What is the best time to visit Santorini, Greece?

If you want to witness the sunny days of Santorini, you can visit between June and September. Otherwise, you can enjoy the cool winter season, which lasts from December to March.

Before planning a visit, figuring out the season which you want to explore is essential.

Peak Season to Visit Santorini

Tourists mostly prefer to visit Santorini in the summer season, which lasts from June to September.

Temperature and Weather: The mean temperature is around 27^oC, and it might reach up to 35^oC. You can enjoy the warm sun and windy weather during the summer season.

Things to Do:

• Adventure Activities: You can go for activities like mountain hiking, scuba diving, etc.
• Perfect Beach Experience: With the bright sun on your head in summer, you will want to spend more of your time in swimming pools or the beach.
• Cultural Celebrations: Attend festivals like Santorini Jazz Fest, Megaron Gyazi, the Ifestia Festival, etc.

Tips to Remember:

• Avoid making any plans in August because the island is crowded.
• Plan your transport if you choose Athinios to avoid taking a municipal bus.
• To avoid any last-minute chaos, plan things to do beforehand as per your schedule.

If you want to visit Santorini for a similar experience but with a smaller crowd, we have a solution for you.

Shoulder Season to Visit Santorini

The shoulder season lasts from the second week of April to June and again from September till October’s end.

Temperature and Weather: The average temperature will be a minimum of 13^oC in April and around 16^oC to 21^oC during May and June, respectively. Meanwhile, the temperature in September will be a minimum of 20^oC and around 17^oC in October, providing pleasant weather to enjoy.

Things to Do:

• Adventure Activities: Hiking from Fira to Oia or Kayaking around the coastline and the cliffs.
• Visit Renowned Wineries: Do visit Aidini, Athiri, and Assyrtiko for white wines, and take a tour of Mandilaria and Mavrotragano to sip on red wines. Santo Wines in Pyrgos must be on your list.
• Attend Cultural Events: You can enjoy Easter, one of the biggest festivals, celebrated in April. Mary Myridiotissa, Agios Gerasimos, Agios Dimitrios, etc., are a few festivals celebrated around September and October.

Tips to Remember:

• Be prepared with an umbrella for unpredictable weather with a slight chance of rainfall.
• While on a cruise, carry pullovers accordingly, as the weather might be cool at times, too.
• Keep your cameras handy to capture the scenic beauty of the island.

If you want to enjoy the serenity of quiet beaches, book your vacation for the low season.

Lower Crowd Season to Visit Santorini

The low season starts in November and continues till the first week of April.

Temperature and Weather: Temperature can drop down to 7^oC coupled with cold and rainy weather.

Things to Do:

You can engage in the following activities during the low season

• Serene Visits to Beaches: You can enjoy the serenity of the sunsets at the beaches as there is no overcrowding.
• Hiking Towards Ancient Thera: You can hike all your way towards Ancient Thera and enjoy nature's landscape without any crowd.
• Traditional Feasts: You can attend feasts like Agios Ioannis and Agios Eleftherios for cultural experiences.

Tips to Remember:

• Do not carry your swimsuits unless you want to swim in that cold weather.
• Do not forget to bring your winter clothing, given the temperature and the weather.
• Disembark yourself in major towns like Fira and Oia as you will be able to avail yourself of their tourist services.