Athens
April to May and September to October.
April, May, September and October work best: warm enough for the sites, with moderate crowds and manageable heat. June to August brings the biggest crowds and highs around 30 degrees or more, so the Acropolis is best at opening. From December to February the city is cool and wet but quiet, and the sites close earlier.
Data checked on October 5, 2026
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 14 °C | 7 °C | 13 | · |
| February | 14 °C | 7 °C | 11 | · |
| March | 16 °C | 9 °C | 11 | · |
| April | 20 °C | 12 °C | 9 | Best |
| May | 24 °C | 16 °C | 6 | Best |
| June | 29 °C | 20 °C | 4 | Busy |
| July | 32 °C | 23 °C | 2 | Busy |
| August | 32 °C | 23 °C | 2 | Busy |
| September | 28 °C | 20 °C | 5 | Best |
| October | 23 °C | 16 °C | 9 | Best |
| November | 19 °C | 12 °C | 11 | · |
| December | 15 °C | 9 °C | 14 | · |
Climate averages: Hellenic National Meteorological Service.
12 to 20 °C · about 9 rainy days a month
March is cool and showery with highs near 16 degrees. By April highs reach about 20, by May 24, and rain falls on about six days a month, which makes this the best season for the sites.
What to wear: Bring light layers, a rain jacket for March and early April, and shoes with grip for polished marble.
22 to 31 °C · about 3 rainy days a month
Highs average about 29 degrees in June and 32 in July and August, with little rain, and the centre feels hotter than the coast. The sites are crowded and hot from mid morning.
What to wear: Wear light loose clothes, a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen, and shoes with a firm sole for slippery stone.
16 to 23 °C · about 8 rainy days a month
September is still hot at about 28 degrees, October eases to 23 and November to 19, with rain returning on about 11 days in November. Crowds thin out from October.
What to wear: Pack layers and a light rain jacket for October and November.
8 to 14 °C · about 13 rainy days a month
Highs sit at about 14 or 15 degrees and nights fall to about 7, with rain on 11 to 14 days a month. The sites are quiet but several close early in the afternoon.
What to wear: Wear a warm waterproof jacket and shoes that keep out water.
Rain falls on 11 to 14 days a month from December to March, usually in showers, and the marble on the Acropolis and the hills becomes slippery. A wet day suits the Acropolis Museum, the National Archaeological Museum and the covered Central Market, which is closed on Sundays. If a shower is short, shelter in a museum and go back to the rock afterwards.
From June to August the open sites are hot from late morning and the Acropolis has almost no shade. Go at opening, spend the middle of the day in the museums or in the shade of the National Garden, and go back to the hills for sunset. The Ministry's site rules ban eating and drinking inside archaeological sites, so plan your drinks for before and after.