When is the Best Time to Visit Santorini?

Santorini is an island in the Aegean Sea, in the Cyclades island group. It is very popular with tourists and is one of the most recognisable islands in all of Greece, known for its whitewashed buildings that climb the caldera side of the island. If you’ve decided you want to go to Santorini, you probably know where you want to stay (if not or either way we can help, just click here to fill in our enquiry form), but when is the best time to go? You probably want to know what Santorini’s weather is like and how busy it is going to be to help you decide. In this article we’ll talk you through all of this and more so that you can have the best possible time in Santorini. 

How to get there
Santorini Airport, known as Kratikos Aerolimenas Santorinis is located in the central part of the island’s eastern coast. You can fly there from both major UK airports like Gatwick, Heathrow and Manchester or regional ones such as Bristol, East Midlands, Newcastle and Edinburgh. With plenty of options and flights it’s easy to get to Santorini. Santorini is a great place to have as part of an island hopping itinerary, especially as a start or end point due to its international airport and excellent ferry links.

When is the best time to go?
Like much of Europe, Santorini has its warmest weather in July and August, with temperatures regularly reaching over 30 degrees. This is also when it is the busiest as school holidays in the UK mean families descend on the island looking for some sun. Not only is it the busiest time to visit but the most expensive as hotel prices are higher than usual, knowing it will be busy and demand will be massive. Therefore, if you can visit at another time then it is recommended as it will be cheaper and less busy.
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Outside of these months June is the next busiest. Busy has become common for a number of years in Santorini though. Across the board 2022 was a record year for Greece with more people visiting than ever before. Smashing figures from 2019. June has the joint lowest average rainfall of the whole year and temperatures average around 27 and 28˚C.

​If you’re looking for a cheaper and quieter time to go then look at May or September. Santorini is one of the most southerly islands in Greece, as such its weather in May stays in the 20s most days and is a more reliable choice than northerly islands. It also only rains 3 days throughout the month on average, around the same as September. May is also when more regular flights begin to Santorini, making it a good time to go if you get in early.

If you want heat and to avoid school holidays, then September is the best month for you. It retains lots of the warmth from July and August whilst staying free of almost all rain. Temperatures in September stay firmly in the mid to late 20s, without some inconsistency that can come in May, making it a good option for holiday makers still seeking sun outside of the busier times. Just a note, Santorini is the most expensive island in Greece so whilst it will be cheaper in certain months such as May and September, the price of accommodation, food and drink will be higher than other islands at the same time. 

​Last but not least is October and April. Santorini's weather in October can be temperamental, even though it is one of the more southerly islands. Whilst the temperature stays mostly in the early 20s there is an increased chance of rain, when compared to September and the other summer months. October on Santorini sees an average of 4 days of rain throughout the month and 38mm of rainfall. If can see past this though, it is the joint quietest and cheapest month to visit, equal with April.

April is the worst of the possible months you can go to Santorini as average temperatures haven’t yet reached the 20s, despite this April still has less average rainfall than October but the same amount of rain days. There are also far less flights in April than in any other month when you can go, with flights only becoming more regular towards the end of the month.

Between November and March there are no direct flights from the UK to Santorini, meaning you would have to fly via Athens or somewhere else. We do not recommend that you go during these months as it rains more regularly and is not very warm.

​We hope this has given you some insight into when is best to visit Santorini. To find out more about Santorini or the rest of Greece, take a look around our website, visit https://www.visitgreece.gr/ or call us on 01156547795. If you know where you’re looking to book, call us, email [email protected] or fill in our contact form with what you’re looking for. Don't forget to follow us on social media to find out the next Destination of the Week and for all your Greek Holiday needs. If you've been to Santorini, where was your favourite place? What was the best thing you did or do you think we missed anything? Let us know in the comments or on social media, just click the buttons below which take you to our social pages