When to go
To know when is the best time to visit Greece, it is necessary to distinguish according to the purpose of the trip:
- The best period for a
beach holiday is the long summer, from early June to mid-September. In this period, there are no clouds in the sky for long periods, the heat is at times intense, but on coasts and islands it is tempered by the breeze. In the Aegean Sea, the
Meltemi often blows.
- The best seasons for visiting
historic and archaeological sites and cities are spring and autumn. Summer is often too hot, especially in the mainland, and in July and August. However, June and September can be hot as well, with average highs around 28/30 °C (82/86 °F) in the capital.
Winter is cold in the north and in the mountainous regions, while it is windy and rainy in the south and on the islands, so it's is not the best season to visit Greece. On the other hand, in this period, given the low amount of tourists, you can go on excursions and visit historic and archaeological sites, with greater tranquility and solitude.
In general, the best times are the month of
May, and the period from mid-September to mid-October; the former offers longer days and the nature in bloom, while the latter offers a warmer sea, which can be a possibility in the pauses between excursions.
In October, temperatures are pleasantly warm and resemble those of May, but the days are shorter, and sometimes it rains, especially in the second half of the month.
In November, the sky is often cloudy and the rains are frequent, even though it's generally not cold.
In April, the weather is often mild and sunny, though some disturbances may still pass, so all in all a trip to Greece may be advisable even in this month.
What to pack
In
winter: in inland and mountainous areas: bring warm clothes, such as a down jacket, a hat, gloves, a scarf. In Athens and in central and northern coastal areas: bring warm clothes, such as a sweater, a jacket, a raincoat or umbrella. In Crete and on the southern islands: clothes for spring and autumn, a sweater, a jacket, a raincoat or umbrella.
In
summer: bring light clothing, sunglasses, sunscreen, a light scarf and a sweatshirt for the evening, especially on the islands of the Aegean Sea, where the Meltemi blows. In the mountains, you can bring a sweater, a jacket, hiking shoes, a raincoat or umbrella.
Back to the climate of
Greece