Greece can be visited all year, but the right time depends on what you want to do. The climate is covered in detail on the climate of Greece page.
Month by month
| Month | Weather and sea | Crowds and prices | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| January-February | Cool, rainy; snow in the mountains | Very low; many islands nearly closed | Athens, Thessaloniki, skiing, Patras carnival |
| March | Mild, first flowers | Low | Cities and archaeology, 25 March festival |
| April | Full spring, cool sea (17-18 °C) | Low, except at Easter | Archaeology, hiking, Orthodox Easter |
| May | Pleasant warmth, flowering countryside, sea 19-20 °C | Medium | Everything: islands, sites, hiking |
| June | Hot, very long days, sea 22-23 °C | Rising | Beaches and islands without August crowds |
| July | Very hot, meltemi in the Cyclades, sea 24-25 °C | High | Beaches, nightlife, festivals |
| August | Very hot, heatwaves, sea 25-26 °C | Very high, peaking around 15 August | Beaches and village festivals, with early bookings |
| September | Hot but less scorching, warmest sea | Falling | Beaches, islands, grape harvest: perhaps the best month |
| October | Mild, first storms, sea 22-23 °C | Low | Archaeology, hiking, Crete and Rhodes still good for swimming |
| November-December | Cool and rainy | Very low | Athens, Thessaloniki, museums, Christmas |
By interest
- Beaches: mid-June to late September. For a warm, less crowded sea, the first half of September is ideal. Crete, Rhodes and the Dodecanese have the longest swimming season, May to October.
- Archaeological sites: spring and autumn, when temperatures let you walk among the ruins comfortably. In summer visit at opening time.
- Hiking: April-June for flowers and September-October for colours. Crete's Samaria Gorge is usually open May to October; the Epirus mountains and Olympus are most accessible June to September.
- Cities: Athens and Thessaloniki are lovely all year, but in summer heat can exceed 40 °C. Spring, autumn and winter are perfect.
- Nightlife: July and August on Mykonos, Ios, Paros and Zakynthos.
- Budget travel: May, early June, late September and October.
Festivals not to miss
| When | What |
|---|---|
| February-March | Carnival (Apokries), especially in Patras |
| Spring | Orthodox Easter, the year's finest festival |
| 25 March and 28 October | National holidays with parades |
| June-August | Athens and Epidaurus Festival |
| 15 August | Dormition of the Virgin, festivals on every island |
| November | Thessaloniki Film Festival |
See all festivals.
See also itineraries and before you go.