If you want to sunbathe, swim or take advantage of the vast range of water sports then the sunniest, hottest and driest months are July to September.
You can expect the temperature to be between 25 and 30 degrees Centigrade although temperatures can soar above 30 degrees inland and in big cities. The sea will be comfortably warm in the mid-20s. There is little rainfall in these months.
If you want to explore the amazing countryside, visit the spectacular historic sites or use some of the many hundreds of miles of marked hiking or cycling routes then the “shoulder seasons” may be best. These are the spring and early summer months of April, May and June and the later summer months of September and October. Be warned, though. Not all the facilities will be up and running in April and May and some will be shutting at the end of the season in October.
Average temperatures will be in the low to mid 20s in April and October but mid to high 20s in May, June and September. The sea is generally warm enough for swimming throughout these shoulder periods, but it takes a while to warm up. It could be a chilly 16 degrees in early April but still 20 degrees or higher in October.
More rain is to be expected in April and October, but the wettest months are from November to February. Snow falls, too, in the winter – and lots of it in some places
Easter, in March or April, is one of the biggest events on the Greek calendar. Holy Week, the week before Easter Sunday, sees candlelit processions and church services in almost every town and village. Many people go back to their family home for the festivities. A multitude of poppies, daisies, orchids, wild iris and other colourful spring flowers make Greece look like an Impressionist painting.
The Greek Orthodox Church says that practically every day of the year is a Saints Day and communities throughout Greece celebrate their special day with processions, services and parties which can make be a spectacle for tourists.
For example, Zante celebrates Saint Dionisios’ (Dennis) Day on August 24 with a three-day festival which includes fireworks, parties and a seafront procession in which the mummified body of the saint is displayed.
There is another three-day festival in June for the Holiday of the Holy Spirit. It’s the second biggest religious event in summer after Easter to recognise Pentecost and involves church services, processions and feasts.
August 15 is another major bank holiday to celebrate the Day of the Panaghia, the Virgin Mary, when Christ’s mother ascended to heaven. Some Greeks fast for a fortnight before flocking to their home towns for church services, parades and big family parties.
Ochi Day is on October 28, the day in 1940 when the Prime Minister said “ochi” or “no” to Benito Mussolini, an ally of Adolf Hitler, and brought Greece into World War 2. The “no” was the rejection of Mussolini ’s request for Italy to occupy Greece and triggered conflict between Greece and Italy. Now, almost 80 years later, the Greeks still celebrate the day with parades, church services and parties. Most businesses close for the day.
