Season guide · Thessaloniki · Greece
Thessaloniki in winter
December–February: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: XeresNelro, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Cold, damp days and the occasional biting Vardaris wind, but low prices, Christmas lights and warming tavernas. Expect highs up to 11°C (52°F) and lows around 2°C (36°F), with about 21 rainy days across December–February.
Key facts
- Months
- December–February
- Temperatures
- 2°C (36°F) to 11°C (52°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 21
- Sea
- 13°C (55°F) to 15°C (59°F)
- Crowds
- Very quiet
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in winter
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 9°C (48°F) | 2°C (36°F) | 7 | 9.6 h | 1/5 |
| February | 11°C (52°F) | 3°C (37°F) | 6 | 10.6 h | 1/5 |
| December | 11°C (52°F) | 4°C (39°F) | 8 | 9.3 h | 2/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 10°C (50°F) against a yearly 20°C (68°F), and 21 of the year's roughly 71 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 1/5 and hotel prices 2/5 on average.
What's on in winter
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- January: Epiphany blessing of the waters at the waterfront (6 January)
- February: Carnival (Apokries) events in the weeks before Lent (dates vary with Orthodox Easter)
- December: Christmas lights and tree on Aristotelous Square (usually from early December)
Good choices for winter
Historic site · Kamara and Navarinou
Rotunda of Galerius
Combine it with the Arch of Galerius 100 metres down the hill and the palace remains around Navarinou Square.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
- Iconic
Religious site · City Centre (Aristotelous Square)
Church of Hagios Demetrios
The city's largest church is dedicated to its patron saint, Demetrius, martyred here in the early 4th century.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
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Museum · White Tower and the eastern seafront
Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki
Head first for the gold of Macedon rooms and the Derveni Krater, then visit the Museum of Byzantine Culture across the road.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Art
- Rainy day
Museum · White Tower and the eastern seafront
Museum of Byzantine Culture
Award-winning galleries trace Byzantine life from early Christian tombs and mosaics to icons, textiles and everyday objects, using material found largely in and around Thessaloniki.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Art
- Rainy day
Museum · City Centre (Aristotelous Square)
Jewish Museum of Thessaloniki
Allow time to read the panels; the museum is small but changes how you see the rest of the city.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
Day trips in winter
- Pella (About 45 minutes by car) — The birthplace of Alexander the Great and capital of the Macedonian kingdom has some of the finest pebble mosaics of the ancient world, including the lion hunt and the stag hunt, shown in the site museum and in situ.
- Edessa waterfalls (About 1.5 hours by car or train) — The town of Edessa sits on a cliff edge where its river drops in a series of waterfalls, the largest about 70 metres high, with a park, walkways and caves behind the water.
What to pack
- A warm coat, hat, gloves and thermal layers
- Shoes with good grip for icy pavements
- A packable rain jacket for showers
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is winter a good time to visit Thessaloniki?
It is a trade-off: Cold, damp days and the occasional biting Vardaris wind, but low prices, Christmas lights and warming tavernas. The best months overall are May–June and September–October.
+What is the weather like in Thessaloniki in winter?
Highs of up to 11°C (52°F) and lows around 2°C (36°F), with about 21 rainy days over the season.