When Is Summer in Greece? Months, Temps & Best Time to Go

Greece has one of the hottest summers in Europe and in the Mediterranean Sea, with high temperatures during the day (more than 30ºC or 86°F during the day). But when is summer in Greece?

Quick Facts:

• Official Summer Dates: June 21 to September 22
• Hottest Months: July and August (average highs of 33°C / 91°F)
• Best Time to Visit: Early June or late September (hot weather, but fewer crowds)

Summer in Greece is considered the period between (and including) the months of June, July, and August.

May and October are usually considered the “shoulder season” when the weather is less hot but still sunny. Business will be open in Greece in May and October.

Officially though, the summer in Greece starts on the 21st of June and finishes on the 23rd of September.

Weather in Greece

Here are the average temperatures in Athens, Greece, for the whole year (the islands have slightly colder temperatures in general because of the winds):

As you can see from the figure above, Greece has very mild and warm weather compared to other countries in Europe or even compared to US weather. The weather in Greece overall is very similar to the weather in California, USA.

Wind Conditions

However, the weather on the Greek islands can be very windy in the summer (July and mostly August) but this is very unpredictable and it depends on the year.

I remember as a child though, some very windy days during August but it was just some days. Usually, the wind calms down after 24-48 hours, and you can enjoy the beach life again.

Some Greek islands are notoriously windy (such as Andros or even some parts of Crete), but in general, you shouldn’t worry that much, and chances are that you won’t face any typhoons or storms (there are none of these in Greece, by the way!).

What is the best month to visit Greece?

Summer in Greece is when all the tourists arrive and flood the country and its islands, so usually, my advice is to visit Greece or any of the islands in early June or late September.

Yes, the weather would still be hot to enjoy the beach life and all businesses will be open. It is still high season in Greece but with fewer crowds.

The very famous islands, such as Santorini and Mykonos, will still be full of people, but things are calmer than in July or August.

• High Season (June to August): The hottest weather, warmest sea temperatures, highest prices, and largest crowds. All ferries and businesses are fully operational.
• Shoulder Season (May, September, October): Warm, pleasant weather with cooler evenings. The sea is swimmable (especially in September), and crowds are significantly smaller.
• Low Season (November to April): Cold and rainy weather. Many island hotels, restaurants, and ferry routes shut down for the winter, though Athens remains fully open.

I am explaining everything in more detail in my other post about the best time to go to Greece.

Does Greece shut down in October?

Greece does not shut down in October, but many businesses that rely on good weather and are close to the beachside areas on the Greek islands shut down at the end of October every year because there no people are visiting the beaches as the water and the weather are too cold.

In general, Greece welcomes visitors all year round, but there are many businesses (especially on the Greek islands) that operate only between May and October, as there is no demand or enough customers outside of these months.

Bear also in mind, that most of the flight companies only have direct flights to the Greek islands from the major European cities, between April and October. So, this is making it a bit more challenging to go to an island outside of these months as the ferries become less frequent outside of these months.

FAQs