Season guide · Athens · Greece
Athens in autumn
September–November: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
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Quick answer
Warm September seas, golden October light and the Athens Marathon in November; rain returns later in the season. Expect highs up to 29°C (84°F) and lows around 12°C (54°F), with about 14 rainy days across September–November. September–October are among the best months of the year to visit.
Key facts
- Months
- September–November
- Temperatures
- 12°C (54°F) to 29°C (84°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 14
- Sea
- 19°C (66°F) to 25°C (77°F)
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in autumn
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September | 29°C (84°F) | 20°C (68°F) | 2 | 12.4 h | 4/5 |
| October | 24°C (75°F) | 16°C (61°F) | 5 | 11.1 h | 3/5 |
| November | 19°C (66°F) | 12°C (54°F) | 7 | 10.1 h | 2/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 24°C (75°F) against a yearly 23°C (73°F), and 14 of the year's roughly 56 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 3/5 and hotel prices 3/5 on average.
What's on in autumn
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- October: Ohi Day — national holiday with parades (28 October)
- November: Athens Authentic Marathon — from Marathon to the Panathenaic Stadium (usually second Sunday of November)
Make the most of the weather
Viewpoint · Acropolis
Areopagus Hill
This bare marble outcrop just below the Acropolis entrance was the seat of the ancient court of Athens, and a bronze plaque records the sermon St Paul preached here.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- History
- Photo spot
Garden · Syntagma
National Garden
Use it as a shady route between Syntagma and the Panathenaic Stadium on hot afternoons.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Nature
Architecture · Kallithea
Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center
Renzo Piano's complex near the coast south of the centre houses the Greek National Opera and the National Library of Greece beneath a huge solar canopy, with a sloping park, a long canal and a rooftop Lighthouse looking towards the Acropolis and the sea.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- Kids
- Views
- Outdoors
Historic site · Kerameikos
Kerameikos
It is covered by the combined archaeological ticket; visit after the Ancient Agora, about a 10-minute walk away.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Off the beaten path
- Outdoors
Historic site · Acropolis
Acropolis and Parthenon
The rocky citadel above the city holds the Parthenon, completed in 438 BC for Athena, the Erechtheion with its Caryatid porch, the Propylaea gateway and the small Temple of Athena Nike.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- History
- Views
- Architecture
Day trips in autumn
- Aegina (About 40–75 minutes by ferry) — The closest of the Saronic islands is known for its pistachios, a harbourfront of fishing boats and the Temple of Aphaia on a pine-covered hilltop.
- Hydra (About 1.5–2 hours by fast ferry) — A car-free island where donkeys and water taxis do the transport, with stone mansions climbing above a horseshoe harbour.
What to pack
- Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen
- A packable rain jacket for showers
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is autumn a good time to visit Athens?
Yes: September–October are among the best months. Warm September seas, golden October light and the Athens Marathon in November; rain returns later in the season.
+What is the weather like in Athens in autumn?
Highs of up to 29°C (84°F) and lows around 12°C (54°F), with about 14 rainy days over the season.