When is the best time to visit Santorini?

Answers to all your questions about one of the best destinations worldwide!

Best Time for Swimming and Suntanning: The warmest weather on the Greek islands is between June and September when it’s sunny, hot and the water is perfect for swimming. Water temperature heats throughout the late spring and summer months and is at its warmest in August and early September.

Best Time for Sightseeing
: If you’re visiting Santorini  for the sights, views, wineries and food, then you don’t need hot weather, just warm pleasant climate. So the months of April, May, October, and early November (as well as June through September) are fine times for touring the sights. The weather is still warm by northern European standards. However,  there can be rain and some warmer clothing should be packed.

Best Time for Saving Money: Hotels are much cheaper during the low season (December to March) and shoulder season (April, May, October and November) than in the summer months. Transportation, food and drink prices tend to also vary according to the season. If you prefer good weather but cheap hotels then late May, early June, late September or early October would be the best option. There are no guarantees but the first three weeks of October can often surprise visitors with great weather.

High Season (late June to early September): Hot, sunny weather with lots of people – but never so many to the point it gets unenjoyable. Prices are at their peak. Sea water at its warmest and best for swimming. Ferries and flights run with higher frequency. If you’re in Greece for the night life then this is the best time to visit.

Shoulder Season (May and June, September and October): Great weather. Sunny and warm but not blazingly hot like the rest of the summer months. Tourists are plenty but it’s never crowded. Everything is open and ferries run almost all of their routes. The sea might not be warm enough for swimming in May and October.

Low Season (November to April): This is winter and that means gray skies, cool weather, rain and wind! Only few hotels and restaurants operate (but enough to get by). Ferries and flights have very limited schedules but there’ll be at least one a day going to Athens.

Santorini Weather by Month

Santorini temperature by month. The hottest and coldest months to visit.         Santorini rain by month. The driest and rainiest months of the year.
The best weather on Santorini is from June until September. July and August are the busiest months when hotels are full and restaurants are crowded. If you’re more interested in sightseeing, hiking and eye-catching views, then May and October are great months to visit.

How long to spend on Santorini – You need 2 to 3 days minimum in order to get to see most of the island, visit the top attractions, experience the sunset from a couple of different locations as well as try some of the island’s great restaurants and cuisine. You could easily spend a week with long walks, swimming and sunbathing and more eating, clubbing, and dancing. If you have more than a week in Greece, then we’d encourage you to spend 4 to 6 days on Santorini and then travel to a different island as there are so many beautiful islands to explore. You have to experience more by seeing Naxos, Paros, Ios, Mykonos, Crete or Rhodes.