The best months to visit Santorini are April, May, June, September and October, when average highs land in the comfortable low-to-mid 20s and rain is rare — May sits at 21.7 °C with just 3 rain days, and September reaches 25.7 °C with only 1 rain day, both under bright skies. July and August are the peak: hot at 28.4 °C and 28 °C, dry and sunny but crowded with school-holiday visitors filling Oia's caldera path. Winter is the quiet low season, cooler and wetter, with January at 13.5 °C and 10 rain days.
Best months AprilMayJuneSeptemberOctober
Santorini month by month
Average highs and lows (°C), 2016–2025. Highlighted bars are the best months.
| Month | High | Low | Rain days | Sun / day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 13.5 °C | 10 °C | 10 | 7.9 h |
| February | 14 °C | 10.4 °C | 7 | 9 h |
| March | 15.3 °C | 11.5 °C | 6 | 10 h |
| April | 18.2 °C | 13.4 °C | 4 | 11.5 h |
| May | 21.7 °C | 16.5 °C | 3 | 12.5 h |
| June | 26.2 °C | 20.6 °C | 1 | 13.8 h |
| July | 28.4 °C | 23 °C | 0 | 13.5 h |
| August | 28 °C | 23.3 °C | 1 | 12.9 h |
| September | 25.7 °C | 21.4 °C | 1 | 11.8 h |
| October | 21.9 °C | 17.9 °C | 2 | 10.1 h |
| November | 18.7 °C | 14.9 °C | 4 | 9.1 h |
| December | 15.1 °C | 11.8 °C | 9 | 8.1 h |
How the months are picked.A month qualifies when its average high sits in the comfortable 20–28 °C band (scored down towards 9 °C and 37 °C), rain days are few and sunshine hours are high — at least 78 % of the city's best-scoring month. July and August are then set aside as peak season (school-holiday crowds and prices) whenever at least three other months qualify; where summer is the only comfortable window they stay. Figures are ten-year averages (2016-01-01 to 2025-12-31) from ERA5 reanalysis data via Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0) for the city centre coordinates.
When to go, and what to expect
Spring (Mar–May)
Ideal for walking Oia and the caldera in comfort before the heat and crowds arrive.
Summer (Jun–Aug)
June still feels balanced; July and August suit beach-and-pool travellers who don't mind the crowds.
Autumn (Sep–Nov)
Superb for warm-sea swims and sunsets with fewer people — one of the year's best windows.
Winter (Dec–Feb)
For solitude seekers only; not the season for reliable sun or a full open island.
Notable events
- Spring (usually April or May)
- Orthodox Easter celebrations
- October
- Santorini Experience (running and swimming event)
- Summer (usually August or September)
- Ifestia Festival, re-enacting the volcanic eruption over the caldera
- August
- Feast of the Assumption (Dekapentavgoustos)
Frequently asked
Is Santorini too hot in August?
August is hot at an average high of 28 °C, dry with 1 rain day and 12.9 hours of sunshine. It's manageable near the sea but the island is at its busiest — June (26.2 °C) or September (25.7 °C) are gentler alternatives.
What is the rainiest month?
January is the wettest, with 10 rain days and an average high of 13.5 °C. December (9 rain days) and February (7 rain days) are also damp, so winter is the least reliable season for sun.
Is winter worth visiting?
Winter is mild but quiet and wet — December 15.1 °C, January 13.5 °C, February 14 °C, each with 7 to 10 rain days. Many caldera businesses close, so it suits budget-minded travellers seeking solitude rather than classic island sun.
Know when to go? Now decide where to stay — our Santorini area guide →
Areas of Santorini
Best time to visit near here
Sources
- Open-Meteo historical weather API — monthly climate normals, 2016–2025 (CC BY 4.0)
- ERA5 reanalysis (ECMWF / Copernicus) — the underlying temperature, precipitation and sunshine data
- ReasonStay methodology — how the best months are computed and checked
An independent guide to Santorini — honest, verified, no invented data. Climate figures: ERA5 via Open-Meteo, 2016–2025 averages; the best months are computed from them, not opinion.