Athens Weather

What is the Athens weather like, and when is the best time to visit?

Athens weather, from https://www.greece-travel-secrets.com/Athens-Weather.html

The Best Time to Visit Athens

Spring and autumn are perfect times to see Athens. You might be unlucky and get some rain, but chances are the skies will be blue and the temperature pleasant. The average in both May and October is a very pleasant 20C/68F. It's ideal for sightseeing and visiting the ancient sites, without having it unpleasantly hot.

Even in winter, don't rule Athens out. Skies can still be bright blue and the weather mild. January is the coldest month when the average drops to 12C/54F, but it can be much warmer than that. We've been to Athens in January and been strolling round in shorts and t-shirts.

If you prefer the visual approach, you can see the Athens section of this page on YouTube:

Summer Heatwaves

The worst times to visit are probably from late July through to early September. The average temperature in midsummer is 32C/90F, which means on many days it exceeds that. Summer heatwaves have been a common phenomenon in recent, so avoid midsummer if you can.. 

Although the city has done an enormous amount in the past few years to reduce the problem of traffic congestion, which adds to the unpleasantness by helping create a summer smog, it hasn't got rid of it completely and the middle of summer is best avoided if at all possible. 

Athens weather, from https://www.greece-travel-secrets.com/Athens-Weather.html

Yes, It Does Rain in Athens!

Rain

It's surprising to discover that it rains in Athens on roughly 100 days each year. But sun-lovers shouldn't let that put them off, as on many of those days it's no more than an occasional light shower, and most of the rainfall is in the winter. The total rainfall over the course of a year averages out at about 15.5" (400mm), and hardly a drop falls from July to September. 

When it does rain you'll want to read our page on Athens in the Rain!

The Weather Elsewhere in Greece
For a comparison, see our page on the Corfu Climate

The Weather in Crete

As a comparison to Athens, in case you're combining the city with somewhere else, here's a note of what the weather is like in Crete.

If you want guaranteed sunshine then the best time to visit Crete is July and August, when there is no rain at all. In fact for the seven months from April to October, which makes up the main holiday season, on average there are only 18 days of rain. Temperatures remain mild all through the year, but in winter it does get wet.

April and May are probably the best two months to visit, when temperatures are pleasant without being too hot, there is very little rain, the island is not yet too busy and there is a profusion of wild flowers to see. September and October can also be pleasant, but more suited to swimmers than botanists. The landscape will be looking burnt out, but the sea temperatures will still be in the mid-70s (about 24C).

The holiday season usually runs from Easter to late October, and outside this period many hotels and restaurants will be closed. There are still plenty which open all year round, but your choice will be more limited.

You might like these other Athens pages...

  • National Archaeological Museum

    The National Archaeological Museum is one of the best things to see in Athens, and the best museum in the world for seeing Greece's archaeological treasures.

  • A Drive around Attica

    This drive around Attica offers visitors high hills, beach resorts, small villages and classical sites like Marathon and the Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion.

  • Cape Sounion and the East Coast

    The beach resorts of Athens are easily reached from the city and also close are Cape Sounion with the Temple of Poseidon, ancient Marathon and Rafina's port.

  • The Best Things to Do in Athens

    The best things to do in Athens, Greece, include top archaeological sites like the Acropolis and must-see attractions such as the National Archaeological Museum

  • Best Cocktail Bars in Athens

    Two of the best cocktail bars in Athens, MoMix Kerameikos and The Clumsies, are making creative cocktails using that most Greek of Greek spirits, Metaxa.

  • Athens: Travel Information and Advice about Athens, Greece

    Athens is a top vacation destination. The Greece Travel Secrets Athensguide has information on hotels, museums, Athens airport and all the best things to do.

  • Athens Walking Tours and Other Experiences

    Athens walking tours and other experiences like cookery lessons, ceramics workshops, dining with a family, and street art are available from Alternative Athens

  • Athens to Santorini

    There are lots of flights from Athens to Santorini as well as a ferry service from Piraeus, with flights to Santorini leaving from Athens International Airport.

  • Athens International Airport

    Athens International Airport is east of Athens city centre with its own Metro train station, buses to Athens and Piraeus, taxis and car rental offices.

  • Athens in the Rain

    Athens in the rain isn’t something you’re likely to experience but here are suggestions for things to do in the rain in Athens including museums and shopping

  • Athens Food Tours

    Athens Food Tours are being introduced by new company The Greek Fork, and will include tours of the Central Market, and the best street food.

  • Athens Events and Public Holidays

    If visiting Athens it helps to know when major events and public holidays take place, as some shops and attractions may be closed, but to be there at times like Easter can make for a magical trip.

  • Athens Eaters Guide

    Athens, an Eater's Guide to the City, is published by Culinary Backstreets, who do walking food tours in Athens and the book recommends the best places to eat.

  • Athens Dining Guide

    This Athens dining guide doesn't list restaurants but gives practical advice on types of eating places, tipping, hotel breakfasts and picnics.

  • Athens Culinary Tours

    Athens culinary tours are among the food walking tours offered by an unusual company, Culinary Backstreets.

  • Athens Car Rental

    Athens car rental options include almost all of the major international car hire firms such as Avis, Budget, Hertz, and Europcar.

  • Athens Airport Hotels

    Athens Airport hotels include the luxury Sofitel at the terminals, Holiday Inn near the airport, and others close by like the Hotel Pantheon.

  • Athens Airport Car Rental

    Athens Airport car rentals include Alamo/National Car Rental, Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz and Sixt, all with offices at the airport.

  • Athens Acropolis

    The Athens Acropolis has the city's most iconic building, the Parthenon, along with other historic buildings and is where the Elgin Marbles were taken from.

  • Artistic Athens

    This extract of Artistic Athens in the Lonely Planet book Culture Trails takes visitors on a journey through the artistic side of Athens..

  • Pictures of Athens

    Pictures of Athens from the Greece Travel Secrets website

  • Where to Eat in Athens and Piraeus

    If you're wondering where to eat in Athens and Piraeus we have a few suggestions including some favorites around the Acropolis, Omonia Square, and Syntagma.

  • Ten Fun Things to Do in Athens

    Ten Fun Things to Do in Athens include eating in the Central Market, watching the sun set over the Acropolis and seeing one of the world's oldest theatres.

  • Piraeus

    Piraeus is the port of Athens from where many ferries to the Greek islands depart, and it also has an Archaeological Museum and the Hellenic Maritime Museum.

  • My Athens: a Portrait by Travel Writer Mike Gerrard

    In My Athens on Greece Travel Secrets travel writer Mike Gerrard describes what he loves about Athens including the Acropolis and eating!

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