Greece Weather in May

Season: summer
In short: warm, sunny and long daytime

May is the beginning of summer in Greece. It is warm but not hot: at the beginning of the month, the average temperature is around 20℃ (68℉); by the end, it can rise to 24-26℃ (75.2-78.8℉). There is not much precipitation in this month, with an average of 35mm (1.4in). In other words, it is sunny almost every day, bringing plenty of sunshine. For instance, Athens can be bathed in sunshine for over 9 hours per day. The sun rises at 6:00-7:00 and sets at 20:00-21:00, which provides long daytime for traveling.   

What to Wear & Pack

Considering the climate condition of Greece in May, it is recommended to wear lightweight clothes such as T-shirts, light pants and summer dress and breathable shoes such as casual shoes. In the morning and evening, it may be cool, making a thin jacket or trench coat necessary. The same applies to when going out to the sea because it is often windy. At hot noon, you can wear a bikini to bask in the sun. At the same time, sun protection items including sunglasses, sunhats and sunscreens are advised to resist strong UV rays. 

Best Things to Do in Greece in May

Tourism Rate: 

May is one of the best times to travel to Greece, when there are plenty of sunny days, adequate supplies for tourists and less crowds in attractions. You can go to any destination you wish to have a happy holiday. Here are two kinds of tours recommended. 

Mediterranean Islands Tour

Mediterranean Islands are must-visit places for tourists traveling to Greece. If you want to beat the crowds in high season and enjoy a slow-paced travel, you can schedule your islands tour in May 2025. 

The tour can start with Santorini. It is a romantic and dreamy island in Mediterranean Sea. The blue and white houses and churches are the symbols of there. In this island, you can explore volcanic craters, visit black sand beaches, admire traditional Greek architectures and enjoy the “most beautiful sunset”. The next can be Mykonos. It boasts more than 30 beaches, where you can lie down to enjoy the sun quietly. The windmills on the island are also attractive for tourists. Besides, Mykonos is known for its colorful nightlife. You can enjoy yourself in unique pubs and cafes in the evening. Crete, Zakynthos, Rhodes and Corfu also attracts a lot of visitors every year from all over the world. You can choose among them according to your preference.

Tips:

1. Taking cruise may be the prime way to tour among the different Mediterranean Islands. Remember to carry some medicine for seasickness if you get seasick.
2. The sea temperature is around 18-20℃ (64.4-68℉) in May. You can decide whether to go swimming in the sea or not according to your personal physical situation.

Historical Sites Exploration 

The historical tour often begins with Athens, the capital of Greece, which has abundant historical sites. The Acropolis of Athens is the most famous destination in this city. There are many attractions worth visiting in the site, such as the Temple of Athena, Parthenon Temple, and Acropolis Museum. In downtown Athens, you can watch the Changing Ceremony of Guards in Syntagma Square, listen to the Greek stories in Ancient Agora and shop in the Monastirak Square. Next, in Olympia, you can learn about the origin of Olympic Games and collect torches and posters for each game. Transferring to Delphi, you can visit the remains of temples, altars, columns, statues and theaters to have a deep understanding of ancient Greek mythology. Besides, the history of Greece can also be learned from Archaeological Site of Mycenae, Archaeological Site of Epidaurus, etc.
 

Tip:

As many of the above attractions are located on mountains, please be careful during the hike to avoid falling over.

Weather of Major Greece Cities in May

City	Temp	Rainfall (mm)	Humidity (%)	Sunrise / Sunset
Athens	17 - 26℃ (62.6 -78.8℉)	18.4	54	6:04 - 6:29 / 20:15 - 20:40
Santorini	18 - 24℃ (64.4 - 75.2℉)	11.3	63	6:02 - 6:25 / 20:05 - 20:29
Patra	14 - 24℃ (57.2 - 75.2℉)	15.9	70	6:12 - 6:37 / 20:23 - 20:49
Delphi	17 - 26℃ (62.6 -78.8℉)	18.4	54	6:02 - 6:27 / 20:16 - 20:42
Olympia	13 - 25℃ (55.4 - 77℉)	17.0	70	6:14 - 6:38 / 20:23 - 20:48
Crete	15 - 24℃ (59 - 75.2℉)	12.2	67	6:07 - 6:29 / 20:05 - 20:28
Rhodes	18 - 24℃ (64.4 - 75.2℉)	14.4	72	5:51 - 6:14 / 19:54 - 20:18
Mykonos	16 - 25℃ (60.8 - 77℉)	16.2	63	5:59 - 6:24 / 20:08 - 20:33
Corfu	15 - 25℃ (59 - 77℉)	35.1	73	6:15 - 6:41 / 20:33 - 21:00
Thessaloniki	14 - 25℃ (57.2 - 77℉)	42.3	63	6:00 - 6:27 / 20:23 - 20:51
Zakynthos	15 - 25℃ (59 - 77℉)	10.8	64	6:16 - 6:41 / 20:26 - 20:51
Meteora	17 - 26℃ (62.6 -78.8℉)	18.4	54	6:03 - 6:28 / 20:15 - 20:41