AI-generatedAthens at a glance
- Best time
- Apr – May, Sep – Oct
- Warmest month
- Jul · 34°
- Warmest sea
- Aug · 26.2°
- Sunshine a year
- 2,560 h
- Rain a year
- 366 mm
- Climate
- Mediterranean
- Time zone
- UTC+2 / UTC+3
- Elevation
- 70 m
Climate in Athens
Athens has a Mediterranean climate with warm to hot, dry summers and mild, wetter winters. July is the warmest month with average highs of 34 °C, while January is the coolest at 12 °C. With around 2,560 hours of sunshine a year, Athens is sunny; July is the sunniest month with 11.5 hours a day.
Holiday weather through the year
Weather in October
Holiday weather in October
Excellent
Best time to visit: April – May, September – October
A typical day in October
- Morning, 08:00: about 16°
- Midday, 13:00: about 22°
- Afternoon, 16:00: about 23°
- Evening, 20:00: about 20°
- Night, 23:00: about 18°
07:3218:49
Pleasant evenings; a light layer can help.
Estimated from the average high and low: coolest around sunrise, warmest in mid-afternoon.
What is the weather like in Athens in October?
In October, Athens is warm: daytime highs average 23 °C, and nights cool down to about 15 °C. The sea averages 23.0 °C – pleasant for swimming. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is rare: about 4 days bring 26 mm in total. All in all, October is an excellent month for a holiday in Athens.
More details for October
- Daylight
- 11 h 17 min07:32 – 18:49
- UV index
- 5 · moderateclear sky, noon (estimate)All months
- Muggy days
- 1 daydew point 18 °C or more
- Wind
- 15 km/haverage daily peak
- Cloud cover
- 38 %on average
- Hot days
- 1 day30 °C or more
- Snow days
- 0 days1 cm or more of fresh snow
- Time zone
- UTC+3Europe/Athens
How the score comes together
- Temperatureweight 50 %100 %
- Sunshineweight 20 %53 %
- Few rainy daysweight 30 %100 %
Each factor is rated from 0 to 100 % and weighted for the travel style “City break”.
What to pack in October
- Swimwear
- Sunscreen
- A jumper for the evenings
Sea temperature in Athens
Monthly sea surface temperature with the range of cooler and warmer years.
8 in 10 years: 21.9 – 23.9 °C
Swimming season: Jun – Nov
- cold
- fresh
- refreshing
- pleasant
- warm
- very warm
The sea temperature in Athens ranges from 14.7 °C in February to 26.2 °C in August. It is warm enough for a comfortable swim (20 °C and more) from June to November.
The sea warms up slowly: it is warmest in August, while the air already peaks in July. From November to February the sea is even warmer than the afternoon air. The sea temperature varies from year to year: in August, eight out of ten years were between 25.4 and 27.0 °C.
| Month | Average | Cool year | Warm year | Feels |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 15.5° | 14.6° | 16.6° | cold |
| FebruaryFeb | 14.7° | 14.1° | 15.4° | cold |
| MarchMar | 14.9° | 14.2° | 15.6° | cold |
| AprilApr | 16.0° | 15.3° | 16.7° | cold |
| MayMay | 18.8° | 17.8° | 19.4° | fresh |
| JuneJun | 22.5° | 21.8° | 23.2° | refreshing |
| JulyJul | 25.4° | 24.6° | 26.3° | pleasant |
| AugustAug | 26.2° | 25.4° | 27.0° | warm |
| SeptemberSep | 25.2° | 24.4° | 25.9° | pleasant |
| OctoberOct | 23.0° | 21.9° | 23.9° | pleasant |
| NovemberNov | 20.4° | 19.2° | 21.5° | refreshing |
| DecemberDec | 17.6° | 16.5° | 18.9° | fresh |
Sunshine hours in Athens
Average hours of bright sunshine per day, next to the length of the day. Tap a month to select it.
In October, the sun shines for about 6.2 of 11.3 hours of daylight in Athens, 55 % of the day.
Sunshine hours: estimated from radiation data (ERA5, 1996–2025) and calibrated against measured station values; no weather station is close enough here. Daylight is the time from sunrise to sunset on the 15th of the month.
UV index in Athens
How strong the sun is at noon, month by month, and how quickly unprotected skin burns.
- Clear-sky UV in October
- 5 · moderateAround midday seek shade; use sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses.
The sun is strongest in June (UV 10).
Minutes until sunburn in October
- Very fair skin
- about 30 min
- Fair skin
- about 35 min
- Light brown skin
- about 50 min
- Olive skin
- about 65 min
Rough guide for unprotected skin at noon under a clear sky; clouds lengthen it, water, sand and snow shorten it. Sunscreen extends the time only partly.
Monthly values: clear-sky noon estimate from the sun's angle, ozone and altitude. UV today: Open-Meteo forecast.
Rain in Athens: rainy days and rainfall
A rainy day is a day with at least 1 mm of rain or snow; the amount is what falls in the whole month. Tap a month to select it.
In October, Athens has about 4 rainy days with 26 mm of rain in total.
Climate through the year
Long-term monthly averages. Tap a month to see its details.
Temperatures through the year
Average daytime high, night-time low and sea temperature per month.
| Month | Score | Day | Night | Sea | Sun | Rain days | Rain mm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 45 | 12° | 6° | 15.5° | 3.3 h | 8 | 50 |
| FebruaryFeb | 54 | 13° | 6° | 14.7° | 4.3 h | 7 | 46 |
| MarchMar | 73 | 16° | 8° | 14.9° | 5.7 h | 7 | 49 |
| AprilApr | 93 | 20° | 11° | 16.0° | 7.7 h | 5 | 29 |
| MayMay | 98 | 26° | 16° | 18.8° | 8.9 h | 5 | 21 |
| JuneJun | 76 | 31° | 20° | 22.5° | 10.8 h | 3 | 13 |
| JulyJul | 59 | 34° | 23° | 25.4° | 11.5 h | 1 | 6 |
| AugustAug | 63 | 33° | 23° | 26.2° | 10.5 h | 1 | 7 |
| SeptemberSep | 89 | 28° | 19° | 25.2° | 8.3 h | 3 | 16 |
| OctoberOct | 91 | 23° | 15° | 23.0° | 6.2 h | 4 | 26 |
| NovemberNov | 78 | 18° | 12° | 20.4° | 4.0 h | 7 | 46 |
| DecemberDec | 50 | 14° | 8° | 17.6° | 2.8 h | 8 | 58 |
Climate averages 1996–2025, not a forecast. Data: Copernicus ERA5 / ERA5-Land via Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0), NOAA OISST, WMO 1991–2020 (NOAA NCEI), GeoNames (CC BY 4.0)
37.98° N, 23.73° E · 70 m · Europe/Athens
Best time to visit Athens
The best time to visit Athens is from April to May and from September to October. For a beach holiday with the sea above 21 °C, go from June to October. For sightseeing, day trips and hiking, conditions are most comfortable from March to May and from October to November. In July it can get very hot, with highs of up to 34 °C. The wettest month is December with 58 mm of precipitation.
Athens through the seasons
How the weather changes over the seasons, with averages for each.
Athens in spring
Mar – May
Excellent
- 16–26 °C by day
- Sea 17 °C
- 7 h of sun a day
- 17 rainy days in all
Athens in summer
Jun – Aug
Good
- 31–34 °C by day
- Sea 25 °C
- 11 h of sun a day
- 6 rainy days in all
Athens in autumn
Sep – Nov
Excellent
- 18–28 °C by day
- Sea 23 °C
- 6 h of sun a day
- 13 rainy days in all
Athens in winter
Dec – Feb
Fair
- 12–14 °C by day
- Sea 16 °C
- 4 h of sun a day
- 23 rainy days in all
Find your perfect month
Tell us what you like and we rate every month in Athens for you.
Your best months: April – May, October
Based on the climate averages; tap a month to see its details.
Which month for what?
Beach & swimming
Jun – Oct
Sea from 21 °C, warm and mostly dry
Sightseeing & hiking
Mar – May, Oct – Nov
15–28 °C and not too much rain
Peak heat
Jul
Highs of 33 °C or more
Athens month by month
The typical weather for every month at a glance.
45January12° · Sea 16° · 3 h
In January, Athens is cool: daytime highs average 12 °C, and nights cool down to about 6 °C. The sea averages 15.5 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 3 hours a day. Rain falls on about 8 days, adding up to 50 mm. All in all, January is a so-so month for a holiday in Athens.
Athens in January54February13° · Sea 15° · 4 h
In February, Athens is cool: daytime highs average 13 °C, and nights cool down to about 6 °C. The sea averages 14.7 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 4 hours of sunshine a day. Rain falls on about 7 days, adding up to 46 mm. All in all, February is a so-so month for a holiday in Athens.
Athens in February73March16° · Sea 15° · 6 h
In March, Athens is mild: daytime highs average 16 °C, and nights cool down to about 8 °C. The sea averages 14.9 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain falls on about 7 days, adding up to 49 mm. All in all, March is a good month for a holiday in Athens.
Athens in March93April20° · Sea 16° · 8 h
In April, Athens is mild: daytime highs average 20 °C, and nights cool down to about 11 °C. The sea averages 16.0 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain falls on about 5 days, adding up to 29 mm. All in all, April is an excellent month for a holiday in Athens.
Athens in April98May26° · Sea 19° · 9 h
In May, Athens is warm: daytime highs average 26 °C, and nights cool down to about 16 °C. The sea averages 18.8 °C – bracing, so a wetsuit helps for longer swims. The sun shines for around 9 hours a day. Rain is rare: about 5 days bring 21 mm in total. All in all, May is an excellent month for a holiday in Athens.
Athens in May76June31° · Sea 23° · 11 h
In June, Athens is hot: daytime highs average 31 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 20 °C. The sea averages 22.5 °C – refreshing for a swim. With around 11 hours of sunshine a day, there is plenty of sun. Rain is rare: about 3 days bring 13 mm in total. On about 17 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. All in all, June is a good month for a holiday in Athens.
Athens in June59July34° · Sea 25° · 12 h
In July, Athens is very hot: daytime highs average 34 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 23 °C. The sea averages 25.4 °C – pleasant for swimming. With around 12 hours of sunshine a day, there is plenty of sun. It hardly ever rains. On about 28 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. All in all, July is a so-so month for a holiday in Athens.
Athens in July63August33° · Sea 26° · 11 h
In August, Athens is hot: daytime highs average 33 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 23 °C. The sea averages 26.2 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. With around 11 hours of sunshine a day, there is plenty of sun. It hardly ever rains. On about 27 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. All in all, August is a good month for a holiday in Athens.
Athens in August89September28° · Sea 25° · 8 h
In September, Athens is hot: daytime highs average 28 °C, and nights cool down to about 19 °C. The sea averages 25.2 °C – pleasant for swimming. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain is rare: about 3 days bring 16 mm in total. On about 10 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. All in all, September is an excellent month for a holiday in Athens.
Athens in September91October23° · Sea 23° · 6 h
In October, Athens is warm: daytime highs average 23 °C, and nights cool down to about 15 °C. The sea averages 23.0 °C – pleasant for swimming. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is rare: about 4 days bring 26 mm in total. All in all, October is an excellent month for a holiday in Athens.
Athens in October78November18° · Sea 20° · 4 h
In November, Athens is mild: daytime highs average 18 °C, and nights cool down to about 12 °C. The sea averages 20.4 °C – refreshing for a swim. Expect around 4 hours of sunshine a day. Rain falls on about 7 days, adding up to 46 mm. All in all, November is a good month for a holiday in Athens.
Athens in November50December14° · Sea 18° · 3 h
In December, Athens is cool: daytime highs average 14 °C, and nights cool down to about 8 °C. The sea averages 17.6 °C – bracing, so a wetsuit helps for longer swims. The sun is scarce, with only about 3 hours a day. Rain falls on about 8 days, adding up to 58 mm. All in all, December is a so-so month for a holiday in Athens.
Athens in DecemberAthens compared
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Athens vs. Mykonos
In October the holiday weather in Athens and Mykonos is about equally good (score 91 vs. 93). During the day Mykonos is 2 °C cooler than Athens. The sea in Mykonos is 2 °C cooler. Mykonos gets one more hour of sunshine a day.
| in October | Athens | Mykonos |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday score | 91 | 93 |
| Daytime high | 23° | 21° |
| Sea | 23° | 21° |
| Sunshine | 6 h | 7 h |
| Rainy days | 4 | 3 |
| Best time | Apr – May, Sep – Oct | Jun – Sep |
Through the year
Greece in October: the best places
In October, Athens ranks 1 of 16 destinations in this country.
- AthensThis page23°23°91
- 2Lindos23°24°85
- 3Rhodes Town23°24°83
- 4Heraklion24°23°82
- 5Thessaloniki21°21°81
- 6Kos Town22°23°73
- 7Zakynthos Town23°23°67
- 8Chania22°23°65
Planning a trip to Athens
Weather for your travel dates
Pick your arrival and length of stay, and we sum up the weather to expect.
Getting there
Flying from
- Nonstop flight
- about 3 h 25 min
- Distance
- 2,410 km
- Time zone
- UTC+3
Estimated from the straight-line distance: 30 minutes for take-off and landing plus 830 km/h cruising speed.
Frequently asked questions about Athens
When is the best time to visit Athens?
The best time to visit Athens is from April to May and from September to October. That is when the holiday weather score, which combines temperature, sea, sunshine and rain, is highest.
How warm is the sea in Athens?
The sea temperature in Athens ranges from 14.7 °C in February to 26.2 °C in August. It is warm enough for a comfortable swim (20 °C and more) from June to November.
Can you swim in Athens in October?
Yes. In October the sea averages 23.0 °C – pleasant for swimming.
What is the warmest month in Athens?
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 34 °C and nights around 23 °C. January is the coolest month at 12 °C.
When does it rain most in Athens?
The wettest month is December with 58 mm of precipitation. The driest month is July with 6 mm.
How many hours of sunshine does Athens get?
Athens gets around 2,560 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is July with 11.5 hours a day; in December there are 2.8 hours a day.
What time zone is Athens in?
Athens uses the time zone Europe/Athens: UTC+2 in January and UTC+3 in July.
How long is the flight from London to Athens?
A nonstop flight from London to Athens takes about 3 h 25 min, for a straight-line distance of about 2,410 km.
Near Athens
Other destinations close by.
Places with a climate like Athens
Destinations whose weather through the year is closest to Athens's – good alternatives.