Best Time to Visit Santorini: Month by Month Guide

The Short Answer

The best time to visit Santorini is May–June or September–October. You get warm weather, the sea at a swimmable temperature, functioning restaurants and tour operators, and without the summer crowds and July–August heat.

The worst time: late July and all of August. Beautiful, but brutally hot, catastrophically crowded, and the most expensive.

Month by Month

April

The island wakes up. Temperatures are 18–22°C — ideal for walking. The sea is still cool (18°C) but swimmable. Hotels are at 50% capacity and prices are 40–60% lower than summer. Some restaurants have not yet reopened. The caldera views are extraordinary in the clear spring light.

May

The best month. Temperatures 22–26°C, sea 20–21°C, almost no crowds, everything is open. The island feels alive without being overwhelmed. Book 3–4 weeks ahead for good hotels.

June

Excellent. Temperatures rise to 26–30°C, the sea reaches 23°C. Crowds start building in the second half of the month. Still significantly quieter than July–August and notably cheaper.

July

Peak season begins. Temperatures 28–34°C plus the meltemi wind. The wind keeps the heat manageable but can be very strong — some days the boats do not go out. Oia becomes genuinely uncomfortable at sunset. Book everything 6–8 weeks ahead.

August

The most crowded month in Greek tourism. Oia at sunset: thousands of people. Fira: impossible to walk. The heat is intense (32–38°C). The sea is perfect (25–26°C). If you must come, book 3 months ahead and arrive at viewpoints 2 hours before sunset.

September

The finest month. Summer heat without August madness. The meltemi dies down. The sea is warmest of the year (26°C). The grape harvest is in, the wineries are open and celebrating. Prices drop 20–30% from August. Book 6–8 weeks ahead — this is the island’s best-kept secret.

October

Excellent for the first half. Temperatures drop to 22–26°C — perfect for walking and exploring. Rain becomes possible from mid-October. The sea is still 24°C. Tourism infrastructure is still fully open. By late October, some hotels begin closing.

November to March

Most of the island closes. Perhaps 20% of hotels and restaurants operate year-round. The weather can be extraordinary — clear winter light, empty villages, dramatic stormy seas. Flights are expensive because fewer operate. For independent travellers wanting a unique experience, November and March can be magical.