The spring metamorphosis
From March to May, the islands undergo a metamorphosis: after the winter rains, nature becomes lush, especially on the northern islands of Thassos and Samothrace. Spring is the ideal time for outdoor tourism: one can walk through the exposed archaeological sites without fear of sunburn and the hiking trails go through a bright nature. Beyond the week dedicated to the Orthodox Easter celebrations, tourist numbers remain low and only really pick up in May, when the sun sets for the season. The waters of the North Aegean are colder than elsewhere after the winter, and it is necessary to wait until the summer months for the temperatures to rise to an acceptable level for the most frigid bathers.
The heat of summer
From June to August, the average temperature is around 30°C depending on the island, with frequent peaks of over 35°C and constant sunshine. It is recommended to avoid direct exposure to the sun between noon and 4 pm. The sea has an average temperature of 23-25°C. The feeling of heat is mitigated by the meltemi, a strong northeast wind blowing across the Aegean Sea. From May to October, and more strongly in July-August, it brings coolness, good visibility at sea and drier weather. In extreme cases, the meltemi can blow for several weeks in a row but it usually subsides after 3-4 days. It can cause the cancellation of flights and ferries when it is particularly violent.
The sweetness of autumn
From September to November, autumn is still very mild. Summer lasts everywhere until the end of September with temperatures similar to those of June (from 25 to 28 °C) but in the northern islands (Thassos, Samothrace) the temperatures start to cool down as the month goes by. In October, it is already cooler throughout the region and November marks the beginning of the rainy season. In the end, September is the best month for a vacation at the water's edge with temperatures very close to those of July and August, a water still warm for swimming and much less wind in the sea.
Winter's rest
From December to February, the rainfall is more and more important even if the temperatures remain mild: from 12 to 15 °C, with waters almost never going below 12 °C. Moreover, it is not uncommon to see islanders swimming even in January or February. It snows almost every winter on some islands near the mainland. This is the case in Skopelos and Skyros (Sporades), in Thassos and Samothrace (Thrace), and on the heights of Samos. If the winters are rather mild, be careful because they are very wet despite a mild temperature. Nature and populations rest before hatching again in spring!
