When is the best time to visit Greece

The best time to travel to Greece is in autumn and spring, as the climate is more pleasant. You can also visit the country in summer, but there is greater tourist crowding, while in winter the main attractions are closed.

When to travel to Greece

When planning your trip, keep in mind that the months of April to June, as well as September to October, are the perfect months to travel to Greece. The advantage of travelling during these months is that you can be sure, on the one hand, that the weather is good and, on the other hand, that you will be out of the high tourist season.

If you are going to travel to Greece in the summer, keep in mind that July and August, in addition to receiving more visits, are very hot months. These months are perfect for visiting the islands and enjoying their beaches. But let’s see how the climate is according to the seasons and therefore what the best time to travel to Greece is.

Travelling to Greece in the summer

During the summer months, the climate in Greece is warm and sunny, like elsewhere in the Mediterranean. For this reason, this season is the best time to travel to Greece if you wish to lie in the sun. In fact, the average sunshine is higher than elsewhere in the Mediterranean Sea.

If you visit the north and mountainous areas between June and August, you will encounter some thunderstorms. It can rain heavily in the afternoon, especially in June. In Thessaloniki, for example, there are usually about six days of storms during the month of June.

The coastal area and the islands are characterised by a suffocating heat in the summer months, which is ideal for enjoying the beautiful Greek beaches. If you visit the inland areas, you will notice the heat is even more intense as there is no sea breeze to provide cooling. In Thessaloniki, for example, the maximum temperature in summer is 38 degrees, and can go as high as 40 degrees.

In Athens, despite being in front of the sea, summer is the hottest in Europe. The Greek capital has an average temperature of 28 degrees in July and August. This temperature can reach up to 40 degrees in central areas away from the coast.

In the Aegean and Bosphorus areas, winds can last from two to four days, or even entire weeks. The particularity of these winds is that they are not simple breezes, because their intensity is considerable in the summer months.

Travelling to Greece in the winter

If you don’t know when to travel to Greece and you plan to visit it in winter, you should know that you will usually find a rainy but temperate climate. This is especially true in the islands and in the central and southern parts of the country. Corfu is where most of the rains take place, especially in December.

During the winter months, on the Greek islands, rainfall occurs mainly at night, but also in the early hours of the morning. On rare occasions you will see snow, although it does occur on the northernmost islands.

The average temperature in Greece during the winter months ranges from 10 degrees in Heraklion, to 5 degrees in Athens, or even 2 degrees in Thessaloniki. As you can see, winters can be cold in this beautiful country.

If you are going to travel to the mountainous areas, you must bear in mind that the winter there is very cold, especially in the north. In this part of the country, you will find snow almost all winter, in fact, the average is about 28 days. The cities that border Macedonia have an average temperature of 1 degree in winter.

Travelling to Greece in the autumn

As we anticipated, one of the best times to travel to Greece is autumn. This season arrives later than usual in Greece, so September still has a summer climate. Some rains begin in the south of the country and the islands starting in October, but the wind stops blowing. September and October are therefore the perfect months to discover all the beauty of Greece.

Travelling to Greece in the spring

Without a doubt, if you don’t know when to travel to Greece, spring is the perfect time. This season has a very pleasant sunny climate in much of the country. In the northernmost areas and in the mountains there may be days of torrential rain, but it won’t last long.

But take note of the following: the Ethesium, that annoying northeastern wind, begins to blow in May. The wind will last throughout the summer season, so if you travel in April and in May and avoid the last weeks of May, then you won’t be affected by it.

Now that you know the best time to travel to Greece, don’t forget to include a good camera in your luggage. This country has so many idyllic corners that you won’t be able to stop photographing it.