Santorini in July is great to visit but it’s arguably one of the busiest months of the year for the island (August is the other). This is all you need to know about July in Santorini.
If you are planning to visit Santorini island in July, you should know that the weather will be sunny and very warm and it will definitely be possible to swim in the sea. In fact, you MUST swim in the sea in July. However, July is considered the “high season” in Santorini and it’s one of the busiest months of the year on the island, along with August.
BEST HOTEL IN SANTORINI IN JULY: San Antonio
BUT ALSO CHECK:
- For Couples: Canaves Oia
- For Families: Nissia
- For Sunset Views: White Pearl
- For Honeymoon: Andronis
- With Private Pool: Katikies
- With Caldera Views: Perivolas
- Cave Hotel: Divine Cave
- Budget: Stelios Place
- In Oia: Canaves Epitome
- In Fira: Cosmopolitan
- In Imerovigli: Astra Suites
- In Perissa: Anastasia Princess
- In Kamari: Amara Suites
In July, the temperature ranges from 25 to 35 degrees Celsius on the island, and the weather is nearly always very warm with a brilliant blue sky that you are going to love. July in general is one of the hottest months in Greece and the day temperature may even reach 40 degrees if there is a heatwave.
READ ALSO:
Where to Stay in Santorini
Best Hotels in Oia
Best Hotels in Fira
Santorini in June
Santorini in May
Don’t get me wrong: July is a very busy month for the island and it will be packed everywhere, so get prepared for that.
All the businesses will be open as usual in July with no exceptions but most importantly all beachfront businesses, beach clubs, and sea restaurants will be buzzing and be fully operational in July.
Let’s put it this way: if August is 120% busy for Santorini, then July is in about 110% busy.
Keep reading…
REAL QUICK
- All businesses, restaurants, hotels, bars and shops are 100% open in July in Santorini; in fact, it’s their busiest month
- July is considered “high season” for Santorini and it will be busy and packed with people everywhere you go
- The weather in July in Santorini is usually hot (25-35C) and very dry with very limited chance of rain (actually I cannot recall the last time it rained in July in Greece). It would feel nothing like the western European summer you may have heard or experienced but it would be very hot, sunny and dry. Also, most of the heatwaves in Greece happen in July and August and you may experience temperatures of more than 40 degrees Celsius (100 F)
- The sea water will be nice and very warm making it ideal for swimming.
- If you are looking for the awesome famous Santorini volcano/caldera views stay in Fira, Oia, Imerovigli, Firostefani but if you want to be closer to the beach you should stay in the beachfront resort towns of Perissa, Perivolos or Kamari.
- All of the beach bars in Santorini will be open in July
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How is the weather like in Santorini in July?
July in Santorini is very hot and dry. The temperature can be anything between 25-35 degrees Celsius (and towards the end of the month even more than 35 degrees Celsius if there is a heat wave, which is pretty common for Greece in June, July and August). Honestly, if it rains in July it’s going on the news in Greece since it is as common as finding kangaroos in Santorini!
July is a very stable month weather-wise and you should get prepared for very hot temperatures in general.
In July, you’ll be able to walk the streets of Fira and Oia or the beaches of Kamari and Perissa in t-shirts and shorts during the day, but you may need a light jacket in the evening (usually not even that…).
Where should I stay in Santorini in July?
July is the heart of the summer and the high season in Greece, so prices are high and availability is limited if you don’t book early enough. You may have to book at least 1 year in advance if you are looking for a specific hotel in Santorini.
In July, you will definitely be seeing crowds on the streets of Oia around sunset time and I can guarantee it will be packed everyewhere.
July is also a month that many greeks go on hoidays (but August is the “official” holiday months for Greeks) but mosty towards the second half of the month and closer to August.
There are no public holidays in Greece during July.
July is also the month when the big cruise ships start stopping in Santorini on a daily basis and in my opinion this is the worst thing that can happen for the island. I hate cruises and big cruise ships. They are bad for the environment, they are bad for tourism and they are bad for the locals as the people coming from the cruises don’t really contribute much to the local economy to be honest, but they are really flooding the island.
See also: The 25 Best Restaurants of Santorini
July is NOT A GOOD month for honeymoon in Santorini as it will be packed, busy, crowded and expensive everywhere. You will be better off having your honeymoon in Santorini in June or September.
Here are some handy tips to have in mind when looking for hotel in Santorini in July (and not only):
For views to the volcano and the caldera: Fira, Firostefani, Imerovigli, Oia
For being close to all the bars, restaurants, shops, nightclubs and the buzz: Fira (it’s the capital of the island and the town with the most grocery stores, shops and nightclubs) Oia
For equally beautiful sunsets and views to the caldera and the volcano (without thousands of tourists): Imerovigli and Firostefani
For being closer to the famous black beach (like 5-mins-walk close…) and the best beach bars of the island: Perissa or Perivolos (no famous caldera and volcano views though)
For being closer to the other black beach with lots of restaurants and amenities: Kamari (no famous caldera and volcano views though)
For being close to the famous Red Beach but still have views to the caldera: Akrotiri (but it’s a 20-30 mins drive from Fira-capital)
For being closer to most of the Santorini wineries (but not worried about the famous volcano/caldera views): Pyrgos
For having the best private pools and jacuzzis with caldera views in Santorini: Imerovigli or Firostefani.
What do I need to pack for a trip to Santorini in July?
In July, summer is in full throttle in Santorini! So you will definitely need your swimsuits, t-shirts, shorts, every single summer dress you first saw on instagram and then bought online, sandals, flip-flops, some hiking shoes (yes, you are going to do some hiking in Santorini, sitting on the pool all day with a cocktail is not good for your health 🙂 ) and so on…
You need all the summer clothes you can find BUT you probably need to take a light jacket for the colder nights (which are very rare but they may happen, especially towards the first half of the month)
How hot is Santorini in July ?
Santorini can be very hot in July and the temperature is usually anything between 25-35 degrees Celsius (75-100 Fahrenheit).
The seawater will be warm and you are going to get the best beach weather. It’s actually the best time to enjoy the awesome beach clubs in Santorini that usually have their best parties of the year in July and August.
The black beaches of Perissa, Perivolos and Kamari are buzzing in July!
See Also: Best Beaches in Santorini you MUST visit
Can I swim in Santorini in July ??
You can definitely swim in Santorini in July and the seawater at the famous seaside towns of Kamari, Perissa and Perivolos will be very warm and all seafront businesses ready to welcome you.
Is July a good time to go to Greece ?
Generally speaking, I believe July IS NOT the best time to visit Greece as the weather is nice and warm but everywhere you go it weill be super busy and crowded. July is also not great for honeymoons, but it might be ideal for solo travelers who are looking to meet more people and feel part of a crowd.
Is Santorini windy in July?
July in Santorini can be windy and in general summers on Greek islands can be windy and dry. Here is the average wind speed in Santorini during the year:
What things I can do in Santorini in July?
You can literally do everything you’d do during April, May, June, August, September or October as all businesses, tour operators and hotels will be open as usual.
- Swimming at the amazing Santorini Beaches
- Wine tasting at any of the Best Wineries on the island (this is the most detailed Wineries Guide on the internet!)
- Visit the Akrotiri prehistoric ruins
- Have a lunch or dinner at one of the best restaurants of the island
- use Santorini as your base to visit other greek islands or…
- do one (or more…) of these things
What are the flights to Santorini in July?
July is a month with tens of flights to Santorini from all over Europe. Here are the companies with direct flights to Santorini usually (these change every year so please double-check before booking anything):
(unfortunately, there are no direct flights from outside Europe to Santorini…you have to get off in Athens and then take another plane or ferry to Santorini if you are coming from the US or Australia, for example)
What are the ferries to Santorini in July?
Read my very detailed guide for all the ferries in Santorini here:
How To Get From Athens to Santorini
For the latest schedules and ferry timetables you should always check the best website for booking ferries in Greece: Ferryhopper
CONCLUSION
July is a fantastic time to visit Santorini weather-wise but it will be super busy and crowded everywhere. Don’t get me wrong, you’ll have a fantastic time in Santorini regardless of when you arrive, but I feel that May, June, and early October are among the greatest times to visit the island. You’ll escape the crowds, be able to appreciate the beautiful scenery with fewer people around, avoid most of the enormous and unpleasant cruise ships, and perhaps even obtain better hotel and tour bargains. Overall, I do not recommend visiting Santorini in July but if this is the only time you can visit the island then you will experience the best weather and best beach life that this place has to offer.
