See Also
• Premier locations to lodge in Athens
• Top Lodging in Athens
• Best Hotels on the Athens Riviera
• Top Family Accommodations in Athens
• Top Attractions in Athens
Table of Contents
When is the Best Time to Visit Athens?
My preferred time to visit Athens is during the shoulder seasons of late April to early June and late September to early November. Throughout these months, the climate is generally warm and sunny, with fewer crowds than during the peak summertime months of July and August. First-time visitors to Athens whose main concern is outdoor sightseeing in comfortable conditions will find these months the most advantageous. The shoulder seasons offer agreeable temperatures for exploring the historic sites of the city, for example the Acropolis, the Parthenon, and the Ancient Agora.
During the shoulder seasons, temperatures tended to be mild, ranging from 15°C to 27°C, and rain was less likely compared to the winter months. The weather made for ideal conditions to explore the city on foot, enjoy outdoor cafes, and visit the numerous archaeological sites and museums.
While I find the summer months of mid-June to mid-September to be very hot, they do offer the most sunshine and driest weather. That said, for most visitors the summer heat makes sightseeing less comfortable, and tourist sites can be very crowded.
If you prefer a more relaxed and tranquil setting, consider visiting Athens during the off-season, from November to March. The weather is cooler and less predictable, with a higher probability of rain, but you’ll experience fewer visitors, lower costs, and a more authentic experience of the city.
Athens January Weather:
Cool, rainy, occasional sun.
Sunshine/Rain: 120 hrs/57 mm
Athens February Weather:
Cool, damp, some sunny days.
Sunshine/Rain: 120 hrs/47 mm
Athens March Weather:
Mild, less rain, more sun.
Sunshine/Rain: 180 hrs/41 mm
Athens April Weather:
Warmer, occasional showers, sunny.
Sunshine/Rain: 210 hrs/29 mm
Athens May Weather:
Warm, mostly sunny, little rain.
Sunshine/Rain: 300 hrs/19 mm
Athens June Weather:
Hot, sunny, minimal rain.
Sunshine/Rain: 360 hrs/10 mm
Athens July Weather:
Very hot, sunny, dry.
Sunshine/Rain: 390 hrs/5 mm
Athens August Weather:
Extremely hot, sunny, dry.
Sunshine/Rain: 360 hrs/6 mm
Athens September Weather:
Hot, sunny, little rain.
Sunshine/Rain: 270 hrs/13 mm
Athens October Weather:
Warm, more rain, mostly sunny.
Sunshine/Rain: 210 hrs/45 mm
Athens November Weather:
Mild, rainy, less sun.
Sunshine/Rain: 155 hrs/58 mm
Athens December Weather:
Cool, damp, occasional sun.
Sunshine/Rain: 120 hrs/65 mm
When I Recommend Visiting Athens
- Best Season to Visit Athens for Pleasant Climate: Athens is extremely hot (and crowded) in July and August, when afternoon temperatures can climb to over 40°C. A preferable time for warm comfortable conditions is to visit between mid-April and late June or early September through late-October when temperatures generally range between 20°C and 25°C. March and November also have amenable sightseeing weather but be prepared for cool nights and some rainfall. (Some years Athens even gets snow in the winter.)
- Best Time for Sightseeing: The perfect time for looking in Athens is when the climate is gentle and there are littler lines and not many sightseers: April through about center May, or October and into early November are the best times to visit the top fascinations in Athens.
- Best Time to Visit the Acropolis: The best time to visit the Acropolis is in the early morning hours, especially in the summer months when it gets excessively hot by late morning and early afternoon. As Athens is a major stop on Mediterranean cruise routes, tour buses will be pulling up at 8 a.m. when it opens, so you’ll need to be there and be ready to enter the minute the doors open to stay ahead of the crowds. The next best time is near the end of the day, about two hours before closing. It’s best to purchase Acropolis tickets online. In terms of what months are best for visiting the Acropolis, I recommend April, early May, October, and early November when crowds are smaller but weather still enjoyable.
- Best Time for Beaches: The Greek capital city of Athens has a coastline stretching further than any other European capital, with 16 beaches holding the Blue Flag distinction. The optimal time to visit to experience them is from June through September. September is particularly nice when large crowds have diminished but water temperatures remain comfortable at around 24°C, having had all summer to warm up.
- Best Time to Appreciate Authentic Greek Celebrations: Easter is the most significant celebration on the Greek calendar, with Greeks celebrating an entire seven days over Holy Week. This is a great time to visit for those seeking a local experience, with the possibility to enjoy candlelit processions, fireworks, and lavish feasts. Note: Greek Easter usually falls on differing dates than Easter in US, Canada, Australia, and Western Europe.
Athens Travel Seasons
- High Season (Mid-June through Mid-September): The peak season in Athens is during the summer months, a good timeframe to visit if you want to experience the heat and lively nightlife. There will be an especially busy atmosphere with many tourists on the streets. Summer months also see the highest hotel and flight prices. Many locals, including shop owners and restaurant operators, go on vacation to the mountains or beaches in August, which means some businesses will be closed.
- Preferable Period to Visit (April through Mid-June, Mid-September through October): This time span is frequently viewed as prime for exploring Athens. Throughout the earlier parts of spring and again in the start of fall, atmospheric conditions are regularly pleasant with high temperatures averaging in the lower to mid-20s range. Lodging and flights are also more affordable then, and the majority of shops, sights, and dining establishments will be operational.
- Low Season (November through March): The off-peak period spans late autumn through winter. While this timeframe brings more overcast days and rainfall, snowfall in the city is uncommon with temperatures usually well above freezing. There’s ample opportunity for sightseeing (crowds are thin and waits are rare) and price cuts on both lodging and airfare are generally easily available. The disadvantage is that Greek ferries won’t be running on a complete schedule.
Athens Events and Festivals
Athens in January
- The New Year’s Day/Saint Basil’s Day national Greek holiday on January 1st honors both the new calendar year and Saint Basil, akin to Christmas celebrations elsewhere. People exchange gifts and some bake a special vasilopita cake containing a coin, as the recipient of that slice is believed to experience good fortune. While many attractions and businesses close, most restaurants, cafes, and bars remain open.
- Epiphany – January 6th represents the Feast of the Epiphany, celebrated in many places across Europe, counting Athens. One of the oldest Christian celebrations, it symbolizes the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist as well as the famed visit from the Three Wise Men. In the Greek capital, visitors can undergo an sight to behold, with thousands gathering for the Blessing of the Waters in Piraeus, Athens’ main port.
- Souvenir Expo – For five consecutive days in mid-January, the largest exhibition of folk art and tourism items is held in Athens. The Souvenir Expo features products reflecting Greek tradition, exhibiting outstanding masterpieces including handcrafted decorative objects, tourist clothing, and artifacts possessing high classical worth.
Athens in February
- Festival – Throughout Greece, carnivals are hosted with some of the largest and most festive celebrations found in Athens. Locally known as Apokries, it occurs three weeks before Lent. While associated with Christianity, its roots originate in ancient celebrations honoring Dionysus, the god of fertility and viniculture. Nightlife now bustles with clubs and bars hosting all manners of themed gatherings. On the last weekend of Carnival, multiple processions and outdoor festivities occur. In the historic Plaka district, locals will throng the avenues tossing confetti and engaging in battles using plastic projectiles.
- SNFCC Ice Skating – Throughout February, part of the long canal at the Stavros Niarchos Center (SNFCC) is transformed into an ice-skating rink, open for free to the public every day from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
- Valentine`s Day – Being one of Europe`s most romantic cities, February 14th, known as Valentine`s Day, is greatly celebrated in Athens. On this day and throughout Greece, gifts and cards are exchanged as many restaurants offer special romantic dinners for couples. Partners can enjoy strolling beneath the glow of the Parthenon at night, walking hand in hand through the pedestrian streets of Plaka district, and taking in local performances.
Athens in March
- Clean Monday – Clean Monday is among Greece’s greatest celebrations. It occurs on the primary day of the seventh week preceding Easter Sunday and signifies the finish of Carnival festivities. Clean Monday is a nationwide vacation, implying some corporations might be closed. Locals enjoy building and flying kites, consuming shellfish, and taking expeditions outside. As noted above: Greek Easter has exceptional dates than Easter within the West.
- Independence Day and the Feast of the Annunciation – The twenty-fifth of March signifies two holidays celebrated simultaneously, the Greek Country`s victory on independence against the Turks in war, and an important religious festival honoring the day the Angel Gabriel revealed to Mary the incarnation of Christ. This is a nationwide holiday, bringing closures of businesses, including some tourist sites such as the Acropolis, additional archaeological sites, and the whole museums. Certain streets might be blocked for parades and festivities.
- Saint Patrick’s Day – Pubs and bars throughout the city frequently offer special drink deals, including green beer along with Irish music and dancing for St. Patrick’s Day. The Greek-Irish Society hosts its event of the year, the annual St. Patrick’s Day Ball, on or around March 17.
Athens in April
- The
- Athens International Film and Video Festival festival which screens approximately 250 films and videos from worldwide annually over one week in mid-April, including features, narratives, shorts, and documentaries
- Holy Week and Easter – The most sacred week in the Greek Orthodox calendar runs from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday, sometimes falling in March but usually April. Shops in Athens and across Greece have restricted hours during this largest annual holiday, while evening church services are common. On the Saturday prior to midnight, locals gather at churches carrying Easter candles as the lights go off representing Jesus` death announced by priests as “Christ Has Risen.” Subsequently, much cheering, kissing and fireworks occur. Easter Sunday involves extended family and friend gatherings over bountiful feasts where wine flows freely, whole lambs roast on spits and people playfully crack red eggs against each other – the last one with an intact egg benefits from good fortune.
- Comicdom Con – Held over three days in mid-April, this event promotes up-and-coming local illustrators as well as international comic artists.
- The Festival of Saint George – This day honors one of the most celebrated saints in Greece. Hosted most years on April 23, some of the most elaborate celebrations take place in the mountain village of Arachova, and in Skiathos and Skyros, where there will be feasting, music and dancing at venues throughout Athens.
Athens in May
- May Day/International Workers’ Day – May 1st is recognized as both May Day and International Workers’ Day in Greece. A national holiday, locals often journey to rural areas to enjoy picnics, and many museums, monuments, attractions and some shops will be closed, although restaurants usually remain open. Across Greece, there is generally a day-long transit strike, and in Athens, there may be demonstrations as well as parades scheduled.
- Athens Jazz Festival – One of the city’s most popular events lasts five days with music from worldwide jazz musicians performing on historic Lycabettus hill.
- Athens Epidaurus Festival – This annual cultural festival is hosted in both Athens and Epidaurus starting in late May and continuing through the summer. One of the country’s most famous events, it includes theatrical, musical, and other artistic productions at various locations around the city.
Athens in June
- Mt Olymprov International Stage Theatre Festival – This event features shows, instructors, copious food and enjoyment in the city over five days in early June.
- Art Athina – Held for four days around the Summer Solstice, this long-running international modern art fair is one of the oldest in Europe. Launched in 1993, it highlights artists, cultural organizations, and Greek and foreign art galleries.
- Athens Photo Festival – This leading international festival of photography and visual culture in southeastern Europe, located in Athens, features works from emerging and established artists and photographers from all over the world.
- European Music Day – This nation-wide commemoration is highlighted in more than four dozen Greek municipalities for five days getting started on June 21st each year. There are 350 events prepared at more than 200 venues, with dance groups, choirs, philharmonic and symphony orchestras, and musical ensembles playing in squares, archaeological sites, parks, and gardens.
Athens in July
- The Rockwave Festival is held for two weeks in July. It is one of the most renowned festivals in Athens, hosted just outside the city in Malakasa. Some past acts have included Robbie Williams, Arctic Monkeys, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, The Black Keys, and Lana Del Rey.
- Ejekt Festival Athens – This well established festival held near the sea in Plateia Nerou showcases some of the top electronic and alternative musical performances globally over two days in mid July each year, including renowned bands like The Cure.
Athens in August
With locals heading to places like beaches, mountains and islands to find cooler temperatures during their time off, city festivals are limited this month.
- The Feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary – August 15th is a national holiday and the second most important one after Easter commemorating Mary`s ascension to heaven and reunion with Jesus. Numerous companies will close, with processions and festivals nationwide, such as in Athens.
- The Annual August Full Moon Festival – An impressive annual celebration held in Athens and throughout Greece where the full moon in August each year is commemorated with various events. Multiple sites and monuments are open free of charge during this time, and other festivities like complimentary concerts also take place in museums around the city.
Athens in September
- Athens Book Fair – An annual event held in Athens during early September, focused around a particular literary topic each year, like 2018`s highlighting collaborations between poets and musicians through performances.
- Athens International Film Festival – This annual event takes place during the second half of September. It supports independent film production, featuring films from worldwide with no genre constraints.
- Delos Island boat schedule, fee information, and online reserving
Athens in October
- Oxi Day – Each year on October 28, Greeks around the country commemorate the day the nation declined (“oxi”) the Italians’ request for surrender during World War II known as Oxi Day or Oxi Day. It brings feasts, processions, folk fairs and more. In Athens, there will be a parade passing the Parliament building.
- October 31st – Bars and nightclubs around Athens frequently use the occasion of October 31st as a great reason for hosting costume gatherings and presenting unique themed menus. Trick-or-treating generally only occurs between expats who regularly organize unique occasions for their kids. There is usually a Halloween Carnival held on the Athens campus of American Community Schools where children can participate in games and win prizes. Adults can look forward to all sorts of fun activities featuring live music, eerie cocktails, and costume competitions.
Athens in November
- Athens Marathon – Conducted annually in early November according to legend covering the identical path run by Phiedippides when relaying news of victory from the battlefield of Marathon. The finish line is at the birthplace of modern Olympic Games, Olympic Stadium.
- Remembrance of Polytechnic Uprising, Athens – Each year on November 17th is a national holiday which recall the 1973 student demonstration at Polytechnic University in Athens. During this occurrence, tanks crashed into the campus gates and numerous students lost their lives. There is typically a march, often followed by violent protests around the American Embassy; visitors are best advised to avoid this area at this time.
- GeMin – Held over three consecutive days in late November, this event showcases rock displays, minerals, fossils, gemstones and more at the Royal Olympic Hotel in Athens.
Athens in December
- Holiday Occasions – A far-reaching scope of occasions celebrating Christmas will happen driving up to the occasion, including music shows at the Athens Concert Hall. A Christmas tree will be lit up in dim and white, the occasion hues of Greece, in Syntagma Square, there are occasion commercial centers, and a Santa Claus Kingdom which offers indoor skating, amusements, trips, and reasonable nourishment.
- Christmas Eve – On Christmas Eve, December 24, children traditionally sing Christmas carols from doorstep to doorstep.
- Christmas Day and Boxing Day – December 25th, which is Christmas Day, and December 26th, known as Boxing Day, are national holidays across Greece where many businesses close, although some restaurants will be open. Today, families follow typical western Christmas traditions.
- New Year’s Eve – As is customary in numerous cities worldwide, Athens celebrates the concluding day of the year, December 31st, known as New Year`s Eve, with significant festivities. Special events shall be held throughout the city on this evening, including feasts and gatherings, culminating in a countdown to the New Year accompanied by illuminating fireworks displays lighting up the night sky. Aligning with Greek tradition that the incoming year heralds fortuitousness and good fortune, many locals shall spend their time engaged in card games with companions and kin, with the merriment persisting into the early morning hours.
