Weather in Greece

The shoulder seasons of April-May and September-October are the ideal times to visit Greece. In spring, the countryside is brilliantly green, wildflowers carpet the hillsides, and the ancient sites can be explored in comfortable warmth without the fierce heat and crowds of summer. Easter in Greece — which falls between late March and late April — is the most extraordinary cultural event of the calendar year, when villages erupt in candlelit processions, church bells, and outdoor lamb roasting at midnight that you won't witness anywhere else in Europe.

Autumn brings golden light, warm seas still perfect for swimming, harvests of olives and grapes, and a return of the country to its quieter self after the summer crush. September is particularly magnificent in the northern mainland — Thessaloniki is at its best, the forests of Mount Olympus are ablaze with autumn colour, and the tourist infrastructure remains fully operational. Summer from June to August sees the islands at their most vibrant but also their most crowded and expensive: temperatures in July and August regularly exceed 35°C, and the Aegean's famous meltemi winds can make sea crossings uncomfortable. Winter is mild in most of Greece but ideal for exploring Athens without summer crowds.