Athens Weather And Best Time To Visit Athens

Athens is a beautiful city of heritage structures and ruins that can be called as old as time. From the Acropolis to the Temple of Parthenon, from the homely beautiful neighbourhoods of Plaka with pink bougainvillea and white-washed steps to the city square that is teeming with boutiques and stalls, Athens is bright and ready for tourists in every weather. But it is true, some seasons here are better than the others. Like spring, and even summer. So if you are looking for the best time to visit Athens then here’s your answer.

Spring is one of the most pleasant seasons in the Mediterranean-influenced Greece. Athens is no exception and sees the mildly cold winters warm up to temperatures that hover between 10-21°C. The tourist season is not on a high yet so you may get some cheap accommodation and deals on sightseeing, travel etc. The traffic is less, crowds lesser, so enjoy the freedom to stroll across town squares and visit a comparatively empty Parthenon. This is a beautiful time as the bougainvillea come to bloom in myriad colours.

Summer is a beautiful season and also considered the best time to visit Athens. However, the two big drawbacks are the stifling heat (35°C highs) and maddening tourist crowds. This results in many local cafes and shops and businesses to close down for the summer. So you don’t get the full Athens experience, only the tourism routes and circuits. 

But summer season is known for the many festivals hosted, like the Rockwave Festival and Athens International Dancing Festival in July, August Moon Fest in August and Athens & Epidaurus Festival through all of summer.

The season after summer is basically transitioning into a little milder temperatures. Autumn brings some respite from the heat as the temperature range goes back down to 15-26°C and there is a biting nip in the air. September is also the month when most local cafes, restaurants and businesses open as locals return to the city after their summer break elsewhere. Autumn is actually a better, cheaper time to visit Athens compared to summer.

The temperature by December starts to fall to 10°C and there is a marked moisture thickening the air. In fact, rains plunder Athens during December and everything is drenched, cold and not easily reached. Light snowfall may be expected. The sun is also not as merciful, so you won’t be able to enjoy much city-exploring or sightseeing. Hence winter should be a big ‘No’ on your planning to Athens.