Winter
Dec → Feb13 to 15°
nights 10 to 12°
- 9 rainy days · 52 mm
- sea 18°
When is the best time to visit the Cyclades?
- Jan13°not recommended
- Feb14°not recommended
- Mar15°not recommended
- Apr18°fair
- May22°recommended
- Jun26°recommended
- Jul28°fair
- Aug28°fair
- Sep26°recommended
- Oct22°recommended
- Nov19°fair
- Dec15°not recommended
RecommendedFairNot recommended· afternoon temperature
The weather in the Cyclades, month by month
The table of records, month by month
| Month | High | Low | Rainfall | Rainy days | Sea | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 13° | 10° | 57 mm | 11 d | 18° | |
| February | 14° | 11° | 52 mm | 8 d | 17° | |
| March | 15° | 11° | 48 mm | 7 d | 17° | |
| April | 18° | 14° | 13 mm | 3 d | 18° | |
| May | 22° | 17° | 11 mm | 3 d | 19° | ✓ |
| June | 26° | 21° | 6 mm | 1 d | 23° | ✓ |
| July | 28° | 23° | 1 mm | 0 d | 25° | |
| August | 28° | 23° | 2 mm | 1 d | 26° | |
| September | 26° | 21° | 6 mm | 1 d | 25° | ✓ |
| October | 22° | 18° | 13 mm | 2 d | 23° | ✓ |
| November | 19° | 15° | 24 mm | 4 d | 21° | |
| December | 15° | 12° | 47 mm | 9 d | 19° |
The four seasons in the Cyclades, in figures
What the 2015-2024 records (Santorini) show, season by season, to compare at a glance instead of reading twelve rows of a table.
Spring
Mar → May15 to 22°
nights 11 to 17°
- 4 rainy days · 24 mm
- sea 18°
Summer
Jun → Aug26 to 28°
nights 21 to 23°
- 1 rainy days · 3 mm
- sea 25°
Autumn
Sep → Nov19 to 26°
nights 15 to 21°
- 2 rainy days · 14 mm
- sea 23°
Book early for May to June and September to October
The timing is right, so it is right for everyone: in these months the best places to stay and the small-group tours go first. Here is where to start.
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Daylight in the Cyclades, month by month
The time between sunrise and sunset, from shortest to longest. Not to be confused with the sunshine hours in the table above, which count clear skies. In June there are 14h38 of daylight, in December 9h41, a difference of 4h57.
9h56Jan
10h48Feb
11h52Mar
13h05Apr
14h05May
14h38Jun
14h25Jul
13h32Aug
12h21Sep
11h11Oct
10h10Nov
9h41Dec
Calculated for the latitude of the reference point "Santorini" (36.42°). Values on the 15th of each month, local solar time.
What to do in the Cyclades, month by month
| Activity | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hiking | ||||||||||||
| Beach & swimming | ||||||||||||
| Diving & snorkelling | ||||||||||||
| Long days | ||||||||||||
| Events | 1 | 1 | 1 |
EventsOrthodox EasterApril to MayFeast of the Panagia on TinosAugustDetails ↓
favourablewith compromisesunfavourable
Towns & culture: good conditions all twelve months.
- Hiking: February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
- Beach & swimming: June, July, August, September
- Diving & snorkelling: July, August, September
- Long days: May, June, July
Grid derived from the records (temperature, rainfall, sea), not from an opinion.
What's on in the Cyclades, month by month?
What comes back every year, and when. These events fill the hotels and push prices up: something to aim for or to avoid, depending on what you want.
- April to MayOrthodox Easter big crowds
The epitaphios procession on Good Friday, fireworks at midnight on Saturday and lamb on the spit on Sunday.
- AugustFeast of the Panagia on Tinos big crowds
In mid-August, pilgrims climb on their knees from the port to the church of the Virgin, and the ferries are packed.
Travelling off-peak
Month by month, in detail
January
Not recommended13°10° at night
- 57 mm · 11 d
- sea 18°
Low season, lower prices
February
Not recommended14°11° at night
- 52 mm · 8 d
- sea 17°
Low season, lower prices
March
Not recommended15°11° at night
- 48 mm · 7 d
- sea 17°
Low season, lower prices
April
Fair18°14° at night
- 13 mm · 3 d
- sea 18°
Busy, without the crush
May
Recommended22°17° at night
- 11 mm · 3 d
- sea 19°
High season, book early
June
Recommended26°21° at night
- 6 mm · 1 d
- sea 23°
Busy, without the crush
July
Fair28°23° at night
- 1 mm · 0 d
- sea 25°
Busy, without the crush
August
Fair28°23° at night
- 2 mm · 1 d
- sea 26°
High season, book early
September
Recommended26°21° at night
- 6 mm · 1 d
- sea 25°
Busy, without the crush
October
Recommended22°18° at night
- 13 mm · 2 d
- sea 23°
Busy, without the crush
November
Fair19°15° at night
- 24 mm · 4 d
- sea 21°
Low season, lower prices
December
Not recommended15°12° at night
- 47 mm · 9 d
- sea 19°
Quiet, then the holidays
Read the twelve months in detail
January. Cool: 13 °C at best, 10 °C at night. Expect 11 days of rain in the month (57 mm). Cool sea (18 °C), for the brave. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
February. Cool: 14 °C at best, 11 °C at night. Expect 8 days of rain in the month (52 mm). Sea at 17 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
March. Cool: 15 °C at best, 11 °C at night. Rain stays light: 48 mm over 7 days. Sea at 17 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
April. Mild, 18 °C in the afternoon and 14 °C early in the morning. Hardly any rain (13 mm over 3 days). Cool sea (18 °C), for the brave. Busy season, without the crush.
May. Mild, 22 °C in the afternoon and 17 °C early in the morning. Hardly any rain (11 mm over 3 days). Cool sea (19 °C), for the brave. High season: book early.
June. 26 °C in the afternoon and 21 °C at night. Hardly any rain (6 mm over 1 day). The sea is at 23 °C: pleasant swimming. Busy season, without the crush.
July. 28 °C in the afternoon and 23 °C at night. Hardly any rain (1 mm over 0 days). The sea is at 25 °C: pleasant swimming. Busy season, without the crush.
August. 28 °C in the afternoon and 23 °C at night. Hardly any rain (2 mm over 1 day). The sea is at 26 °C, a proper swim. High season: book early.
September. 26 °C in the afternoon and 21 °C at night. Hardly any rain (6 mm over 1 day). The sea is at 25 °C: pleasant swimming. Busy season, without the crush.
October. Mild, 22 °C in the afternoon and 18 °C early in the morning. Hardly any rain (13 mm over 2 days). The sea is at 23 °C: pleasant swimming. Busy season, without the crush.
November. Mild, 19 °C in the afternoon and 15 °C early in the morning. Rain stays light: 24 mm over 4 days. Cool sea (21 °C), for the brave. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
December. Cool: 15 °C at best, 12 °C at night. Expect 9 days of rain in the month (47 mm). Cool sea (19 °C), for the brave. Quiet at the start of the month, then busier as the holidays approach.
Same season, other ideas
Their best time overlaps with this one: worth comparing before you book.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit the Cyclades?
May to June and September to October: over these months, recorded highs range from 22 to 26 °C, with 2 days of rain a month on average (2015-2024 records, Santorini).
Which month should you avoid in the Cyclades?
January: it is the wettest of the months to avoid, with 57 mm over 11 days of rain on average, according to 2015-2024 records at the reference point (Santorini).
What is the hottest month in the Cyclades?
July, with 28 °C on average in the afternoon and 23 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Santorini).
What is the coldest month in the Cyclades?
January, with 13 °C at best during the day and 10 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Santorini).
What is the driest month in the Cyclades?
July: 1 mm over 0 days of rain, against 57 mm in January, the wettest month.
When can you swim in the Cyclades?
The water reaches 22 °C or more in June, July, August, September, October (warmest 26 °C in August), measured in 2023-2024 on the nearest coast (Santorini).
When is the best time to hike in the Cyclades?
February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December: highs between 12 and 29 °C and no more than 9 days of rain a month according to 2015-2024 records (Santorini), the safest windows for walking.
When to go diving or snorkelling in the Cyclades?
July, August, September: the sea is above 25 °C, warm enough to stay in a long time without a thick wetsuit. 2023-2024 records on the nearest coast (Santorini).
Plan this trip
📒 The free printable Cyclades guide: itinerary, map, where to sleep→
🧭 When to visit Greece: the country overview→
🗓️ Best time to visit: all our destinations→
Compare with other destinations
Photos: Gu Bra / Pexels · Burkay Canatar / Pexels · Efrem Efre / Pexels · jimmy teoh / Pexels · Dimis Choropanitis / Pexels · Dimitris Mourousiadis / Pexels