Why May is the Perfect Time to Visit Greece!
Aaah, Greece! One of my favorite European countries. I believe Greece is probably fantastic any time of year, but I think May is the PERFECT time to visit Greece. Here is why!
Also, to note, we visited at the very beginning of May. The deeper you get into May, the warmer the weather, but the less the “decreased crowds and prices” rings true.
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Temperatures in Greece in May
This is the first question I usually get about visiting Greece in May; is it warm? So, before I delve into the reasons why you should visit, let me just inform you!
- The average minimum temp in Greece in May is 60 degrees F (16 degrees C) and the average highs are 78 degrees F (26 degrees C).
- I got this info via Weather and Climate.com.
- The temps get quite a bit warmer toward the end of May, but, as mentioned above, so do the crowds and costs.
- We visited May 2-11, 2023 and experienced mid 60’s to low 70’s F temps most days!
Mild Temperatures in Athens
Exploring Athens takes a lot of walking. Athens gets WARM in the summer and chilly in the winter, which can make for unpleasant conditions for exploring. However, in May the weather is nearly perfect; spring in Greece is 😍 and the best time to visit Greece! A light jacket may be required in the morning, but in a sunny afternoon it will feel AMAZING!
Planning to visit the Acropolis? Book a guided tour!
Also, visiting the acropolis is quite the adventure. It requires a walk up a steep incline from the entrance to the top of the acropolis. And, once you are up there you will notice the light-colored stone that reflects all that sunshine nicely 🙃
- We arrived at the acropolis when it opened wearing a light jacket (as usual), but after climbing the hill and walking around the direct sunshine at the acropolis, we were sweating. And the temps were only in the 60 degrees F (around 18 degrees C). Which is what I usually consider MILD.
Need help on choosing where to stay in Athens? Both the Plaka and Syntagma neighborhoods are nice and within walking distance of popular places such as Monastiraki Square and the Acropolis!
Less Crowds
I say “less” because Greece is a popular country and I believe people flock to it year-round. However, peak season in Greece is definitely summer, especially for the islands. ESPECIALLY in Santorini.
- In all honesty, you will have crowds in Santorini in May.
- But, whereas in the summer there is likely no escaping them, at the beginning of May (or end of April), you can manage to get out of the super popular areas (Oia) and find a restaurant without waiting.
Also, we visited the Acropolis in Athens at 8:00 am (when it opened) at the beginning of May and we ALREADY shared the acropolis with quite the crowd. By the time we were making our way back down, the crowds were really starting to come in. You may have to throw elbows to find a good spot on the hill during peak season 😅
The perk of a guided tour of the Acropolis is that a) you can choose an early tour to attempt to beat the crowds (recommend the 8am tour) and b) you get to skip-the line!
Prices are more affordable
Prices in Greece are HIGH on the popular islands (like Santorini) during the peak season of summer. During shoulder season, however, you will have a higher chance of finding flights and accommodations that aren’t going to break the bank. Typically, you can also often find package deals for this time of year that can really make the trip affordable.
- For example, we booked through Jetline Vacations, which you can read an honest review about here, but the package included flights from NYC, accommodations, ferry rides and domestic flights for a total of $1,800. We then were responsible for flights to NYC, food, activities, tips, etc but it really made the trip more affordable than I imagined it could be
If you are planning to visit Greece toward the end of May and can’t seem to find anything affordable on the coast, an alternative area to stay is Mesaria. Here is everything you need to know about staying there!
Or, if you are dying to stay on the Santorini coastline, consider staying in Imerovigli to still have the epic views but to have less crowds and lower prices.
Beaching on the Islands
Is it warm enough to go to the beach in Greece at the beginning of May? Obviously the best time to visit Greece has to include beach-appropriate temperatures, right?
- I don’t know how to explain that 65 degrees F in Greece does not feel the same as 65 degrees F from where I am from. 🤷🏼♀️ At home, I would be wearing a light jacket to be comfortable. But in Crete, we laid out on the beach in swimsuits and it felt amazing!
- Granted, it wasn’t your typical “sweat to death” layout and I didn’t attempt to get into the water (though many others were!). But I had no need for a jacket in Crete in the beginning of May! It felt AMAZING!
It’s the Perfect Kickstart to Summer!
Really this one may trump all of the other reasons. 😜
Early Spring at home (March/April) still has several chilly and rainy days and by May I am READY for warm weather. In 2023, we left that weather behind and went to Greece and it was such a perfect way to get warm sunshine!
So, sure, October is also a great time to visit Greece due to all of the previous 4 reasons mentioned above, but you just can’t kickstart summer perfectly if you visit Greece in October 😜
The Perfect Time to Visit Greece Final Thoughts
Again, I fully believe you will love Greece no matter when you visit and any time of year has its perks. But its hard to beat Greece in the season of blooming flowers and growing sunshine, making May, or at least Spring, the best time to visit Greece 😍
Read here for a great 7 day itinerary to Greece, including Athens, Santorini and a southern Greek island!
