Best Time to Visit Athens

If your primary focus is to see the iconic sites like Acropolis hill and the Parthenon, the best time to visit Athens is when the weather is mild, and the tourist crowds aren’t at their peak. That generally means mid-April through about mid-May or in autumn, particularly the month of October or even into early November. Those periods tend to be the best when you’ll be doing lots of walking and you want to be able to capture photos without having to elbow your way through a big group of people. No matter when you come, but especially during the tourist season from April through October, when visiting the Acropolis, you’ll want to arrive a few minutes before it opens at 8 a.m. to beat the crowds.

The average temperature in May is 25°C/ 77°F and there is plenty of sunshine, with little chance for rain. If you want to enjoy swimming off the beaches in the Athenian Riviera, the water will be warm enough to be comfortable now too. October is similar if slightly cooler and during the first half of the month swimming is still enjoyable.

Athens is lapped by the Aegean, which means there are beaches just a short drive/taxi or bus/tram ride away. In fact, the greater area has the longest coastline of any capital city and is home to 16 Blue Flag beaches. There are many stunning paradises to discover and all the stops for swimming have outstanding water quality.

While they provide the perfect place to enjoy time in crystal-clear blue waters during the summer, many feel they’re best experienced during the month of September. While there will still be tourists here, the biggest crowds will be gone while the water has had time to warm up throughout the summer, with the sea temperature typically about 24°C/75°F.

Throughout Greece, the summertime is the peak season of the year with lots of sunshine and warm to hot temperatures that range from around 30°C/86°F to 34°C/ 93°F, and sometimes higher. The city will be at its busiest now as it’s when the majority of tourists come to visit. As such, lines can be long and crowds thick while hotels charge their highest rates and airfare is usually higher too.

On the plus side, everything will be open, transport will be running frequently, and you can usually find a festival, play or concert to attend too. If you like art, Art Athina, an international contemporary art fair, takes place for four days around June 21st (the summer solstice). July brings one of the hottest events to Athens, the Rockwave Festival, held over two weeks featuring big-name artists.

Snow is relatively rare in Athens although the mountains surrounding the city do tend to get at least a dusting a few times during the winter. The lowest average high throughout this season is 13°C/55°C so it’s unlikely to be too chilly, and often ideal for seeing the sights without the crowds. Simply bundle up a bit and enjoy. While the transport options are more limited, especially if you hope to visit the islands too, you’re likely to score bargain accommodation rates and discounted airfare.