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Weather in Greece in May – is it worth traveling to?

Is the weather good for travel in May? Find out what the weather is like in Greece to plan your trip accordingly.
Check flight prices to Greece on Avionero:
May

Is the weather good in Greece in May 2024?

Great Weather
Mild
☀️
Sunny

For the past few decades, the average daily temperatures in Greece during May have been around +22°C.

In Greece the temperature rarely varies more than seven degrees between the different parts with the highest temperature +22°C in Kalamata to +20°C in Skiathos. So you should be able to pack for similar conditions wherever you go in the country.

Temperature, wind and humidity in May

Average
Athens
Heraklion
Kalamata
Kavala
Preveza
Skiathos
Thessaloniki
Rhodes
Karpathos
Kos
Naxos
Paros
Samos
Zakinthos Island
Chania
Kerkyra Island
Mykonos
☀️
+22°C
Avg. max. temperature
+7°C
Min.
+38°C
Max.
21 mm
Total precipitation
70%
Avg. humidity
2 m/s
Avg. wind
17 ☀️
Sunny Days
12 ⛅️
Cloudy
2 🌦
Rainy
Our opinion: Greece has great weather in May.
Greece in May – what city is the…
  • rainiest? Kavala, with an average of 1 mm of rain and humidity of 71%;
  • warmest? Kalamata, with daytime temperatures averaging +25°C;
  • windiest? Karpathos, with an average of 5 m/s;
  • coolest? Skiathos, with daytime temperatures averaging +20°C;

How good is the weather in Greece in May?

During May, the Greece offers great weather: average air pressure of around 1013 HPa, 23 sunny days and as little as 58 mm in precipitation and 1 rainy days. The humidity, of course, varies depending on whether you're near the coast, inland, or up in the mountains – in May the range is between 54% in Athens and 80% in Kos.

How warm is it in Greece during May?

There is rarely a shortage of sun in Greece and heat during May – a country to travel to thaw out in daytime temperatures around +22°C degrees.

This is how hot it usually is in May

The average daily temperatures above don't tell you everything about how hot it can be in Greece. For example, cold nights can make a big difference for those staying in tents or unheated houses. Extra hot days, on the other hand, can make a big difference for those who plan to engage in demanding physical training or competition. So here are some more temperatures for May:
Average
Athens
Heraklion
Kalamata
Kavala
Preveza
Skiathos
Thessaloniki
Rhodes
Karpathos
Kos
Naxos
Paros
Samos
Zakinthos Island
Chania
Kerkyra Island
Mykonos
  • Average maximum temperature for the month: +22°C;
  • Average minimum temperature for the month: +17°C;
  • Highest monthly temperature: +24°C;
  • Lowest monthly temperature: +15°C;

Monthly temperatures:

Average
Athens
Heraklion
Kalamata
Kavala
Preveza
Skiathos
Thessaloniki
Rhodes
Karpathos
Kos
Naxos
Paros
Samos
Zakinthos Island
Chania
Kerkyra Island
Mykonos
  • Warmest: July with an average +28°C during the day;
  • Coldest: January with an average +13°C of the day;
  • Hottest month in hottest city: July in Kalamata;
  • Coldest month in coolest city: January in Kavala;

Winds in Greece during May

Wind speed in Greece in May based on historical data:
Average
Athens
Heraklion
Kalamata
Kavala
Preveza
Skiathos
Thessaloniki
Rhodes
Karpathos
Kos
Naxos
Paros
Samos
Zakinthos Island
Chania
Kerkyra Island
Mykonos

May tends to offer light winds averaging 3 m/s. However, coastal cities may experience breezes during the mornings and afternoons.

Comparison between cities in May:

  • Highest average wind speed: Kos with 6 m/s;
  • Lowest average wind speed: Kalamata with 1 m/s;
  • Windiest day of the month: Karpathos with 6 m/s;
  • The least windy day of the month: Kalamata with 1 m/s;

Humidity and precipitation in Greece in May

Amount of rainfall in mm during May in Greece based on historical data:
Average
Athens
Heraklion
Kalamata
Kavala
Preveza
Skiathos
Thessaloniki
Rhodes
Karpathos
Kos
Naxos
Paros
Samos
Zakinthos Island
Chania
Kerkyra Island
Mykonos
May tends to be an extremely humid month with 70% humidity and 58 mm rainfall. In general the humidity tends to be a little lower in mountainous regions and more humid closer to water.

Comparison between cities in May:

Average
Athens
Heraklion
Kalamata
Kavala
Preveza
Skiathos
Thessaloniki
Rhodes
Karpathos
Kos
Naxos
Paros
Samos
Zakinthos Island
Chania
Kerkyra Island
Mykonos
  • Highest average rainfall: Kavala with 45 mm;
  • Lowest average rainfall: Karpathos with 6 mm;
  • Most number of rainy days: Kavala with 5 rainy days;
  • Least number of rainy days: Rhodes with 1 rainy days;
  • Highest risk of rain during the day: Kavala with 16%;
  • Least risk of rain during the day: Rhodes with 3%;
  • Highest average humidity: Kos with 80%;
  • Lowest average humidity: Athens with 54%;

Tips for traveling to Greece in May

Looking for some tips for traveling to the sun, snow, or whatever you're aiming for Greece? Activities, weather, and clothing are closely linked. In addition, it's important to pack only what you really need so you don't have to worry about heavy packing or paying extra baggage fees.

Here is some advice on what to pack and what kind of activities you can do in the Greece based on the weather that May is expected to bring. The advice applies to the country as a whole – local weather and possible activities may differ somewhat.

Sunny, mild weather with light winds and very high humidity in May
Avionero

Pack right for May

The weather makes a difference when it comes to packing - especially which items should go in your suitcase. The tips below are designed to help you pack light and right without carrying more than necessary.
  • Sunshine does give you a nice color and a boost of vitamin D. However, if you don't have a lot of skin pigment, you should sunbathe carefully to avoid burning yourself, getting sun rash and, in the worst case scenario, skin cancer. This is where sunscreens and opaque clothing work particularly well. Another safe way is to stay in the shade when the sun burns the most, roughly between 9 am and 3 pm.
  • Cool weather is between warm and cold. This means you can bring long pants and/or a longer skirt and an extra sweater. Be aware that cool days can alternate with cold nights - it may be wise to also pack a hat, gloves and a scarf.
  • Light winds are probably most comfortable in hot weather but is cooling in cool and cold weather. If it is hot (when the air temperature is about 30 degrees), the wind can have a warming effect. A thin, windproof jacket and long trousers help to counteract these effects.
  • High humidity means that the air conducts heat to and from the skin more easily. For example, if the air is hot (above skin temperature), it will be harder to stay cool. On the other hand, if the air is cool or cold, it is more difficult to stay warm. In high humidity, the choice of clothing makes less of a difference. However, your physical activity plays a bigger role.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about the weather in Greece in May:

What can you do outside when it's warm in Greece?

Bathing and sunbathing can be suitable. Warm (but not hot) days are also good for activities that are not so physically demanding: sightseeing on foot, by boat, on a scooter, camel riding. You can also exercise easily as long as you make sure to cool down and quench thirst.

Is May a good time to visit Greece?

Yes, May is a great time to go to Greece, the weather couldn’t be better, so be ready to be outside to explore and enjoy. Check other months when is a good time to visit Greece.

Monthly weather in Greece

Source of the data

For this page, we’ve looked at the typical weather in Greece, based on historical hourly weather data from January 1, 1979, to December 31, 2022.

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.