Season guide · Athens · Greece
Athens in summer
June–August: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Joanbanjo, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Hot, dry and bright, with the Athens Epidaurus Festival, open-air cinemas and beach days, but heatwaves that make midday sightseeing hard. Expect highs up to 33°C (91°F) and lows around 21°C (70°F), with about 3 rainy days across June–August. June is among the best months of the year to visit.
Key facts
- Months
- June–August
- Temperatures
- 21°C (70°F) to 33°C (91°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 3
- Sea
- 24°C (75°F) to 27°C (81°F)
- Crowds
- Very busy
- Hotel prices
- High
Weather in summer
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June | 30°C (86°F) | 21°C (70°F) | 1 | 14.8 h | 5/5 |
| July | 33°C (91°F) | 24°C (75°F) | 1 | 14.5 h | 5/5 |
| August | 33°C (91°F) | 24°C (75°F) | 1 | 13.6 h | 4/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 32°C (90°F) against a yearly 23°C (73°F), and 3 of the year's roughly 56 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 5/5 and hotel prices 4/5 on average.
What's on in summer
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- June: Athens Epidaurus Festival — theatre, music and dance, including the Odeon of Herodes Atticus (usually June–August)
- July: Athens Epidaurus Festival continues
- July: Open-air cinema season at its peak
- August: Dormition of the Virgin Mary — national holiday (15 August)
- August: August full-moon evening openings at some archaeological sites (usually August)
Make the most of the weather
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
Viewpoint · Acropolis
Areopagus Hill
Use the metal staircase rather than the ancient rock-cut steps; the marble is polished and slippery, especially after rain.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- History
- Photo spot
Garden · Syntagma
National Garden
Queen Amalia's 19th-century royal garden behind the Parliament is a shaded park of about 15 hectares, with palms, ponds of turtles and ducks, a small animal enclosure and a children's library.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Nature
Architecture · Kallithea
Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center
Go in the late afternoon, walk up to the Lighthouse for sunset, then stay for a drink by the canal or an evening performance.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- Kids
- Views
- Outdoors
Day trips in summer
- Delphi (About 2.5–3 hours by bus) — The sanctuary of Apollo, seat of the ancient oracle, climbs a steep slope of Mount Parnassus past the Temple of Apollo, the theatre and the stadium, with views down an olive-filled valley towards the Gulf of Corinth.
- 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.
What to pack
- Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is summer a good time to visit Athens?
Yes: June is among the best months. Hot, dry and bright, with the Athens Epidaurus Festival, open-air cinemas and beach days, but heatwaves that make midday sightseeing hard.
+What is the weather like in Athens in summer?
Highs of up to 33°C (91°F) and lows around 21°C (70°F), with about 3 rainy days over the season.