Month guide · Athens · Greece
Athens in March
What March is really like in Athens: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Calidius, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
March is a good-value shoulder-season month. Expect average highs of 16°C (61°F), lows of 9°C (48°F), about 7 rainy days and roughly 11.8 hours of daylight. Wildflowers on the hills around the Acropolis and comfortable sightseeing weather; still too cool for most swimmers.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 16°C (61°F) / 9°C (48°F)
- Rainy days
- About 7
- Daylight
- About 11.8 hours
- Sea temperature
- 15°C (59°F)
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in March
March is the 9th-warmest month in Athens: days average 16°C (61°F) against a yearly average high of 23°C (73°F), and nights fall to about 9°C (48°F). Rain falls on roughly 7 of its 31 days. Compared with February (14°C (57°F)), March is warmer; by April highs climb to around 20°C (68°F).
- Sunrise (15 March)
- About 06:37
- Sunset (15 March)
- About 18:32
- Daylight
- About 11.8 hours
- Sea
- 15°C (59°F)
Spring (March–May). Wildflowers on the ancient hills, Orthodox Easter celebrations and comfortable sightseeing temperatures; the sea stays cool until late May.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, March rates 3 for crowds (the peak is June at 5) and 2 for hotel prices (highest in July). That makes March one of the better-value months to book.
Events in March
- Independence Day parade in central Athens (25 March)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in March
Mild, settled days suit walking, viewpoints and time outdoors.
Museum · Patission Street
National Archaeological Museum
Allow half a day, or focus on the Mycenaean hall, the bronzes and the Antikythera gallery if time is short.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Art
- Rainy day
- Iconic
Experience · Syntagma
Changing of the Guard at Syntagma
Evzones of the Presidential Guard, in pleated kilts, tasselled caps and pom-pom clogs, stand at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier below the Hellenic Parliament.
- Time needed
- 20 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Iconic
- History
Neighbourhood · Plaka
Plaka and Anafiotika
Go early in the morning or around sunset, and keep voices down: Anafiotika's houses are still lived in.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Photo spot
- Architecture
- Couples
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Historic site · Olympieion
Temple of Olympian Zeus and Hadrian's Arch
Fifteen of the original 104 Corinthian columns still stand from what was the largest temple in ancient Greece, finished under the emperor Hadrian in the 2nd century AD.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
- Photo spot
What to pack
For highs near 16°C, lows near 9°C and 7 wet days: layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is March a good time to visit Athens?
A good-value shoulder-season month, 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 March a good time to visit Athens?
It is a good-value shoulder-season month. Wildflowers on the hills around the Acropolis and comfortable sightseeing weather; still too cool for most swimmers.
+How warm is Athens in March?
Average highs are around 16°C (61°F) and lows around 9°C (48°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Athens in March?
Expect rain on about 7 days of the month.