When to Travel to the Greek Islands: Weather, Prices & Tips

This article may contain affiliate links.

Updated: May 10, 2025

If you're thinking about visiting the Greek islands, here's when to go based on what you want to do, how to avoid the crowds, and even how to save a few euros along the way.

Weather in the Greek Islands

Greece has a Mediterranean climate with dry summers, mild winters, and over 250 days of sunshine a year. It’s actually one of the sunniest countries in the Mediterranean.

That said, don’t let the photos fool you: even if the islands look tropical, they’re Mediterranean, with all four seasons clearly defined. Some areas even get snow in winter, like parts of Crete or the northern islands.

Best Time to Visit the Greek Islands

It really depends on what you’re after. Here’s a quick breakdown:

• Beach time: Late May to mid-October. The sea’s warmer from July on—before that it can still feel a bit chilly.
• Cultural and archaeological visits: April, May, and October are perfect. Summer gets way too hot to walk around ruins under the blazing Greek sun with no shade.
• Partying and nightlife: July and August are peak months for party lovers, but June and September also have a great vibe—especially on popular islands like Mykonos or Santorini, or on bigger ones like Crete or Rhodes.
• Windsurfing and kitesurfing: From May to September the wind is strong and steady, especially in the Cyclades.
• Cruises: Late May, June, September, and early October are the best months—great weather and fewer people.
• Saving money: The mid-season (April, May, October, and November) is perfect for spending less while still enjoying nice weather and plenty to do. Low season (December to March) is even cheaper, but not the best time to visit the islands—I’ll explain why below. Just so you know, prices can drop by 30% or even more compared to summer.
• Avoiding crowds: May and October are ideal. June and September are also pretty relaxed.

🔹 In short

The best months for nice weather, fewer crowds, and fair prices are May, June, and from September to mid-October.

If you're all about that classic summer vacation and don’t mind spending more, July and August are your best bet.

✅ Friendly Tip: Don’t forget to get travel insurance for your next adventure. I recommend Heymondo,—it’s super comprehensive, and with that link, you’ll get 5% off!

High Season: July and August

July and August are peak season, with all the pros and cons that come with it. It’s hot, but since you’re surrounded by water, it’s more bearable than on the mainland. Plus, there’s always a beach or pool nearby to cool off. 😎

The downside? Higher prices and lots of people, especially on the most famous islands.

🔹 How to Avoid the Crowds and Save Money

If summer’s the only time you can travel, here are a few tips:

• Greece has 227 inhabited islands—if you choose wisely, you’ll find exactly what you’re looking for.
• Mix expensive spots like Santorini or Mykonos with quieter, lesser-known islands.
• Bigger islands like Crete or Rhodes let you escape the crowds without missing out on things to do.
• Some hidden gems: Naxos, Paros, Milos, Amorgos, Tinos, Alonissos, and Karpathos.

⭐ Related article: 10 Cheapest Greek Islands (and somewhat unknown)

Low Season: December to March

I’ll be honest—it’s not the best time to visit. The islands get super quiet, like almost everything shuts down. Many hotels and restaurants close for the season, and while winters are generally mild, the wind can make it feel colder than it really is.

• Temperatures: Rarely drop below 5°C (41°F) in the south.
• Lots of wind, especially in the Cyclades.
• Very little tourist activity, except in Crete, Rhodes, and Corfu where there’s still a bit of life.

🔹 Tip for Traveling in the Off-Season

Speaking from experience—I’ve lived in both Santorini and Rhodes. If you’re visiting during the low season:

• Make sure your place has heating. Not all accommodations do.
• Many homes use solar panels for hot water, so on cloudy days, you might not get a hot shower. Just be prepared!
• Pack warm clothes, especially a windbreaker. The Greek wind is no joke.

I arrived in Greece in April thinking it wouldn’t be cold—and I froze at first. 😅 So better to be prepared than freezing.

👍 My two cents: If you want to stay connected in Greece, 🤳 I recommend this eSIM for Greece. Click on that links for a 5% discount.

Annual Temperatures

To give you a better idea, here are the average high and low temperatures in Celsius by month for some popular islands:

Island	Jan	Feb	Sea	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Crete (Heraklion)	15 / 9	15 / 9	17 / 10	20 / 12	23 / 16	27 / 20	29 / 22	29 / 22	27 / 20	23 / 17	20 / 14	16 / 11
Santorini	15 / 10	15 / 10	16 / 11	19 / 13	23 / 17	27 / 21	29 / 23	29 / 23	26 / 21	23 / 17	19 / 14	16 / 11
Rhodes	15 / 10	15 / 10	17 / 12	20 / 14	23 / 18	27 / 21	29 / 24	30 / 24	28 / 22	24 / 19	20 / 15	16 / 12
Corfu	14 / 5	14 / 6	16 / 7	19 / 10	24 / 14	28 / 18	32 / 20	32 / 20	28 / 17	23 / 14	18 / 10	15 / 7
Samos	13 / 7	13 / 7	16 / 9	19 / 11	24 / 15	29 / 20	32 / 23	32 / 23	28 / 19	23 / 15	18 / 12	15 / 9
Zakynthos	14 / 6	14 / 6	16 / 7	20 / 10	24 / 13	29 / 17	32 / 20	32 / 20	28 / 17	24 / 14	19 / 11	15 / 8

Source: weatherspark.com

Month-by-Month Weather

Even though high season runs from June to September, every month has something special to offer. Here's a quick summary of what the weather is like on the Greek islands throughout the year, what to expect, and the best activities for each time.

Month	Weather & Temperature	What to Expect	Best For...
January	Cold and windy (5–15 °C)	Quiet islands, many places closed, short days	Budget travel, exploring Crete or Rhodes without crowds
February	Similar to January, a bit more daylight	Cool weather, still low season	Budget winter getaway
March	Spring begins, still cool (8–17 °C)	Greener landscapes, less rain, sea still cold	Hiking, cultural visits
April	Mild (12–20 °C), longer days	Spring blooms, perfect walking weather	Visiting ruins, exploring without the heat
May	Warm and sunny (18–26 °C), sea still cool	Mid-season, good weather, no crowds	Quiet beaches, cruises, culture
June	Summer starts (22–30 °C), sea perfect	Great weather, fewer people than July-August	Everything: beach, culture, moderate nightlife
July	Hot (25–35 °C), breezy on the islands	Peak season, parties, lively vibe, everything open	Nightlife, beaches, water sports
August	Very hot (26–36 °C), popular islands crowded	Parties, heat, high prices, book early	Festive atmosphere, cruises, water sports
September	Warm (24–30 °C), sea very warm	Everything still open, fewer crowds, lower prices	Swimming, excursions, a mix of chill & culture
October	Pleasant (20–26 °C), fewer tourists	End of season, good weather to visit without stress	Culture, uncrowded beaches, budget-friendly
November	Variable and cool (14–22 °C), shorter days	Many places close, good time to unplug	Peace, low prices, exploring bigger islands
December	Cold and damp (10–18 °C), very short days	Few tourists, mild but windy	Saving money, local off-season life

🤑 If you want to save on your next adventure, use this link from Booking to get 15% off your stay.

Final Thoughts

I hope this helped you figure out the best time to visit the Greek islands. No matter when you go, you’re going to have a great time.

If you have any questions, leave me a comment below and I'll help you as much as I can. If you found the article useful, share it with other travelers. Have a good trip! 😘

More about the Greek Islands

More about Greece