Greece › Santorini › When to Go
Updated: August 31, 2026
By Santorini Dave
See Also
- Where to Stay in Santorini
- Best Hotels in Santorini
- Best Things to Do in Santorini
- Best Beaches in Santorini
- Best Santorini Wine Tours
For sun, swimming, and hot weather, the best time to visit Santorini is from late May to early October. Photo: Absolute Bliss Hotel in Imerovigli, with Oia in the distance.
Best Time to Visit Santorini
September is my favorite month to visit Santorini. The weather is still hot and sunny, the sea is warm, and crowds are a little smaller than in July and August. More broadly, late May, June, September, and early October are the best times to visit Santorini.
July and August have the hottest weather, busiest beaches, most nightlife, and largest crowds. April, May, October, and early November are better for sightseeing and hiking. Winter is quiet and can be enjoyable, especially if you have already visited Santorini in summer, but many hotels, restaurants, and tours are closed.
| May | June | July | August | September | October | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highs | 70-77°F (21-25°C) | 78-84°F (26-29°C) | 86-95°F (30-35°C) | 86-95°F (30-35°C) | 77-84°F (25-29°C) | 70-77°F (21-25°C) |
| Rainfall | Low | Minimal | Near zero | Near zero | Low | Moderate |
| Sea Temp | 66°F (19°C) | 72-73°F (22-23°C) | 75-77°F (24-25°C) | 77°F (25°C) | 75°F (24°C) | 72°F (22°C) |
| Crowds | Moderate | Moderate-High | Peak | Peak | High | Moderate-Low |
| Costs | Moderate | High | Highest | Highest | High | Moderate |
| Best For | Hiking, sightseeing | Beaches, hiking | Beaches, nightlife | Beaches, nightlife | Swimming, wine | Hiking, sightseeing |
When to Visit Santorini: My Recommendations
Best overall: Late May, June, September, and early October. September is my favorite month.
Best weather: June through September. Expect lots of sun and very little rain. July and August are the hottest months.
Best for swimming: Late June through September. The sea stays warm into early October. May can have beautiful beach weather, but the water is still cool.
Best for sightseeing and hiking: April, May, October, and early November. The Fira-Oia hike is much more enjoyable when it isn’t 30°C in the middle of the day.
Best for fewer crowds: April, May, and October. But don’t expect an empty Oia. A busy cruise-ship day can still bring large crowds.
Best for nightlife: July and August. Fira has the most bars and clubs. There’s nightlife from May through September, but July and August are the busiest.
Best for families: June and September. Both have good beach weather without quite as much heat and congestion as July and August.
Best for honeymoons: June and September. May and early October are also excellent if swimming is less important.
Best prices: November through March. Hotel rates drop sharply, but many hotels, restaurants, tours, and beach businesses close for winter.
Best for wineries: April through October. The grape harvest typically begins in August, though timing varies from year to year.
Best special event: Greek Easter. Good Friday in Pyrgos is especially memorable, when thousands of small fires light the village after dark.
The best Santorini hotels can sell out months in advance for June through September. For the best caldera-view hotels, I recommend booking at least 4 months ahead.
Santorini January Weather:
Cold, rainy, minimal sun
125 sunshine hours
Santorini February Weather:
Chilly, damp, occasional sun
150 sunshine hours
Santorini March Weather:
Mild, rainy, some sun
200 sunshine hours
Santorini April Weather:
Warmer, some rain, sunny
260 sunshine hours
Santorini May Weather:
Warm, little rain, sunny
300 sunshine hours
Santorini June Weather:
Hot, almost no rain, sunny
335 sunshine hours
Santorini July Weather:
Very hot, dry, sunny
375 sunshine hours
Santorini August Weather:
Very hot, dry, sunny
355 sunshine hours
Santorini September Weather:
Hot, little rain, sunny
290 sunshine hours
Santorini October Weather:
Warm, occasional rain, sunny
235 sunshine hours
Santorini November Weather:
Cooler, some rain, some sun
170 sunshine hours
Santorini December Weather:
Cold, rainy, minimal sun
125 sunshine hours
April, May, October, and early November are my favorite months for hiking in Santorini. Santorini boat tours are best from late May to early October.
Most Santorini wineries are open year-round, but wine tours are easiest to find from April through October.
The caldera views are awesome in January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, and December (including Christmas Day & New Year’s Eve).
The best weather for Santorini beaches and swimming is from June through September. The sea stays warm into early October.
- Santorini in January (10% Crowded): Damp, cold, and windy (by Santorini standards). January is the rainiest month and one of the coldest. The island is very quiet. Many restaurants and hotels are closed, though there are always places open in Fira and a smaller selection in Oia. The beach towns are largely shut down. (Average Max Temperature: 14°C. Average Rainfall: 42mm.)
- Santorini in February (10% Crowded): Much like January. February is one of Santorini’s coldest months, with fewer visitors and many tourist businesses still closed. (Average Max Temperature: 14°C. Average Rainfall: 35mm.)
- Santorini in March (40% Crowded): March is noticeably warmer and sunnier than January and February. It can be a nice time for hiking and sightseeing, but pack for rain and cool nights. More hotels and restaurants begin reopening toward the end of the month. (Average Max Temperature: 16°C. Average Rainfall: 32mm.)
- Santorini in April (50% Crowded): A great month for hiking, sightseeing, and touring the wineries. In warmer years, a few beach days are possible late in the month, but the sea is still cold. (Average Max Temperature: 19°C. Average Rainfall: 12mm.)
- Santorini in May (60% Crowded): There’s a big difference between early May, when cool overcast days are still possible, and late May, when the weather is much more consistently sunny and warm. May is the month when the beach towns dust off the cobwebs and open for business. (Average Max Temperature: 22°C. Average Rainfall: 7mm.)
- Santorini in June (80% Crowded): June is hot and sunny and the start of the main beach season. The island gets busy, but crowds are still a little smaller than in July and August. (Average Max Temperature: 26°C. Average Rainfall: 0.3mm.)
Me and my son in Fira, Santorini during a July visit.
- Santorini in July (95% Crowded): Hot, sunny, and very busy. Along with August, July is the busiest month on Santorini. Book well in advance, especially for the best luxury and caldera-view hotels. (Average Max Temperature: 27°C. Average Rainfall: 0.9mm.)
- Santorini in August (100% Crowded): Hot, sunny, and very busy, with occasional strong Meltemi winds. These can make ferry rides rough and occasionally disrupt ferry and boat-tour schedules. Book well in advance, especially for the best luxury and caldera-view hotels. (Average Max Temperature: 27°C. Average Rainfall: 0.4mm.)
- Santorini in September (85% Crowded): My favorite month to visit Santorini. The weather is hot and sunny, the sea is warmer than in June, and crowds begin to ease as the month progresses. Hotels are still busy and the best ones can be fully booked months in advance. (Average Max Temperature: 25°C. Average Rainfall: 6mm.)
- Santorini in October (65% Crowded): October is much like May but the weather is moving in the opposite direction. There’s a big difference between early October, when hot sunny days and swimming are still common, and late October, when cool and cloudy days become more likely. (Average Max Temperature: 22°C. Average Rainfall: 18mm.)
- Santorini in November (50% Crowded): November is the start of the winter season. Early November can still have warm sunny days, but swimming weather is increasingly unlikely. Hotels, restaurants, and tours close steadily through the month, though Fira remains active year-round. (Average Max Temperature: 18°C. Average Rainfall: 44mm.)
- Santorini in December (20% Crowded): Expect cool, cloudy, and rainy weather, though there can also be stretches of clear skies and sunny days. Fira is the center of activity in winter. Oia has a much smaller selection of hotels, restaurants, and shops open. (Average Max Temperature: 15°C. Average Rainfall: 46mm.)
Santorini Dave was started in 2011 when I posted a short guide to visiting Santorini with kids. Now, my site publishes regularly updated guides to 
Hi Dave,
Planning to go 26th September – 30th September in Santorini and 30th September – 3rd October in Mykonos.
Do you think the weather will be ok at this time in both islands? 4 nights in Santorini and 3 in Mykonos the right split?
Thanks,
Chris
Weather is usually great on both islands in late September and early October (though obviously, anything is possible). I’d recommend splitting time with four nights and three nights. Could also do five nights and two nights.
Hi Dave,
Great article! Question for you, my husband and I are landing in Athens from JFK and will have to clear customs and claim our bag in order to check in for our Aegean Air flight from Athens to Santorini. How much time would you say we need in between flights to do all of this and check in and get back through security. I see with Aegean Air we can purchase a “Fast Track” option but it doesn’t really give me a good idea of how long it will take to clear customs and re-check our bag. Is two hours enough time?
Thanks so much!
Two hours is probably enough time, but if it were me I would book flights with at least 3 hours window in Athens.
Hi dave,
I am planning to visit Santorini on 20th March to 23rd March. I want to do boat tour which includes a sunset tour. Will it will be available in March?
Yes, there will be some boat tours running in March. If you visit my Santorini boat tours page the Small Group Catamaran Sunset Tour is operating in late March.
Hi Dave! We are considering doing Santorini and Mykonos either early June (4-15) or mid July (10-19). Which dates would be better? We love swimming and the hotels we would be staying at have unheated pools (Mystique and Santa Marina) and are worried that it will be too cold to swim in both the sea and pool early June. But we dont want to have to deal with massive crowds and extreme heat! Not into partying so mainly sightseeing, boat trips etc. Would love your thoughts!
Tough call. I’d go with July if you want guaranteed warm weather. June if quieter and cheaper is more important. I know that’s not much help but that’s what you’re deciding between.
Hi Dave,
Is “WILLIAM’S HOUSES Superior Studio” in Akrotiri. (It’s on Airbnb) good? Or it’s better to be in Blue Dolphins Apartments & Suites? I’ll be there by the end of January for 3 days. What is your advice to do? I’ll be with my 2 daughters (11 & 14 Y) and will rent a car.
Normally, I would recommend Blue Dolphins since it’s location is so much more convenient than William’s House. But since you’re there in January and renting a car the difference between the two will be less apparent. I’d still go with Blue Dolphins but it’s pretty much a coin flip.
Hi Dave,
I am looking at visiting Santorini, Naxos, and Paros end of July/early August next year. When should I start booking hotels? I have been looking and many say all booked out. Is this true or am I just looking too early? I don’t want to miss out on the good hotels because I book a month later.
Thanks,
Siobhan
Hotels are available online about 10 to 11 months in advance – so yes, you’re a little early. If you want to stay in the best hotels on each island then I recommend booking 5 to 8 months in advance. If you’re less concerned about the hotels you stay in then 3 to 5 months in advance is usually fine.
Hi Dave, congrats on the site, very useful info! I have 1 question, my wife and I will be traveling to Santorini on early November, spending 3 days there, right now we are having doubts on the flight back to Athens since we have already booked our flight to Rome with Alitalia at 19:25. There’s a flight with Ryanair that arrives on Athens at 17:45. With your knowledge about local airports, do you think we can make it? The other option leaves us with a 7-hour layover at the airport. Thanks in advance for your comments!
My best guess would be a 60/40 shot at making that flight from Athens. Most flights leaving Santorini are at least a little late. And then some flights (into Athens) use a bus to transport from the plane to the terminal (slowing things a little more). If it was me, I would not make that reservation – but it is doable “most” of the time.
Hi Dave,
I am planning my Honeymoon in Greece in the month of February (1st February to 10th February). I want to know from you is this the right time to be in Greece this month of the year. After reading your articles I have tentatively planned my itinerary in the following way:
1. 4 night in Athens
2. 3 nights in Santorini
3. 3 nights in Mykonos
Will the ferries be operating during this time from Athens – Santorini – Mykonos – Athens?
In one of your articles, you mentioned the crowd to be just 10% in February. Will it be safe. Will the restaurants and shops be open?
Could you suggest if I should change my itinerary?
Santorini and Mykonos will be very quiet in February. Mykonos will have only a couple of restaurants and hotels open (enough to get by but not a lot of choice). Santorini will have much more open but still quiet compared to spring, summer, and early fall. There will be ferries between Athens and Santorini and between Athens and Mykonos but not between Santorini and Mykonos (you’ll need to fly via Athens). Yes, it will be safe – no problems there. If sightseeing is your main focus February can be a great time to visit (if you know what you’re getting) but for a typical honeymoon it’s probably not what you’re looking for.
Hi Dave,
Good to read your article/blog about Santorini. I am planning to visit Greece next year at 31st December for my honeymoon. I will be staying there for around 10-12 days.
My itinerary as for now:
1. Athens: 2 nights
2. Mykonos: 2 nights
3. Santorini: 3 nights
4. Crete: 3 nights
Will ferries be available for the above transits or a combination of ferry/flight if the flight is around 75 euros? If not, then what are the other options? Thanks in advance.
In December and January, there will be ferries and flights from Athens to Mykonos; Athens to Santorini; and Athens to Crete. But there will not be any flights or ferries between Santorini and Mykonos, or Santorini and Crete. You would need to return to Athens to visit the next island on your itinerary. I’d recommend combining Santorini with Naxos and Paros as they are connected by the Blue Star ferry year-round.
Hi Dave, this is probably answered somewhere, but do most restaurants open late April? Or not until 1st of May? Easter is not until April 21. I am hoping to plan a trip to Santorini and Mykonos last week of April next year. I am not a crowd/stifling heat person. If I can drink wine and look at the scenery without having to elbow my way to a sunset view, I am happy!
Thanks!
Almost all restaurants are open by mid-April.
Hi Dave,
Congrats for the Great Blog!
We will be in Santorini early May for 7 days.
Which between Kamari and Imerovigli would be the better hotel location considering the period?
Thanks!
Eric
Imerovigli is my favorite village in Santorini. Great views, great restaurants, and a 25 minute walk along the caldera to Fira (nightlife and shops). Kamari is a pleasant beach town but does not have caldera views or the magical setting of Imerovigli. Imerovigli will be a little quieter in May (than the summer months). Kamari will be much quieter in May but everything should be open and functioning.
Hey Dave,
My husband and I are thinking about coming to Santorini end of March into early April (over Easter). Will all the shops and restaurants be open at that time?
Thanks so much!
Most shops and restaurants will be open – probably not all, but close. It’s a little different every year.
Hi Dave,
I’m planning to go Greece (Athens, Santorini and Mykonos) for 10 days in early April. Do you recommend to go Santorini (4 days) first then Mykonos (3 days)? Will there be direct ferries/ flights from Mykonos to Athens or do I have to go back to Santorini to fly back to Athens?
Thank you
Lisa
There are daily ferries between Athens and Santorini and Athens and Mykonos year-round. But there might not be a Santorini-Mykonos ferry in April. The first one of the year starts around that time but we won’t know for a while when it starts up.
Hi Dave,
Without questions, your website is WAY better than any Greece guidebooks! I would appreciate some advice regarding our plans.
My wife and I along with another couple (all in our 60s) are thinking of a trip to Italy, Switzerland, and Greece. Reading your post about Italy and Greece really opened our eyes. We have no interest in lying on the beach. What would be of interest is natural scenery, leisurely walks through town, a few historical sites, and just getting a flavor of Italy and Greece. Shopping for inexpensive locally made souvenirs. Maybe visit an olive oil factory (If there is such a thing). Making things a little complicated is that the other couple must have vegan food.
Here is our tentative plan:
Day 1: Arrive in Athens
Day 2: Athens sightseeing
Day 3: Day trip to Delphi or Meteora
Day 4: Ferry to Santorini
Day 5: Fly Santorini to Rome
Day 6: Rome
Day 7 and 8: Florence, Pisa, and a visit to Cinque Terre (this is mostly for a photo op at Manarola)
Day 9: Venice
Day 10: Leave Venice for Lucerne, and visit Bernese Oberland (Murren) for 2 days.
Day 13: Fly back to US
We can do some easy hikes for an hour or two at Cinque Terre. Would really appreciate your feedback on the above plan. Also any other countries (Germany/Austria/Norway?) that you recommend for the future, taking into consideration our interests above. We plan to do France and Spain later. All of us have been to London and a day in Paris previously. Our plans are wide open right now.
Many thanks!
Andy
It’s a great list of places but very rushed. You’ll be hurrying from one spot to the next with little time to enjoy them. You arrive in Santorini in the afternoon after a good-length ferry ride and then leave the next day – why? You need to cut 2 or 3 destinations if you really want to do the stuff you say you want to do.
Hi Dave,
I really enjoyed your post about Mykonos a while back. I’m debating visiting either Mykonos, Santorini, or Crete in the off season (next month) and would love your opinion about the best destination this time of year. I’m a single male and I am totally fine with peace and quiet, but would prefer some people out and about and a glimpse of night life. Would also love a few nice, relatively warmer days. Thoughts?
Thanks!
Joe
Santorini and Crete are the two best Greek islands in the off season. The views of Santorini are great any time of year. Crete has the largest local population and 3 bustling (small) cities. The south coast of Crete has the warmest winter weather in Greece. Unfortunately there are no ferries between the two islands from November to March so it’s one or the other (unless you want to fly via Athens between the two).
Hi Dave!
Planning an 18 day honeymoon trip for October. We’d like to visit Santorini, Milos, Naxos, and Rhodes. I’ve been consulting your site (easily the best Greek travel site I’ve seen), and I had it all planned out, but as I was booking the hotels I hit a snag.
The hotel I selected in Milos told me they close down on October 15th and wouldn’t be able to guarantee my dates until they saw how the season was shaping up in July. So I rearranged my whole trip schedule and we are now visiting Milos first, but it made me wonder if it’s a good idea to visit Milos at all if everything starts closing down. I’ve also been considering the weather, and wondered if certain Greek islands are warmer than others as October progresses.
Right now I’m looking at the following:
October 3-7: MILOS (4 days)
October 8-13: SANTORINI (5 days)
October 14-17: NAXOS (3 days)
October 18-24: RHODES (6 days – 4 in Lindos on the beach, last 2 days in Rhodes Town)
Regarding Milos, we are mainly looking to enjoy the beaches and the beautiful geography of the island, but we would want to perhaps rent some ATVs to explore the island, and perhaps hire a boat to sail around the island and explore the beaches only accessible by sea. Would we have trouble finding those in early October?
Santorini I’m not too worried about (it seems to be very active in October from what I’ve read), but would Naxos be enjoyable that late in October? We are mainly going to Naxos for the beaches so would it be better to go to Naxos before Santorini since the weather might be a bit better then? Milos->Santorini->Naxos makes more sense ferry-wise, but Milos->Naxos->Santorini might make more sense weather wise.
And lastly, regarding Rhodes. I was looking at the weather reports, and it seems that Rhodes is one of the warmer islands in Greece. Am I correct in assuming it would make more sense to do Rhodes last? Also, since Rhodes is a more popular island, would I be correct in assuming that most things in Rhodes would be open in late October?
Thanks so much!
Jon
Yes, I would probably do Milos and Naxos first as they are the two most dependent on good weather and will get quieter the earliest. Now, will 4 to 10 days make a difference in the weather? Maybe, maybe not, but it could. (Of course, it’s not impossible that mid-October is warmer than early October, but the odds are with you earlier in the month.) The weather difference between the islands is not huge (unless you’re comparing Crete with a northern island like Lesvos) but the difference in how much is open and whether tours are running can be substantial. Santorini and Rhodes are plenty busy until early November so you will not have trouble finding things to do there. Milos and Naxos will offer lots to do in early October. So, all in all, I think your plans are great.
Dave,
I already became a Patron – Thanks for the quick reply. We fly into Athens early week and out 7 days later from Athens. Unfortunately, it looks like best hotels are only available in Santorini for the weekend of the 13-15 and it seems like we could lose a lot of time with Crete (going from Chania to port and then ferry). Do you think it is still justified? What is the other island you would consider pairing with Santorini between (assuming we are looking for honeymoon and local feel with great food) for that time of year to do on the front end?
Best,
Ben
I would do Naxos. (If it were late June to early September I’d consider Sifnos as well but by October it will be very quiet.) Naxos is loaded with great local food and some wonderful inland villages. You will need to rent a car to do it justice.
Hi Dave, (Just became a patron.)
Amazing site! I am planning a honeymoon for mid October. We have 8 days total and trying to figure out how best to split the time. We would like to see more than one island but also want to be cognizant of the fact that it’s our honeymoon and also don’t want to be too rushed. We definitely want to see Santorini but unsure where else to see. Santorini looks gorgeous but we also want to experience real and authentic Greece as well as it appears Santorini is quite touristy. So far we have considered Naxos, Paros, and Crete. We like Chania but logistics seem a bit trickier. Would love to hear your thoughts on a recommended itinerary and how best to split time/get around.
A big time and hassle saver is well-arranged flights. I’m not sure if you’ve booked anything yet but if you can arrange it so that you, say, fly into Santorini (from Athens, or even better from a hub in western Europe) then ferry to Crete, and fly back from Chania (to Athens, or better western Europe). With that in mind, I would look at flights first and then decide from there. Starting in Santorini, ferry to Heraklion, and then bus to Chania is an easy route. I’d spend 4 days in Santorini and 4 days in Chania. But both Santorini and Chania are touristy. Good touristy but still touristy. Naxos is less so, but it doesn’t have flights to western Europe (only Athens). If you wanted to fly directly to western Europe then Santorini for 4 days, Naxos for 3, Mykonos for 1 and fly from there. In October the really touristy places (Santorini, Mykonos, Chania) are comfortably busy. The mid-level places (Naxos, Paros) are getting quiet. And the not-so-touristy islands (Antiparos, Sikinos, Folegandros) are shutting down for the winter.
Hi Dave, what an amazing find this has been to read all this. Thank you.
My husband and I are planning to visit Athens and Santorini in October.
Kindly help with these-
1. Is a day in Athens enough or maybe two?
2. Is the blue star ferry ok (as flights from Athens to Santorini are expensive? How much do these ferries cost if I may ask?)
3. Are Airb&bs good to stay in Santorini or would it have to be a hotel on the caldera?
Thank you for your time.
1. One full day is enough for most people to see the highlights of Athens (but you could easily fill 2 or 3 days if you were keen on Athenian history).
2. The Blue Star is great and has open air decks. Cheaper too.
3. Hotels are best for Santorini but Airbnb does have some options if you’re willing to research them.
Hi Dave,
You have great content here! A couple of questions:
1. Is November beginning a good time still – not hot on partying or beach-bumming, but more sightseeing & food + wine binging?
2. Aside of Santorini, would like to plan other things – Athens for example. What would be an ideal 2-wk break?
We will be travelling as a couple from Mumbai, India.
Thanks in advance.
Sonu
Early November in Santorini is great for your interests. Yes, there is a risk of some rain and cool weather but 90% chance it’s clear and beautiful. (And you’re right, it’s not beach weather.) With 2 weeks I’d do 5 to 7 days in Santorini, 2 or 3 days in Naxos and Paros (each), and 1 or 2 full days in Athens. There are easy and convenient ferry connections from Santorini to Naxos to Paros to Athens. (Crete is also great in early November but ferries from Santorini to Crete end in October so you’d need to fly via Athens – doable but probably not worth the effort.)
Hello Dave,
I would like to ask for vacation through December? Where can we stay – which place are the best for December? Do you know which restaurant are open in that period? And what can we do in island?
Thank you in advance for your answer.
Gabriela
Fira has the most open and the most going on in December. Oia has plenty open until mid-December and then gets very quiet (still enough to get by but limited for sure). The best things to do in Santorini in December: Hike between Fira and Oia, winery tours, Ancient Akrotiri, Pyrgos, Emborio, drive around the island, and eat great food.
Hi Dave (and others!) – so grateful to have you here! I’m getting mixed feedback on ferry/flight frequency and hotel availability for late November….and am starting to panic slightly about an upcoming trip. Arrive in Athens Thurs 16 Nov, 16:00. Does it seem feasible to check out an island or two (Santorini? Mykonos?) and finish with a day or two back in Athens (museums, art, historic sites) before leaving on Wed 22 Nov, 15:00? We don’t mind long ferries if there is worthwhile scenery (which it seems there is, if we are on the right ferry/deck). Are there other islands, we could/should consider given the weather and the time that we have? Must we scrap the islands and stick to only Athens for the whole time? I hope getting to the islands mid-to-late November is possible with accommodations not a difficulty either.
Santorini is still great in mid-November (though be prepared for a little rain) but Mykonos is less interesting in the off-season. Also, no ferries between Mykonos and Santorini by mid-November. I’d go only to Santorini (perhaps, fly one way, ferry one way). If you added another island make it Naxos.
Hi Dave.
This is a great website. I’m glad i found it.
Me and my friend are planning to go to Santorini and Mykonos for 4 days. We are more interested in sightseeing and very keen to see blue sky and full bloom of bougenville but we don’t like hot weather. Could you please advise which month we should go?
Thank you.
Best Regards,
Liza
Late April to early June.