May is an ideal time to visit Athens if you're seeking a destination with brilliant weather. Anticipate average maximum temperatures of +24°C and about 16 sunny days, ensuring you'll have ample opportunities to soak up the sunshine. It's worth noting, though, that there may be some rainfall, with approximately 19 mm of precipitation over an average of 5 rainy days. So, prepare your sunglasses, a beach towel, and great walking shoes, as it's most likely going to be amazing weather. Search flightsin one click on Avionero.
Average weather
☀️
+24°C
Avg. max. temperature
+7°C
Min.
+37°C
Max.
19 mm
Total precipitation
55%
Avg. humidity
3 m/s
Avg. wind
16 ☀️
Sunny Days
7 ⛅️
Cloudy
5 🌦
Rainy
Our opinion: Athens has great weather in May.
Average temperature in Athens in May
Here are the expected maximum, average and minimum temperatures in Athens for May based on the historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
Going from a maximum of +27°C during the day to a minimum of +13°C during the night, the temperature in May averages around +23°C.
The average maximum temperature goes up 43% by the end of the month, compared with the beginning of the month, from +19°C to +25°C.
Is Athens warm or cold in May?
Athens is typically warm in May.
Maximum temperatures go up compared to the previous month from +19°C to +24°C. The minimum temperature also goes up from +11°C to +16°C.
It’s generally warm, but pack a long-sleeve shirt for evenings.
Take a look at how May is compared to other months in Athens:
Water temperature in Athens in May
Water in Athens in May is Fresh. It varies from +16°C to +21°C, with an average of +19°C.The air temperature averaging +24°C is higher than the water temperature.
In May, water temperatures are average relative to the rest of the year:
The warmest water temperatures in Athens are reached in August, when the average sea temperature rises to +26°C. The coldest water temperatures are in February, with an average of +15°C.
Can you swim in Athens in May?
Water temperature (+19°C) in Athens in May might be suited for short swims and acclimatized swimmers might find it refreshing.
🦭
Cold
Below +16°C
🏄♂️
Fresh
16°C - 21°C
🏊
Comfortable
21°C - 25°C
👙
Warm
25°C - 28°C
🔥
Very warm
+28°C and up
Think of bringing a full-body or shorty wetsuit (3mm-5mm thickness) to provide insulation and maintain body heat.
Climate in Athens in May
Athens weather looks like this, on average, in May and the surrounding months.
April
May
June
Avg. temperature
+19°C
+24°C
+29°C
Min. temperature
+3°C
+7°C
+12°C
Max. temperature
+30°C
+37°C
+40°C
Rainfall
43 mm
19 mm
12 mm
Wind
3 m/s
3 m/s
3 m/s
Avg. water temperature
+16°C
+19°C
+23°C
Humidity
60%
55%
49%
Air pressure
1012 HPa
1012 HPa
1011 HPa
Sunny days
13
16
22
Cloudy days
9
7
3
Rainy days
7
5
2
Snowy days
0
0
0
May often has better weather than April.It’s getting warmer as May arrives. The average maximum temperature goes up from +19°C to +24°C during the day.As May arrives, the amount of rainfall goes down. On average, the rainfall volume decreases from 43 mm to 19 mm.It feels drier, as humidity decreases from 60% to 55%.The average wind speed doesn’t change much during May, staying around 3 m/s.The good news is there are likely to be more sunny days in May, from 13 to 16.
June brings much the same weather, it remains great.
Wind speed in Athens in May based on historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
The average wind speed is 4 m/s getting up to 7 m/s which is a medium breeze. You can feel it, especially getting out of the water.
The average wind speed in Athens is gradually increasing during May, going from 1 m/s to 2 m/s over the course of the month.
Rain
Amount of rainfall in mm during May in Athens based on historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
Typically, there is a 65% chance of rain on an average day in May, with total rainfall of approximately 141 mm. The maximum amount of rainfall per day is around 38 mm, which is moderate rain.May is a pretty wet month with over 20 rainy days, so don’t forget to pack an umbrella, raincoat, and a pair of galoshes.
Here’s how May is compared with other months in the amount of precipitation, total mm:
Athens wettest month is December, where a typical day has a 35% chance of precipitation and 114 mm of rainfall per day. July, on the other hand, is the driest month with a mere 3% chance of precipitation and 6 mm of rainfall per day.
How was the weather last May in Athens?
This is the weather in Athens in May 2023:
1 May
☀️
+19°C
2 May
🌧️
+21°C
3 May
☀️
+23°C
4 May
☀️
+21°C
5 May
🌧️
+18°C
6 May
☁️
+21°C
7 May
☀️
+25°C
8 May
☀️
+25°C
9 May
☀️
+20°C
10 May
☀️
+19°C
11 May
☀️
+18°C
12 May
☀️
+21°C
13 May
☀️
+22°C
14 May
☀️
+24°C
15 May
☀️
+26°C
16 May
☀️
+26°C
17 May
☀️
+26°C
18 May
☀️
+25°C
19 May
☀️
+25°C
20 May
☀️
+26°C
21 May
🌧️
+24°C
22 May
☁️
+23°C
23 May
☁️
+24°C
24 May
☀️
+24°C
25 May
☀️
+26°C
26 May
☀️
+27°C
27 May
☀️
+26°C
28 May
☀️
+25°C
29 May
☁️
+25°C
30 May
☀️
+25°C
31 May
☀️
+25°C
In May 2023 Athens had 24 sunny days, 4 cloudy days, and 3 rainy days. The average maximum temperature was +23°C, with an absolute maximum of +27°C and a minimum of +18°C. The average humidity was 66%, with a maximum of 100% and a minimum of 33%. The average wind speed was 4 m/s, with a maximum of 11 m/s and a minimum of 0 m/s.
Are you planning a trip in May?
Climate Change over Years
This is how Athens climate have been changing during last 43 years period.
The climate in Athens in May has not changed much over the last 43 years.
The average temperature was the lowest in 1980 (+20°C) and the highest in 2023 (+23°C). The driest year was 2000 with only 170 mm of rainfall, and the wettest year was 2022 with 5004 mm.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about the weather in Athens in May:
Is May a good time to visit Athens?
Yes, May is a great time to go to Athens, the weather couldn’t be better. Be ready to get outside, explore and enjoy. Check what other months that are a good time to visit Athens.
Can you sunbathe in Athens in May?
May is warm in Athens. You may enjoy some beach or pool time in the day, but pack something a tad warmer for the evening.
Can you swim in Athens in May?
In general, you can swim in Athens in May, if you want to, at an average water temperature of +19°C. But it will feel quite cool, and some precautions are necessary to ensure your comfort and safety.
Is Athens rainy in May?
Athens is usually dry in May. Plan your packing around outdoor activities and exploring.
Is it sunny in Athens in May?
The amount of sunny days in Athens during May varies; prepare for a mix of clouds and sun.
For this page, we’ve looked at the typical weather in Athens, based on historical hourly weather data from January 1, 1979, to December 31, 2023.
For past dates, we show actual recorded data at the location at that time. Forecasts are based on recorded weather during that day of the year, averaged over the total years for which we have records (unless stated otherwise). The daily temperature is the highest recorded temperature in the shadow during that day.
