Month guide · Athens · Greece
Athens in January
What January is really like in Athens: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Apaleutos25, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
January is a quieter month with trade-offs. Expect average highs of 13°C (55°F), lows of 7°C (45°F), about 8 rainy days and roughly 9.8 hours of daylight. Mild and sometimes rainy, with crisp, clear days that are ideal for walking the ruins without crowds.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 13°C (55°F) / 7°C (45°F)
- Rainy days
- About 8
- Daylight
- About 9.8 hours
- Sea temperature
- 16°C (61°F)
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in January
January is the coolest month in Athens: days average 13°C (55°F) against a yearly average high of 23°C (73°F), and nights fall to about 7°C (45°F). Rain falls on roughly 8 of its 31 days. Compared with December (15°C (59°F)), January is cooler; by February highs stay near 14°C (57°F).
- Sunrise (15 January)
- About 07:39
- Sunset (15 January)
- About 17:29
- Daylight
- About 9.8 hours
- Sea
- 16°C (61°F)
Winter (December–February). Mild, sometimes wet and occasionally cold, with quiet ruins, low prices and snow sometimes dusting the mountains around the city.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, January rates 2 for crowds (the peak is June at 5) and 2 for hotel prices (highest in July). That makes January one of the better-value months to book.
Events in January
- Epiphany — blessing of the waters at Piraeus and along the coast (6 January)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in January
Mild, settled days suit walking, viewpoints and time outdoors.
Historic site · Acropolis
Acropolis and Parthenon
Enter at opening or in the last two hours of the day; in summer the midday heat on the exposed rock is intense and there is almost no shade.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- History
- Views
- Architecture
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Historic site · Thiseio
Ancient Agora and Temple of Hephaestus
The marketplace and civic heart of classical Athens, where Socrates taught, is now a shaded archaeological park.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
- Outdoors
- Kids
Viewpoint · Kolonaki
Mount Lycabettus
Walk up in the late afternoon and stay for sunset, when the Acropolis lights up; bring water, as the path is steep and exposed.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Views
- Free
- Couples
- Photo spot
- Active
Viewpoint · Koukaki
Philopappos Hill
Opposite the Acropolis, this pine-covered hill is topped by the marble tomb of Philopappos, a Roman-era prince, and gives the classic straight-on view of the Parthenon.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- History
- Couples
- Off the beaten path
What to pack
For highs near 13°C, lows near 7°C and 8 wet days: layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is January a good time to visit Athens?
A quieter month with trade-offs, with a notable event on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, April–June and September–October are better overall. Compare every month.
Athens in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is January a good time to visit Athens?
It is a quieter month with trade-offs. Mild and sometimes rainy, with crisp, clear days that are ideal for walking the ruins without crowds.
+How warm is Athens in January?
Average highs are around 13°C (55°F) and lows around 7°C (45°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Athens in January?
Expect rain on about 8 days of the month.