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Whether it’s the unshakable allure of history, as the land of Socrates and Plato—or the breathtaking landscapes that dot the land and sea, Greece is a devastatingly beautiful country. Of course, the whole of the Mediterranean stretch is gorgeous and deserves every traveler’s enchanted gaze. However, Greece boasts several rustic, car-free islands, many intriguing historical monuments set around numerous romantic places—and a culinary tradition that is as varied as it is mouthwatering. Then there’s the infectiously disarming Greek hospitality. It almost feels as if they lay down the red carpet for visitors.
But what exactly should one expect in Greece during a summer visit? Here’s our take.
How Summer Looks Like In Greece
Among the things to know before visiting Greece, the climate and the seasons should sit at the top. And since summer is the characteristic travel month, it’s natural that we'd want to know how the season plays out—and behaves—through the warm weeks and months. But to take in the complete climate landscape, Greece has four seasons: Summer, Fall, Winter, and Spring—all of which take place on almost exact calendar dates as those in the United States and Europe. Therefore, one can confidently plan a visit to Greece without anticipating climate differences. Summer begins in June and runs through to the end of August. However, the seasons are not as markedly distinct as those in the US. Generally, the country sees two long seasons of summer and winter, with just brief interludes of fall and spring. Therefore, while technically summer runs from June to August, in reality, summer conditions set in from April and run through to September.
As would be expected, summer in Greece usually sees a spike in the temperature levels. While the whole of Greece is generally hot in summer, the degree of hotness varies, albeit slightly, from place to place. In Athens, June—which is technically the first summer month—will see a variation in temperatures from a high of 28.1ºC to a low of 20.7ºC. While the northern parts are likely to be slightly cooler, sometimes the difference is not anything to write home about. For instance, in Thessaloniki, while the highest temperatures in June will hit 28.4ºC, a tad higher than in Athens, the lowest temperatures will descend to a low of 17.3ºC—significantly lower than in Athens. In Santorini, a favorite travel destination for many, June will be a little milder, as will be most islands in the Aegean Sea, temperatures are not likely to go beyond 26ºC. The calming effect of the sea breeze doubtlessly plays a role.
Planning A Summer Visit To Greece? Here’s What To Expect In July
July is the hottest month in Greece. Even at night, a jacket will mostly be a burden. Athens, the celebrated cradle of western civilization, usually becomes a summer hotspot—both figuratively and quite literally. In fact, Athens has the distinction of being the hottest capital city in Europe—because of its sweltering summer conditions. The temperatures climb to an average high of 30.9ºC or fall up to a low of only 23.3ºC. In Santorini and many parts of the Augean Sea, July is normally also the clearest month—with hardly a cloud in the sky. It’s also the hottest and the driest. It’s uncommon to witness any drop of rain. Still, the island areas of the Augean Sea might be a little cooler than Athens or mainland Greece. Of course, the southern areas also experience the Meltemi winds that sweep through the areas of the Augean sea, lessening the effect of the suffocating heat. Because of this, the Cyclades islands can get very windy in July. This is especially true of Mykonos, Evia, Tinos, and Santorini. Aside from making walking and sightseeing difficult, these persistent winds can make swimming impossible—even dangerous. They also sometimes disrupt ferry schedules.
The southernmost islands near the Libyan Sea—like Crete—can get bakingly hot. July's temperatures in Crete average a balmy 26ºC. Karpathos, Rhodes, Zakynthos (probably the hottest in Ionian Greece), Diaporos, and Hydra can also see very high July temperatures. The areas around the Asterousia Mountains can sometimes be inhospitable. Toward the northern regions of Greece, hugely famous for their breathtaking, mountainous scenery, July sees temperatures averaging a high of 31ºC and a low of 20ºC, especially around Thessaloniki. Finally and perhaps fortunately, July is usually the least humid month in Greece. So that makes the heat somewhat bearable.
How August Weather Looks Like In Greece
Usually, they’ll be negligible difference between July weather and August weather. The temperatures may fall by half a degree Celsius—and that will be all the drop. Humidity levels will still be at their July lows. Raindrops will be just as absent or rare in August as they were in July. In fact, in Athens, August is the driest month. However, with respect to rainfall, the northern areas see more rainfall than other regions of Greece (both in July and August)— and cooler night temperatures.
This is what to expect of the weather when on a visit to Greece during the summer—of course, with slight variations.