the entire of Greece is within the south of Europe, the northern part of Greece with locations just like the Zagori Mountains and Thessaloniki enjoys a really totally different local weather than say the island of Crete at Greece’s very south. You possibly can count on the temperatures to extend accordingly the additional south you go. Equally, the water temperatures can even comply with swimsuit.
Usually, the climates will comply with the identical seasonality and tendencies all through Greece. As effectively, the primary vacationer seasons are additionally comparable (summers are the height). Relying on the place you go in Greece, simply put together for colder climate the extra north you go.
The Finest Time To Go to Greece: Local weather
Greece enjoys a nice local weather yr spherical. It’s no surprise it’s one of the well-liked locations for the wealthier Northern Europeans to flock to. The temperatures are by no means that chilly and the nice and cozy temperatures will not be overbearingly sizzling. Humidity can also be not that large of an issue since Greece enjoys a Mediterranean local weather versus a tropical local weather.
Greece Local weather: November to March
Winters are usually cool however not chilly in Greece. You possibly can count on temperatures between 10-15 levels throughout these months within the capital metropolis of Athens. At occasions, you possibly can count on the temperature to dip beneath 10 levels nevertheless it’s not the norm.
Temperatures within the north of Greece can be colder with the mountain area recurrently going beneath freezing.
The islands within the south can even be chilly and wet throughout this era. You possibly can count on temperatures between 5 and 15 levels with frequent rain and winds.
Greece Local weather: April to June
The spring time is a superb time to go to Greece. The temperatures begin to heat up from April. Temperatures can be a nice 15-20 levels within the early spring months going as much as 30 levels by June. The islands are very nice throughout this time with islands within the Cyclades and Ionian islands being a heat 20 to 25 levels.
The water can be chilly because it’s nonetheless warming up from the chilly winter so don’t count on to swim in a heat sea till the top of Could.
Crete throughout this time will already be very heat with temperatures going as much as 30 levels by Could.
Greece Local weather: July to August
July and August are the most well liked months of the yr. You will note temperatures recurrently eclipse 30 levels and infrequently occasions approaching 40 levels in inland locations. Athens can be a highly regarded and typically insufferable 35+ levels on many days making sight seeing a sweaty affair. However, you might be by no means too far-off from a scrumptious glass of white wine to chill you down.
Within the islands, temperatures are barely cooler as a result of entrancing ocean breeze. By barely cooler, I imply one thing between 30-33 levels on common. The water temperatures will heat rapidly throughout these months and you may be skinny dipping within the waters of Folegrandros with 27 diploma waters.
This time of the yr sees the least quantity of rain. Within the islands, it’s regular to go a month with out seeing rain which makes it the most well-liked time of yr to go to.
Greece Local weather: September to October
September and October are a few of my favourite shoulder season months. The temperatures throughout this month are nonetheless very heat however not overbearing like in July and August. September is mostly one of the nice months of the yr with temperatures nonetheless hovering round 30.
In October, the climate continues to be heat however you’ll encounter a extra unstable climate system. Usually occasions, you’ll come throughout thunderstorms that will final a number of days earlier than per week stretch of excellent climate. This occurred to me whereas visiting the island of Corfu the place I used to be rained out for half of my time there! Temperatures are nonetheless a really snug 25-30 levels within the islands of the south, turning into a number of levels colder as you enterprise north.
Whereas the primary vacationer season of the smaller islands is over by October, Crete is a very talked-about island throughout these moths.
The Finest Time To Go to Greece: Crowds and Costs
Greece is likely one of the hottest locations in Europe, and with good cause. It has seen an enormous resurgence of tourism submit COVID and welcome hundreds of thousands of individuals a yr. In the event you’re apprehensive about crowd sizes and your favourite sights being tremendous busy, then this part is for you.
Greece Crowds: November to March
Winters are the off season in Greece. You will note a lot smaller crowds in each a part of Greece in the course of the winter months from November to March. In the event you’re visiting Greece throughout these months, I’d persist with the primary cities like Athens and Thessaloniki. You possibly can count on crowds in Athens to be a lot smaller than at different occasions of the yr however because it’s a serious metropolis, there’ll nonetheless be a lot to do. You possibly can count on the group in locations just like the Acropolis to be a lot smaller throughout these months.
The islands in the course of the winter months are utterly lifeless. Actually, there may be one or two eating places open on an island like SIfnos. Ferries that run a number of occasions a day within the excessive season months will solely run a number of occasions per week. Resorts will principally shut since nobody involves the islands throughout this time.
Tremendous touristy islands like Santorini will nonetheless be out there for yr spherical visits and for those who can catch a weekend with good climate, this is able to be a good time to go with out the crowds.
Greece Crowds: April to June
The spring months are a good time to go to Greece in my view. Many of the islands open to vacationers over the Easter weekend with extra well-liked islands like Mykonos and Santorini open yr spherical.
These months are nice for avoiding large crowds however there’ll nonetheless be sufficient folks to make it really feel alive. Eating places and resorts will all be open at this level as effectively. Costs are greater than the winter months however nonetheless a lot decrease than what they’d be in July and August.
I’ve traveled to quite a lot of Greece throughout these months and completely cherished it. Having the seashores in Lefkada to myself was unbelievable.
Greece Crowds: July to August
July and August are the busiest occasions of yr to go to Greece. That is the prime vacationer season and the place the crowds would be the heaviest. In every single place from Thessaloniki to Crete will see crowds coming from everywhere in the world. Summer season is the holiday season in spite of everything and also you’ll see Europeans, Individuals, Asians and in all places in between crowding into the Greek islands and cities.
Because the climate is the warmest, you possibly can count on to see the largest crowds on the seashores and on the streets so plan accordingly. In the event you don’t like large crowds, I’d keep away from touring to Greece altogether within the month of August. In the event you actually wish to go to, I’d persist with lesser recognized islands like Amorgos, Naxos, Astypalaia and so forth. to keep away from the loopy crowds. Islands like Mykonos, Santorini, and even Paros can be utterly packed to the purpose you’ll be shoulder to shoulder within the Chora.
As you possibly can count on, costs would be the highest throughout these months. That is when quite a lot of hospitality companies make the vast majority of their revenue for the yr. Keep in mind that most of those locations shut in the course of the winter months. Count on costs to be 2-3x what they’d be in the course of the off season.
Greece Crowds: September to October
September and October are just like the Apr to June interval. The height crowds of the summer season have handed however the climate continues to be a lot ok to have an incredible journey to Greece.
September will nonetheless be comparatively busy in hotspots like Athens, and many of the Cyclades islands. As September winds down, you’ll see eating places and resorts slowly shut down for the season and most of the locations can be closed by the start of October. However, October continues to be a good time to go to the nation. The islands are much less busy however nonetheless lovely. Costs can be less expensive as effectively.
Usually, I’d look to go to a spot like Santorini or Mykonos throughout October.
So what’s the finest time to go to Greece?
So with that each one mentioned, what’s the precise finest time to go to Greece?
For me, it’s within the months of September and October. The primary vacationer season has ended however most of the outlets and eating places are nonetheless open. The climate is ideal particularly in mid to late September if not even higher than the summer season months given it is going to be a number of levels cooler.
The water can also be the warmest throughout these months because it’s had the entire summer season to heat up. Beachgoers with households will principally be gone as college restarts leaving you with lovely seashores to your self.
Could and June are a detailed second due to the additional lengthy days, superb climate, and smaller crowds. The water in these months will not be as heat nonetheless so if swimming in heat Mediterranean waters is vital, possibly assume twice.
Ultimately, there’s a Greece for everybody and for each time of the yr!