Greece has a Mediterranean climate: hot, dry, very sunny summers and mild, rainy winters. But the country is mountainous and elongated, and there are big differences between coast and interior, north and south, and between the wetter Ionian side and the drier Aegean side.
Athens month by month
Regional differences
| Area | Summer | Winter | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Athens and Attica | Very hot and dry | Mild, some cold days | One of Europe's driest capitals |
| Cyclades and Dodecanese | Hot but breezy | Mild and windy | Meltemi in July and August |
| Crete | Hot, very hot in the south | Mild on the coast, snow in the mountains | One of the warmest parts of Europe |
| Ionian Islands | Hot and humid | Mild and rainy | Greener thanks to the rain |
| Macedonia and Thrace | Hot | Cold, fog and snow | More continental climate |
| Mountains (Pindus) | Cool | Cold and snowy | Ski resorts on Parnassus and elsewhere |
The sea
The sea warms slowly: around 19-20 °C in May, reaching 24-26 °C in July and August and staying warm until October. In the Cyclades the meltemi stirs the water and keeps it a little cooler.
Wind
In summer the meltemi, a northerly wind, blows across the Aegean, cooling the air but sometimes stopping ferries. In winter come storms and southerly winds such as the sirocco, which sometimes carries Saharan sand.
Heat and fire
In recent years heatwaves have become more frequent and intense: Athens often exceeds 40 °C, and in July 2023 the Acropolis was closed during the hottest hours to protect visitors and staff. Heat and drought feed wildfires, which in 2021 devastated northern Euboea and in 2023 the Evros region in Thrace, one of the largest fires ever recorded in the European Union.
When to go
- April-June: flowers, pleasant temperatures, sea still cool early in the season. Ideal for archaeology and hiking.
- July-August: very warm sea, but crowds, high prices and intense heat.
- September-October: perhaps the best time, warm sea and fewer tourists.
- Winter: ideal for Athens, Thessaloniki and the mountains; many islands are quiet with few connections.
See also when to go to Greece and geography.