Santorini in September

If you plan to visit Santorini in September, here’s what you need to know.September is a great month to visit Santorini and it is still considered high season for the island. The weather is anything between 20-30 degrees Celsius and almost always sunny with clear blue skies.

As it is still consider high season, the island will still be crowded and busy but certainly not as it is in July or August though.

If you are planning to visit Santorini island in September, you should know that the weather will be sunny and warm and it will definitely be possible to swim in the sea. Although September is considered the “high season” in Santorini and, it is not as busy as July and August.

In September, the temperature ranges from 20 to 35 degrees Celsius on the island, and the weather is nearly always warm with a brilliant blue sky that you are going to love. September in Santorini is not autumn.

READ ALSO: 
Where to Stay in Santorini
Best Hotels in Oia
Best Hotels in Fira
Best Things to Do in Santorini

Let’s put it this way: if August is 100% busy for Santorini then September is about 90%.

Keep reading…

REAL QUICK

How is the weather like in Santorini in September?

September in Santorini is pretty hot and dry. Temperature can be anything between 20-30 degrees Celsius (and in cases even more than 30 degrees Celsius!) and rains or clouds are pretty rare.

If you get any rain in September in Greece you must be very unlucky, but it can certainly happen. It is definitely more possible than it is in August , for sure.

In general you will be wandering the streets of Fira and Oia or the beaches of Kamari and Perissa with t-shirts and shorts in September.

And it can still definitely feel like super hot in many cases. Especially during the day.

So…don’t complain and say I haven’t warned you or anything… ????

When it gets dark you may need a light jacket or a hoodie (especially during the end of September) but that’s it.

To be honest, even in the night you will be with shorts, sandals, t-shirts and polos. Seriously.

September in Santorini is still summer hot awesome weather. Period.

It won’t feel at all like a Western European September with cloudy skies and rain.

It will feel more like London,UK or Paris, France summer weather in June or July (and probably even much hotter than that…)

Where should I stay in September in Santorini?

September still feels (and is) summer so your options will literally be the same as they are in July or August in Santorini.

However, as the massive tourist crowds of July and August are not as big anymore, you may even get more options for hotels and restaurants. 

Bear also in mind that 90% of the Greeks go on holidays in July or August.

It’s very rare for a Greek to go on holidays in September (the greeks want the weather to be super hot i.e. more than 35 degrees to feel the need to go for holidays…I never understood why…).

So there is one less tourist crowd to compete with when you are searching for that nice table with the view at one the best restaurants of the island, or that nice sunbed at Perissa Beach.

See also: The 25 Best Restaurants of Santorini

However, because of how popular Santorini has become the last years, September might also feel a very busy and crowded month (but again, that doesn’t necessarily mean that you won’t have a great time).

There is no sign that says the island is slowing down in September or businesses, shops, hotels and restaurants will be closed so, really, don’t worry about that no matter what you read else where… remember: September is still at the heart of the high season for Santorini.

Here are some handy tips to have in mind when looking for hotel in Santorini in September (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 September?

Swimsuits, bikinis, monokinis, Borat-kinis, speedos, Hawaiian flowery shirts, normal 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. Period.

September is still summer in Santorini !

In case you don’t believe me here is a picture that was taken in September:

What do I need to pack for a trip to Santorini in September?

In September, summer is still there! 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 second half of the month)

Can I swim in Santorini in September?

Of course you can!

It’s still summer. Don’t ask silly questions! ????

The sea water will be very warm from the summer and actually even warmer than it might be in May or June.

Kamari and Perissa/Perivolos beaches will be awesome and all the yummy snack and beach bars will be catering you 24/7 !.

See Also: Best Beaches in Santorini you MUST visit

Is September a good time to travel to Santorini?

Absolutely, but during the first half of the month, do expect the island to be quite busy and crowded as it is almost in August.

All businesses, shops, hotels, restaurants and beach bars will be 100% open in September as it is still High Season.

July, August and September in Santorini are really busy (like…crazy busy…!) and you can feel that everywhere: on the busy streets of Fira, during sunset time in Oia, at the beach bars of Perissa and Perivolos (where it might be super difficult to find a sunbed to lay down) and on the exhausted waiters and housekeepers of the island.

What things can I do in Santorini in September?

You can literally do everything you’d do during April, May, June, July, August or October as it is still considered high season.

• Swimming at the amazing Santorini Beaches
• Wine tasting at any of the Best Wineries of the island (this is the most detailed Wineries Guide on the internet!)
• Visit the Akrotiri prehistoric ruins
• Have 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 ?

For September, here are the companies with direct flights to Santorini usually (these change every year, so please double-check before booking anything):

Aegean Airlines

Olympic Air

Volotea

Sky Express

Condor

Astra Airlines

Vueling

Iberia

Niki

Lufthansa

EasyJet

Ryanair

Transavia

Eurowings

Thomas Cook

Norwegian Airlines

(unfortunately there are no direct flights from outside Europe to Santorini…you have to get off at Athens and then take another plane or ferry to Santorini)

What are the ferries to Santorini in September?

Read my super 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

What time is sunset in Santorini in September ?

Sunset in Santorini in September is around 19:30-20:00 every evening.

CONCLUSION

Don’t get me wrong, you will have a great time in Santorini whenever you choose to go but I strongly believe that the last weeks of September and the first weeks of October are really the best! You will see and appreciate the beauty of this island much more.