Greece : Weather & Climate

This part of our guide to holidays in Greece covers the climate of the country…

Greece has what is known as a Mediterranean climate – in most years it has a long, warm summer and a short, mild winter.

But despite the country’s relatively small size, there are regional variations; Greece’s northern mountains, southern islands and central mainland having slightly different climates.

From April until November, all over Greece is hot and dry and enjoys near-constant sunshine. Sporadic rains do occur during the dry season, but they tend to be rare, quick showers. The most pleasant weather occurs in May-June and September-October, with the warmest time of the year being from mid-July and to mid-August. Temperatures average at around 35 degrees during this period and heatwaves can occur. If visiting at this time of year, it’s advisable to try and stay out of the sun from 11am-4pm when the suns rays are at their strongest.

The rest of the year is marked by a cool, rainy season that usually starts in November and lasts until late March or early April. The bulk of the rain falls from December to April, when it rains on about a third of the days in each month. \In northern Greece, this rain can be heavy enough to cause flooding and the winters are cold enough for snowfalls to be relatively common.

Summer is Greece’s peak tourist season, but the off-season from November through February has its attractions. Visitors from cooler climates can find this a rewarding time to see the country, especially its driest parts – the southern Aegean and parts of the southeastern mainland. Sun isn’t guaranteed, but the fall in temperatures will be mirrored by drops in prices and crowds.

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