Summer: heat and meltem
From June to August, the Cyclades archipelago is marked by drought: it rains on average one or two days during three months, most often during violent storms. With a sunshine of 12 to 14 hours per day, the average temperatures oscillate from 28 to 30 °C, with frequent peaks of 35 or 40 °C and records of 45 °C beaten or equaled every summer. This is especially true in July and August. It is therefore recommended to avoid direct exposure to the sun between noon and 4pm. The sea has an average temperature of 23°C in June and over 25°C in July and August. The feeling of heat is mitigated by the meltem, a strong northeast wind blowing over the Aegean Sea in July and August. If it is favourable for kitesurfing (widely practiced with dedicated beaches in Naxos or Paros), it can become unpleasant as it sometimes blows up to a week in a row at 80 km/h, even disrupting maritime traffic. If you have a plane to take, plan a margin when coming back from Folegandros for example. However, the effects of the meltem are generally less noticeable on the coasts of the Western Cyclades. Other disadvantages of summer: hotel rates and tourist traffic are at their highest.
Autumn, a splendid back-season
From September to November, the Greek autumn is still very hot. Summer lasts everywhere until the end of September with temperatures similar to those of June (from 25 to 28 °C). In the Eastern Cyclades, we enjoy a splendid off-season until the end of October: it is still 24 °C on average, with the sea showing a temperature of 25 °C in September, a truly ideal month where prices and tourist numbers fall faster than the temperatures! November marks the beginning of the rainy season. All in all, September is the best month for a beach vacation with temperatures very close to those of July and August, water still warm for swimming and much less wind in the Aegean Sea. However, many establishments close in mid-September.
Winter: islands depopulated by rain
From December to February, some islands have no hotels open and sea connections are kept to a minimum. Having tried Mykonos in February, the island is sad and rainy. You will have its mythical beaches to yourself, but you will not be able to swim... Some of the inhabitants also take advantage of this low season to go to the mainland to rest or work. Nevertheless, the islands offer rather pleasant living conditions. If the rainfall is important (from 11 to 17 days of rain per month), the temperatures remain mild: from 12 to 15 °C. Moreover, it is not uncommon to see the islanders bathing even in January and February. It snows almost every winter on some islands near the mainland. This is the case in Andros and Tinos where it is not uncommon to see a few snowflakes.
Spring: softness and flowering
From March to May, you can see the metamorphosis of the islands. In Andros or Sifnos, the nature in bloom is superb. If the water is still a bit cool - and still, it has its followers -, spring is above all the ideal time for cultural tourism: you can survey the sanctuary of Delos, the caldera of Santorini or the Little Venice of Mykonos without fearing sunburn. It is also economical, knowing that the season only really starts with the Orthodox Easter (date varies), between March 4 and May 8. May can even be a good time for swimming, with temperatures of 20 to 25°C everywhere and water temperatures already above 20°C.
