The best time to visit Santorini is during the shoulder seasons of late spring (May) and early fall (September to October), when the weather is still warm and dry but the island is far less crowded and expensive than peak summer.
Santorini’s Reliable Dry Summers
Santorini has a classic Mediterranean climate: hot, dry summers and mild, wetter winters. Rain is genuinely rare from May through September, making weather less of a planning concern here than in tropical destinations, though summer heat and the island’s famously strong crowds are the real trade-off to consider.
Santorini Weather by Month
The chart below shows average high and low temperatures, monthly rainfall, and sea temperature for every month, based on long-term climate normals for the Cyclades.
Jan
(57°/48°F)
9 rainy days
Sea Temp. 16°C
Feb
(57°/48°F)
8 rainy days
Sea Temp. 16°C
Mar
(61°/50°F)
6 rainy days
Sea Temp. 16°C
Apr
(66°/55°F)
4 rainy days
Sea Temp. 17°C
May
(73°/63°F)
2 rainy days
Sea Temp. 19°C
Jun
(81°/70°F)
1 rainy days
Sea Temp. 22°C
Jul
(84°/73°F)
0 rainy days
Sea Temp. 24°C
Aug
(84°/73°F)
0 rainy days
Sea Temp. 25°C
Sep
(81°/70°F)
2 rainy days
Sea Temp. 24°C
Oct
(73°/64°F)
5 rainy days
Sea Temp. 22°C
Nov
(66°/57°F)
8 rainy days
Sea Temp. 19°C
Dec
(61°/52°F)
10 rainy days
Sea Temp. 17°C
| Month | Avg. High | Avg. Low | Rainfall | Rainy Days | Sea Temp. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 14°C / 57°F | 9°C / 48°F | 75 mm | 9 | 16°C |
| Feb | 14°C / 57°F | 9°C / 48°F | 55 mm | 8 | 16°C |
| Mar | 16°C / 61°F | 10°C / 50°F | 40 mm | 6 | 16°C |
| Apr | 19°C / 66°F | 13°C / 55°F | 20 mm | 4 | 17°C |
| May | 23°C / 73°F | 17°C / 63°F | 10 mm | 2 | 19°C |
| Jun | 27°C / 81°F | 21°C / 70°F | 3 mm | 1 | 22°C |
| Jul | 29°C / 84°F | 23°C / 73°F | 1 mm | 0 | 24°C |
| Aug | 29°C / 84°F | 23°C / 73°F | 2 mm | 0 | 25°C |
| Sep | 27°C / 81°F | 21°C / 70°F | 8 mm | 2 | 24°C |
| Oct | 23°C / 73°F | 18°C / 64°F | 40 mm | 5 | 22°C |
| Nov | 19°C / 66°F | 14°C / 57°F | 70 mm | 8 | 19°C |
| Dec | 16°C / 61°F | 11°C / 52°F | 85 mm | 10 | 17°C |
Peak Season (July-August): Hottest and Busiest
July and August bring the year’s highest temperatures, often in the low 30s Celsius (high 80s to low 90s Fahrenheit), combined with the heaviest crowds and highest prices at hotels and restaurants along the caldera. The famous Oia sunset viewpoints can be genuinely packed during these months.
Shoulder Season (May, September, October): The Sweet Spot
May and the September-to-October window offer warm, reliably dry weather with noticeably thinner crowds and lower prices, making them the preferred choice for many repeat visitors. Sea temperatures remain swimmable well into October, and the softer light in these months is often considered even better for photography than the harsh midday sun of peak summer.
Winter (November-March): Quiet but Limited
Winter brings Santorini’s rainiest months, along with cooler temperatures and many restaurants and hotels closing for the off-season. It is the cheapest and quietest time to visit, but travelers should expect a much more limited range of open businesses and occasional rain or wind.
Watching for Wind and Rain
Santorini’s caldera-side walkways and ferry connections are both affected by wind more than rain, so pairing a live wind map with a rain map is useful for travelers visiting outside peak summer, when the occasional storm system can disrupt ferry schedules to and from the island.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best month to visit Santorini?
May and late September through early October offer the best balance: warm, reliably dry weather with noticeably thinner crowds and lower prices than the July-August peak.
What is the rainiest month in Santorini?
December is the wettest month, averaging around 85mm of rain across 10 rainy days, though even winter rain tends to fall as scattered showers rather than sustained downpours.
Is Santorini too hot in August?
August is Santorini’s hottest month, with highs around 29C (84F), but the Aegean’s meltemi winds often keep the heat more bearable than mainland Greece at the same time of year.
When can you swim in Santorini?
The sea is comfortably swimmable from June through October, with peak sea temperatures of 24-25C (75-77F) in August and September.
Is Santorini expensive to visit in winter?
No. Winter (November-March) is by far the cheapest time to visit, though many hotels, restaurants, and ferry routes reduce service or close entirely during the off-season.
What is the driest month in Santorini?
July receives almost no rain at all, averaging just 1mm across the entire month, making it, along with August, the most reliably dry stretch of the year.
In Conclusion
For the best balance of good weather and manageable crowds, aim for May or the September-October window. Peak summer guarantees dry skies but comes with real trade-offs in heat, cost, and crowding.
