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The best time to visit Santorini – tourist seasons and expert tips
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Are you planning your vacation to Greece and wondering what the best time to visit Santorini is? Tourist season in Santorini starts in mid-April, usually around the time of the Greek Easter, and lasts till October. Summer marks the beginning of peak season, which means the island gets very crowded and hotel rates rise. It is also the hottest season, so the weather is great for swimming and sunbathing.
If you want to enjoy the good weather, but avoid mass crowds, shoulder season (April, May, September, and October) is the best time to visit Santorini!
Keep reading to find out everything you need to know before you book your holiday to Santorini. We’ve got all the answers, from the tourist seasons in Santorini and average temperatures to the best time to visit Santorini for different types of travelers and how crowded Santorini gets in every season!
Read also: The best time to visit Greece, Santorini Honeymoon in Greece
The best time to visit Santorini in a nutshell
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Peak Season → June to mid-July |
Shoulder season (fall) → September and October |
Shoulder season (spring) → April and May |
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Peak season → June, July, and August |
Shoulder season (fall) → September |
Shoulder season (spring) → May |
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Shoulder season (spring) → March, April, and May |
Shoulder season (fall) → October |
Low season → November |
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Peak season → June to mid-July |
Shoulder season (spring) → April and May |
Shoulder season (fall) → September and October |
Tourist seasons in Santorini
Traditional whitewashed houses in Santorini
Santorini is probably the most popular island destination in Greece. And how couldn’t it be? Enthralling sunsets, sugar-cube houses, lunar beaches, infinity pools, and luxury caldera-hanging hotels create a unique scenery for a romantic holiday!
Although it seems that summer is the only season to visit Santorini (and the entire island complex of the Cyclades), that’s not the case. Scroll down to discover all the options you have!
Average temperatures in Santorini throughout the year
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Max (in °C) |
14 |
14 |
16 |
18 |
23 |
27 |
29 |
29 |
26 |
23 |
19 |
15 |
|
Min (in °C) |
12 |
12 |
14 |
16 |
20 |
24 |
26 |
26 |
24 |
21 |
17 |
13 |
Peak season
The tourist season in Santorini peaks in summer! The weather is sunny, the water temperature is warm enough for swimming, hotel rates peak, and hordes of tourists fill the island. Flights and ferries to/from Santorini are very frequent, so finding the flight or ferry route that serves you is very easy.
However, you should keep in mind that if you choose to visit Santorini in peak season (especially in July and August), you should book your hotel, activities, and transfers well in advance. Hotels are fully-booked in summer, so making your reservations at least 4-6 months earlier is highly recommended! June is a bit less crowded and a bit cheaper compared to July and August, so this month is the best option for those who want to visit Santorini in summer.
Shoulder season
Shoulder season in Santorini is divided between mid-late spring (April and May) and early-mid fall (September and October). The tourist season in Santorini begins around Easter time, with most hotels and restaurants opening their doors to welcome the first tourists. In spring, the water may be cold for swimming, but the temperatures are mild. This means it’s the perfect season for sightseeing and outdoor activities, like winery tours, cruises, and hiking.
The same applies to fall, with the difference that the water is still warm from summer, thus ideal for swimming and watersports. What’s more, in shoulder season, hotels are cheaper and crowds are fewer compared to peak season. Fall is probably the best time of the year to visit Santorini!
Low season
Low season in Santorini lasts from November until March. In winter, the temperatures in Santorini hover between 12 °C and 15 °C, so the weather is not ideal for swimming or sunbathing. However, if you want to save money on accommodation, see the sights without the crowds, and have a taste of the local culture, then low season might be the perfect option for you. Flights and ferry schedules in winter are not as frequent as they are in summer, but there are still daily connections between Santorini and Athens, as well as some other countries.
How crowded is Santorini per month?
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Crowd percentage |
10% |
10% |
20% |
50% |
70% |
90% |
100% |
100% |
90% |
50% |
20% |
10% |
The best time to visit Santorini for every type of vacation
Blue-domed chapels in Santorini
The best time to visit Santorini for a honeymoon or a romantic holiday
It’s not a secret: Santorini is a wildly popular destination for a honeymoon or a romantic holiday! Everything on the island looks like it has been popped out of a romantic movie: the breathtaking sunset, the dramatic caldera, the exclusive hotels…the list goes on and on. There’s no doubt that summer is the most romantic season to visit Santorini.
But, here’s the catch: peak season (mid-July to August) is when the island overflows with tourists, which is not romantic at all! So, if you want to go to Santorini in summer with your significant other, the best time to do so is from June to early July and September. Alternatively, you can opt for a spring or fall trip to Santorini. April, May, and October may be less popular months to visit Santorini, but -and trust us when we say that- they are the best option for a relaxing crowd-free holiday!
The best time to visit Santorini for yachting, sailing, swimming, and beaches
The best time to visit Santorini if you are a sea lover is from spring to early fall. More specifically, if you want to enjoy the island’s beaches and go swimming, the best months to visit Santorini are June, July, August, and September. During these months, the weather is warm with temperatures that reach 29 °C, while the water temperature is pleasant enough for swimming. However, keep in mind that Meltemi winds blow in the Cyclades in August, which means that wind conditions aren’t ideal for yachting. Make sure that you check the wind forecast before your trip!
The best time to visit Santorini for saving money
If you’re traveling on a budget or looking for a bargain, the best time to visit Santorini is either low season (November to March) or shoulder season (April, May, and October). However, low season is not a good option for swimming, sunbathing, and cruising, as the weather is colder with the temperatures hovering between 12 °C and 15 °C. If you want to score the best hotel deals AND enjoy the warm weather, then your best bet is shoulder season. More specifically, May and late October are the cheapest shoulder months.
The best time to visit Santorini with family/kids
There’s one rule for a family holiday in Santorini: August should be avoided -unless your interpretation of a relaxing family holiday is waiting in long lines and trying to navigate through alleys packed with tourists! The best time to visit Santorini with family/kids is either in April, May, and October or June-mid July and September. If you want to discover the authentic side of the island and relax, opt for the first, while if you want to enjoy the beaches opt for the latter.
The best time to visit Santorini for a relaxing holiday
The same rule that applies to family trips also applies to planning a relaxing holiday to Santorini: August is not an option. Santorini is less crowded between November and March, but the weather conditions aren’t ideal for a beach holiday, as it’s usually chilly and windy during these months. So, the second-best option is April, May, and October. The tourist period starts in April and ends in October, so during these months the island isn’t crowded and hotel rates drop, so you can enjoy a longer (and definitely more relaxing) stay.
The best time to visit Santorini for sightseeing, wine tours, and food
If you want to visit Santorini for sightseeing and wine tours, hot weather and warm waters are not your top priorities. This alone gives you more options! March, April, May, October, and November are your best bets. During these months, the weather is pleasant for outdoor activities, but the crowds are significantly fewer than in peak season. In shoulder season, all restaurants, wineries, museums, and attractions are open, though not as overcrowded as in peak season. If you want to avoid the crowds as much as possible, but still take advantage of the good weather, March, April, and November are the best months to visit Santorini.
The best time to visit Santorini for parties
Santorini is not known for its party scene, like other Cycladic islands (see Mykonos and Paros), but there are still many things going on during the summer. If you want to have a taste of Santorini’s party scene, the best time to visit is the second half of July and the whole month of August.
FAQs
We recommend staying in Santorini for 4 to 6 days, especially if you're planning to do activities like wine tours, cruises, and sightseeing. For those planning their honeymoon in Santorini, one week is the perfect amount of time for you to relax and enjoy the island with your significant other.
The temperatures in Santorini hover between 24 °C and 29 °C in the summer and can climb up to 35 °C at midday. However, thanks to the Meltemi winds that blown in the Aegean, Santorini doesn't get steaming hot.
The truth is that Santorini is one of the most expensive islands in Greece. Caldera hotels in Santorini are expensive, but they're totally worth it. The most expensive season in Santorini is the summer, so if you want to save some money, you best bet is to opt for the shoulder season (mid/early fall or mid/late spring).
Santorini is a safe island, but you should always take precautions. For example, you should keep in mind that there is a risk of accidents due to the island’s rocky landscape, so you should stay away from the cliffs. You should also keep an eye on your belongings, especially when you are in crowded places like Oia and Fira. Another risk in Santorini is car accidents, so you should always keep your mind on the road and never drive drunk.
Most shops in Santorini operate seasonally, meaning they are open only during the touristic season, from April to October. During this period, the shops are open every day, from 10 am to 10 pm or until midnight.
Some of the best things to do in Santorini are to watch the sunset in Oia, explore the volcano, go on a boat tour around Santorini, visit the museums, swim in the hot springs, partake in a wine tasting session, and hike from Fira to Oia.
Unlike the neighbouring Mykonos, which is famous for its wild party scene, Santorini is not a party island. However, you can still find many bars, cocktail bars, and night clubs in Fira. What's more, many beach parties take place at the island's beaches throughout the summer.
To sum up…
Summer might be the most popular season to visit Santorini, but there are way more options than you imagine. Shoulder season (spring and fall) is often best than summer, as the weather is good and hotel rates drop, but the island is not as overcrowded as in peak season.
So, what time of the year you’re planning to visit Santorini? And, if you’ve already been there, what time of the year did you go? Write your answers in the comments!
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