What is the best time to visit Greece?

Best Time to Visit Greece

The best time to travel to Greece is during spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November).

Spring in Greece

Spring in Greece is a pleasant time of year, with temperatures ranging from mild to warm. The days are sunny and the skies are clear, making it an ideal time for sightseeing. Nature is in full bloom, with wildflowers and lush greenery covering the countryside. Popular attractions, such as the Acropolis in Athens, are bustling with tourists during this time. Spring is also the season for Easter celebrations, with traditional parades and festivities taking place in many cities.

Autumn in Greece

Autumn in Greece is a great time to visit, with mild temperatures and fewer tourists. The days are still sunny and clear, making it ideal for outdoor activities. The countryside is awash in vibrant colors, with the changing leaves providing a stunning backdrop. The beaches are still warm and the sea is inviting. Popular attractions, such as the Acropolis in Athens, are less crowded during this time. Autumn is also the season for wine festivals, with celebrations taking place in many cities.

Month-by-month guide for traveling in Greece

Greece in January

Weather

January in Greece is typically quite mild, with temperatures ranging from an average high of 12°C (54°F) to an average low of 5°C (41°F). Rainfall is common, with an average of 8-10 days of precipitation throughout the month.

Events

• Epiphany: Celebrated on January 6th, Epiphany is a religious holiday that marks the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River. It is celebrated with a blessing of the waters ceremony, where a priest throws a cross into the sea and young men dive in to retrieve it.
• Carnival of Patras: The Carnival of Patras is one of the largest in Greece and is celebrated in the city of Patras from January to the beginning of Lent. It features colorful parades, music, and dancing.
• Thessaloniki International Film Festival: Held annually in Thessaloniki, this film festival showcases the best of Greek and international cinema. It takes place in mid-January and features screenings, talks, and workshops.
• Athens Marathon: The Athens Marathon is an annual event that takes place in mid-January. Participants can choose from a full marathon, a half marathon, or a 10K race.
• Greek Orthodox New Year: Greek Orthodox New Year is celebrated on January 1st and is a public holiday in Greece. It is celebrated with fireworks, parades, and feasts.

Greece in January

Weather

January in Greece is usually cold and wet, with temperatures ranging from 8-12°C (46-54°F). Snow is common in the northern and mountainous regions of the country.

Events

• The Orthodox Church celebrates Christmas Day on January 7th. Many Greeks attend church services and enjoy traditional meals with their families.
• The annual Thessaloniki International Film Festival takes place in January, usually from the 10th to the 20th. The festival showcases the best in Greek and international cinema.
• The Epiphany is celebrated on January 6th. It is a religious holiday that marks the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River. Some Greeks celebrate by diving into the sea to retrieve a wooden cross.
• The Athens Marathon is held in January. It is an annual event that follows the original route of the historic event, from Marathon to Athens.
• The Athens International Book Fair takes place in January. It is one of the largest book fairs in Europe, with hundreds of exhibitors from around the world.

Greece in March

Weather

March is the start of spring in Greece, and the weather starts to warm up. The average temperature in March is around 15°C (59°F), with highs reaching up to 20°C (68°F). The days are longer and the sun is out for most of the day. Rainfall is still common, but not as frequent as in the winter months.

Events

• The Greek Orthodox Church celebrates Clean Monday on the first Monday of March. This is the start of the period of Lent and is celebrated with outdoor activities such as kite flying and feasting on traditional dishes.
• The Athens Marathon is held on the second Sunday of March. This is a 42.195 km race that follows the route of the original marathon run by Pheidippides in 490 BC.
• The Greek National Day is celebrated on the 25th of March. This is a national holiday that commemorates the start of the Greek War of Independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1821.
• The International Film Festival of Thessaloniki is held from the 5th to the 15th of March. This is one of the most important film festivals in Greece and showcases the best of Greek and international cinema.
• The Greek Easter is celebrated on the first Sunday of April, but the preparations start in March. This is the most important religious holiday in Greece and is celebrated with traditional dishes and festivities.

Greece in April

Weather

April in Greece is typically a mild month with temperatures ranging from 10-20°C (50-68°F). The days are usually sunny and pleasant, with occasional rain showers.

Events

• Thessaloniki International Film Festival: Held in Thessaloniki, this annual film festival is one of the most important events in Greece. It takes place in mid-April and showcases a variety of films from around the world.
• Athens Marathon: The Athens Marathon is an annual event that takes place in Athens in April. It is a 42.195km race that follows the original route of the ancient Greek soldier Pheidippides, who ran from Marathon to Athens to deliver news of the Greek victory over the Persians in 490 BC.
• Good Friday Procession: This traditional procession takes place in many cities in Greece on Good Friday, the Friday before Easter. It is a solemn event that commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
• Easter Celebrations: Easter is a major holiday in Greece and is celebrated with a variety of traditions. On Easter Sunday, many people attend church services and then enjoy a large feast with family and friends.
• May Day Celebrations: May Day is a public holiday in Greece and is celebrated with parades, music, and dancing. Many people also take part in outdoor activities such as picnics and barbecues.

Greece in May

Weather

May is the transition month between spring and summer in Greece. The weather is mild and pleasant, with temperatures ranging from 16-25°C (61-77°F). The days are sunny and warm with occasional rain showers.

Events

• The Greek Orthodox Easter is celebrated in May. On Easter Sunday, people gather in churches to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Traditional Easter dishes such as Tsoureki, a sweet bread, and Magiritsa, a soup made of lamb offal, are served.
• The International Thessaloniki Documentary Festival (TDF) is held in May. It is one of the largest documentary film festivals in Europe, showcasing documentaries from around the world.
• The Athens Marathon is held in May. It is one of the most popular marathons in the world, with thousands of runners participating every year.
• The Athens International Film Festival is held in May. It is one of the most important film festivals in Greece, showcasing the best of Greek and international cinema.
• The International Book Festival of Athens is held in May. It is one of the largest book festivals in Europe, with hundreds of authors, publishers, and readers attending every year.

Greece in June

Weather

June in Greece is generally a warm and sunny month. Temperatures typically range from the mid-60s to mid-80s Fahrenheit (18-30 Celsius). The islands of Greece tend to be hotter and drier than the mainland. Rainfall is generally light during June, although there may be occasional showers.

Events

• Thessaloniki International Film Festival: This annual film festival takes place in Thessaloniki, Greece and showcases a variety of international films. It typically takes place in late May or early June.
• Athens and Epidaurus Festival: This annual festival takes place in Athens and Epidaurus and features a variety of theatrical and musical performances. It typically takes place in June.
• Rhodes International Music Festival: This annual music festival takes place in the city of Rhodes and features a variety of musical performances. It typically takes place in June.
• Patras Carnival: This annual carnival takes place in the city of Patras and features a variety of parades, music, and other festivities. It typically takes place in late June.
• Aegean Islands Regatta: This annual sailing race takes place in the Aegean Sea and features a variety of boats and sailors. It typically takes place in late June.

Greece in July

Weather

July is the hottest month in Greece, with temperatures averaging between 25-31°C (77-88°F). The sun is out for most of the day, and the humidity is high. Rainfall is low, but there may be scattered thunderstorms in the afternoon.

Events

• The Apokries Festival is celebrated in the first week of July. This is a carnival-like event with parades, music, dancing, and costumes.
• The International Athens Festival is held in late June and early July. This festival features performances of theater, dance, and music from around the world.
• The Greek National Day is celebrated on July 25th. This is a national holiday with parades, fireworks, and other festivities.
• The Greek Islands Festival is held in July. This festival features traditional Greek music, dance, and food from the islands.
• The Greek Film Festival is held in Athens in July. This festival showcases the best of Greek cinema.

Greece in August

Weather

August in Greece is generally hot and sunny, with temperatures ranging from the mid-20s to the mid-30s Celsius (70s to 90s Fahrenheit). August is usually the hottest month of the year in Greece, and the days are typically long with plenty of sunshine.

Events

• The Assumption of Mary is celebrated on August 15th and is one of the most important religious holidays in Greece. This day is celebrated with church services, fireworks, and traditional music and dancing.
• The Athens and Epidaurus Festival is a major cultural event that takes place in Athens and the nearby town of Epidaurus. The festival runs from mid-July to mid-August and features a variety of performances, including theater, music, and dance.
• The Thessaloniki International Film Festival is held in the second half of August in Thessaloniki, Greece. The festival features a variety of films from around the world, as well as workshops and seminars.
• The Athens International Marathon is held in early August and is one of the most popular running events in Greece. The marathon starts in the city of Marathon and ends in Athens.
• The Greek National Day is celebrated on August 25th and is a national holiday in Greece. The day is celebrated with parades, fireworks, and other festivities.

Greece in September

Weather

September is the start of the autumn season in Greece. Temperatures begin to cool down, with average highs of 25°C (77°F) and lows of 17°C (63°F). Rainfall is moderate, with an average of 8 days of rain throughout the month.

Events

• The Athens International Film Festival is held in September, featuring a selection of independent and international films.
• The Thessaloniki International Film Festival is held in late September, showcasing films from around the world.
• The Athens Marathon is held in September, with thousands of runners taking part in the race.
• The Greek National Day is celebrated on the 28th of September, with parades and other festivities taking place throughout the country.
• The Greek Orthodox Church celebrates the Exaltation of the Holy Cross on the 14th of September.

Greece in October

Weather

October is a great time to visit Greece as the weather is still warm and sunny. Temperatures range from the mid-60s to mid-70s Fahrenheit (15-25 Celsius). The days are usually sunny with some occasional rain in the evenings.

Events

• Thessaloniki International Film Festival (TIFF): Thessaloniki International Film Festival is one of the most important film festivals in Europe, taking place in October every year. It showcases films from all over the world and includes workshops, seminars and other events.
• Athens Marathon: The Athens Marathon is an annual event that takes place in October. It is a 42.195 km course that starts in the town of Marathon and ends in the Panathenaic Stadium in Athens.
• Crete Marathon: The Crete Marathon is a popular event that takes place in October. It is a 42.195 km course that starts in the town of Chania and ends in the city of Heraklion.
• Carnival of Patras: The Carnival of Patras is one of the biggest carnivals in Greece and takes place in October every year. It includes parades, concerts, parties and other events.
• Athens International Film Festival: The Athens International Film Festival is one of the most important film festivals in Greece, taking place in October every year. It showcases films from all over the world and includes workshops, seminars and other events.

Greece in November

Weather

November in Greece is generally mild and wet. Temperatures average around 13°C (55°F) during the day and 8°C (46°F) at night. Rain is common, with an average of 11 rainy days throughout the month.

Events

• The Athens Marathon is held on November 10th. This event is a full 42.195 km marathon that begins in Marathon and ends in the Athens Panathenaic Stadium.
• The Athens Half Marathon is held on November 17th. This event is a 21 km half marathon that begins in the city center and ends in the Athens Panathenaic Stadium.
• The Athens International Film Festival is held from November 1st to November 11th. This event showcases films from around the world.
• The Thessaloniki International Film Festival is held from November 8th to November 17th. This event showcases films from around the world.
• The Athens International Dance Festival is held from November 1st to November 10th. This event features performances from renowned dancers and choreographers.

Greece in December

Weather

In December, temperatures in Greece are usually mild. In the south, temperatures range from 10-15°C (50-59°F), while in the north, temperatures range from 0-10°C (32-50°F). Rain is also common in December, with the most rainfall occurring in the northern part of the country.

Events

• Christmas: Christmas is celebrated in Greece on December 25th. Traditional Greek Christmas celebrations include the burning of the Yule log, carol singing, and the exchanging of gifts.
• New Year’s Eve: On December 31st, Greeks celebrate the New Year with fireworks, music, and dancing.
• Feast of St. Nicholas: On December 6th, Greeks celebrate the Feast of St. Nicholas. This is a religious holiday that honors the patron saint of sailors.
• Winter Solstice: On December 21st, Greeks celebrate the Winter Solstice, which marks the shortest day of the year. This is a time of reflection and celebration of the coming of longer days.
• Epiphany: On January 6th, Greeks celebrate Epiphany, which marks the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River. This is a religious holiday that is celebrated with processions and special church services.