Climate Greece
Unsurprisingly, the climate in Greece is typically Mediterranean: strong sunshine, dry and hot summers, temperate and wet winters. And despite global warming, the seasons are still very marked. So you can plan your holiday knowing in advance what the weather will be like. However, although the country is largely bordered by the Mediterranean, the Mediterranean climate varies greatly from region to region. Indeed, Greece has a very contrasted geography. There is a "warm semi-arid" climate with low rainfall in Attica, southern Evia and the Aegean Sea, a "temperate Mediterranean" climate with wetter winters in Crete, and a transitional "subcontinental" climate with more rain and thunderstorms in Thessaly, Macedonia and Thrace.
A mild winter
From January to March, the mountainous regions experience snow and frost at altitudes of 1,500 m and above, where the country's 20 small ski resorts are located. But near the coast, the thermometer rarely drops below 0°C. In January, the coldest month, the average temperature varies from 2 to 10 °C in Thessaloniki, from 5 to 14 °C in Athens, from 9 to 15 °C in Heraklion (Crete) and from 10 to 14 °C in Naxos (Cyclades). Winter is also quite wet with 6 to 10 days of rain on the shore. Of course, winter is not the best season to visit Greece, especially since some of the archaeological sites and museums are closed, but the landscapes of Zagoria (Epirus) or Meteora (Thessaly) are splendid under the snow. The hotels that are still open are cheap and you can ski like gods near Mount Olympus.
Springtime
From April to June, nature is splendid and green, even in semi-arid regions. Hiking trails and archaeological sites can be walked on without melting in the sun. The latter is still shy in April, but umbrellas are optional: 1 or 2 days of rainfall near the coast, except in Thessaloniki and Corfu where the average remains at 4 or 5 days. In the northeast, violent thunderstorms occur in May and June. By mid-May, bathing suits are back in the Aegean Sea. The air temperature rises from 8/20 °C in April to reach an average of 17/29 °C in June near the coast. Tourists are scarce and hotels remain affordable until the end of May. The only exception is the Orthodox Easter (fluctuating date) when prices and attendance soar for a week.
Full sun and meltem
It is hot everywhere: 29-30°C on average during the day in July and August, with frequent peaks of 35°C and even more than 40°C. It gets a little cooler in September, with an average of 27°C near the coast. During these three months, almost no rain: zero days on average per month in the Cyclades or Crete and 3 to 5 days in Macedonia (often with storms). In the Aegean Sea, the air is cooled by the meltem. This dry wind blows from the north on the islands from May to September. At the beginning it is nice, but when the meltem arrives, it is for several days... or several weeks. And in the end it becomes exhausting: sand that stings the eyes, generalized sea sickness in the ferries and sailboats stuck at the quay. The other concern of the wonderful Greek summer is the heat, suffocating in the "City of cement" (Athens). In the mountains, one finds coolness and reasonable prices. We particularly appreciate a walk in the shade, in the splendid gorges of Vikos (Epirus) or Samaria (Crete).
The colors of autumn
From October to December, temperatures drop slowly. Summer lasts until the end of October with a thermometer at 20/23 °C and a still pleasant sea. Taking on an orange colour, the forests of Dadia (Thrace) and Foli (Peloponnese) become the most romantic places in Greece. In December, the trees are bare, but temperatures are still 15 °C near the coast (10 °C in the northern part). With a little ray of sunshine, you can have lunch on the terrace or do your Christmas shopping sometimes just in a T-shirt. Above the sea, the heat mist dissipates, allowing new details to be seen in the distance, such as the already snow-covered Mount Olympus, which sparkles 200 km away from Thessaloniki.
