Best Time to Visit Santorini
Santorini sits in the southern Cyclades, hot and dry through summer with mild, wetter winters. The high season runs roughly June to September, the shoulder months are May and October, and many hotels and tavernas close for winter. Here is when to go — and when to think twice.
The hottest, sunniest stretch of the year, with the clearest caldera views and the best conditions for a sunset cruise — but also the busiest and most expensive months, especially in August.
The green season is winding down, rain is easing, the rainforest is at its lushest, and crowds and prices are still well below the December holiday peak.
The wettest months on the islands, with frequent storms, rough seas, and Nea Kameni boat trips sometimes cancelled after bad weather.
| Month | Weather | Crowds | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 21 to 32°C | High | High | High season in full swing, sunny days, good odds of a clear caldera sunset, Palea Kameni hot springs busy |
| February | 22 to 33°C | High | High | Typically the driest month, best trail and volcano-viewing conditions, book hot springs and tours ahead |
| March | 22 to 33°C | High | High | Hot and dry, Easter week can push prices to their peak of the year if it falls in this month |
| April | 22 to 33°C | Medium | Medium | End of the dry season, first afternoon showers appear, still generally reliable weather |
| May | 21 to 31°C | Medium | Medium | Green season begins, regular afternoon downpours, the rainforest turning lush and crowds thinning out |
| June | 21 to 30°C | Medium | Medium | Veranillo brings a short dry spell mid-month, a good window between the wetter stretches |
| July | 21 to 30°C | Medium | Medium | Veranillo continues, somewhat less rain than the months around it, popular with regional visitors |
| August | 21 to 30°C | Medium | Medium | Humid with regular afternoon storms, waterfalls and rivers running full, fewer international crowds |
| September | 21 to 29°C | Low | Low | One of the wettest months, seas can turn rough, Nea Kameni trips more likely to be cancelled after storms |
| October | 20 to 29°C | Low | Low | Typically the wettest month of the year, some river and canyoning tours may pause after storms |
| November | 21 to 30°C | Medium | Low | Rain gradually easing, transition into the dry season, still green and comparatively quiet |
| December | 21 to 31°C | High | High | Dry season returns, Christmas and New Year push crowds and prices to their highest, book well ahead |