The best months to visit Thessaloniki are April, May, June, September and October, when average highs sit in a comfortable band and rain stays light. May reaches an average high of 24.2 °C with 10 rain days, September 27.6 °C with just 5 rain days, and October 21.8 °C with 5 rain days — pleasant weather for walking the waterfront to the White Tower. July and August form peak season, with school-holiday crowds and highs of 32.8 °C and 32.3 °C. Winter is the quiet low season, cool and short on sunshine but calm around the sights.
Best months AprilMayJuneSeptemberOctober
Thessaloniki month by month
Average highs and lows (°C), 2016–2025. Highlighted bars are the best months.
| Month | High | Low | Rain days | Sun / day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 10.1 °C | 2.2 °C | 8 | 6.9 h |
| February | 13 °C | 4.4 °C | 8 | 7.7 h |
| March | 15.7 °C | 6.6 °C | 11 | 8.9 h |
| April | 19.8 °C | 10.1 °C | 8 | 10.9 h |
| May | 24.2 °C | 14.8 °C | 10 | 11.9 h |
| June | 30.1 °C | 20 °C | 6 | 13.7 h |
| July | 32.8 °C | 22.4 °C | 4 | 13.7 h |
| August | 32.3 °C | 22.2 °C | 4 | 12.8 h |
| September | 27.6 °C | 18.3 °C | 5 | 10.9 h |
| October | 21.8 °C | 13.2 °C | 5 | 8.8 h |
| November | 16.7 °C | 9.2 °C | 10 | 7.1 h |
| December | 12 °C | 4.8 °C | 8 | 6.7 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 sightseeing and mild days — one of the best windows.
Summer (Jun–Aug)
June is comfortable and worth it; July–August suit heat- and beach-lovers.
Autumn (Sep–Nov)
September and October are excellent — warm, dry and uncrowded.
Winter (Dec–Feb)
For city breaks, food and low crowds rather than warm weather.
Notable events
- November
- Thessaloniki International Film Festival
- April or May
- Orthodox Easter celebrations
- October
- Feast of Saint Demetrius (city patron) and Ochi Day
- September
- Thessaloniki International Fair
Frequently asked
Is Thessaloniki too hot in August?
It can be: August has an average high of 32.3 °C with only 4 rain days, so days are hot and dry. It suits heat-lovers, but April, May, June, September and October are more comfortable.
What is the rainiest month?
March is the wettest with 11 rain days, followed by May and November with 10 each. The driest months are July and August, each with just 4 rain days.
Is winter worth visiting?
Winter is mild but cool and cloudier — December averages a high of 12 °C and January 10.1 °C with 6.9 hours of sunshine a day. It's quiet and good for museums and food, but not for warm-weather sightseeing.
Know when to go? Now decide where to stay — our Thessaloniki area guide →
Areas of Thessaloniki
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 Thessaloniki — honest, verified, no invented data. Climate figures: ERA5 via Open-Meteo, 2016–2025 averages; the best months are computed from them, not opinion.