A Guide to Greece in June, July, & August: Advice for a Summer Trip
Greece is a year-round travel destination, with mild weather even in the winter months.
If it’s easiest for you to take a vacation in June and July, let’s go over the pros and cons of a summer trip to Greece.
Greece has faced a number of challenges over the last few years impacting tourists:
- Wildfires ravaging both mainland Greece and several islands.
- Heat-related deaths on hiking trails.
- Heat-related closures at the Acropolis.
- Overcrowding at the Acropolis.
Still, summer can be a great time to visit if you plan your trip accordingly. You’ll find sunny, dry weather, warm blue water to swim in, and vibrant island communities that really come alive in the summer months.
Pros and Cons of Visiting Greece in the Summer
While the shoulder season months of April, May, and September would be my top choices, summer is also a great time to visit Greece.
Reasons to Visit Greece in the Summer
- Sunny, dry weather, perfect for boating and beaches.
- More ferries are running to more islands.
- All tavernas and restaurants are fully staffed and open.
Drawbacks of a Summer Trip
- High temperatures raise the risk of wildfires and heat-related illnesses.
- Hotel room rates are higher, but rooms are still readily available and fairly priced.
- Ferries are crowded and often sold out.
Athens in the Summer
I live in Phoenix, so the heat in Athens doesn’t affect me. For most people, it’ll be a challenging part of a visit in June and July.
On a positive note, there’s very little humidity, so as we say in Arizona: “It’s a dry heat.”
Athens is a very walkable city, but any kind of walking tour here will require breaks through the day to cool off.
Athens Weather: June, July, & August
Daily highs range from 30°C to 35°C (86°F to 95°F) in July and August. It’s not uncommon for temperatures to top 104°F.
In 2023, it hit 118°F!
You’ll feel a bit of relief at night, as temperatures drop into the 70s.
Visiting the Acropolis in the Summer
The Acropolis is crowded year-round. Daily visitors are now limited to 20,000 (down from 23,000) but you’ll still feel like you’re in a sea of people at times.
The hike up to the ancient site can be challenging, especially in the summer. There are a few shady spots along the way to rest in.
Once you’re at the top of the Acropolis, there’s very little shade; you’re exposed to the sun most of the time. You’ll find people huddled under a grove of trees for shade, and also splashing their faces with water from a small fountain.
They have emergency medical personnel on site, to help people who get sick from the heat. You’ll also see people in small shacks, watching for any emergencies.
The best advice for a summertime visit is:
- Hydrate early by drinking a lot of water hours before your entry.
- Wear a hat for some cover.
- Bring extra water with you.
- Reapply your sunscreen before you enter.
- Seek out some relief in the few shady spots:
Greek Ferries in the Summer
You can fly to many of the Greek islands, but often times ferries make more sense.
If your itinerary is in place, I’d book your ferry tickets weeks before your trip to Greece, since many of the ships will sell out in the busy summer months.
Ferry Options for the Greek Islands
Using a website like Ferry Hopper will help you navigate the ferry options. You’ll find, for example, a ferry from Athens to Mykonos will take anywhere from 2.5 to 5 hours, and cost $40 to $100.
The bigger ferry companies include SeaJets, Blue Star, Super Express, and Fast Ferries.
On the islands themselves, you’ll also find much smaller water taxis and see cabs, fitting maybe 10-12 people.
Greek Ferry Prices
The rates vary quite a bit, depending on the kind of ferry you take and the distance you’re traveling.
I mentioned the range for a ferry ride from Athens to Mykonos. The 2-to-3-hour ride from Mykonos to Santorini will cost roughly $80.
You likely won’t save much money by taking one of the smaller water taxis. A recent trip of mine from Skopelos to Skiathos ran $150 for 2 people. It’s only about a 45-minute crossing.
Santorini & Mykonos in the Summer
These islands are global hotspots, but the big crowds can sometimes take away from a vacation.
Santorini is home to only around 15,000 permanent residents. On its busiest days, Santorini sees 10,000 tourists.
The island welcomed more than 1.3 million foreign visitors in 2023.
Both Santorini and Mykonos get around 200 cruise ships docking each summer, leading to throngs of ship passengers descending on the streets each day. Some ships carry more than 4,000 passengers.
Greek officials are widely expected to impose new caps on cruise ship docking at both Santorini and Mykonos.
Corfu in June/July/August
- Daily High Temperatures: 82°F to 90°F
- Daily Low Temperatures: 68°F to 75°F
- Rainfall: Slightly higher than other Greek islands, but less than 1 inch per month.
- Sea Water Temperature: 75°F to 79°F
Crete in the June/July/August
- Daily High Temperatures: 85°F to 95°F
- Daily Low Temperatures: 68°F to 77°F
- Rainfall: Minimal
- Sea Water Temperature: 75°F to 80°F
Naxos, Milos, Paros, & Sifnos in June/July/August
- Daily High Temperatures: 82°F to 90°F
- Daily Low Temperatures: 70°F to 77°F
- Rainfall: Minimal
- Sea Water Temperature: 75°F to 80°F
Less-Crowded Greek Islands
Let me propose visiting one of Greece’s many less-populated and less-visited islands. Skiathos and Skopelos are both well-known and touristy, but aren’t bombarded with hoards of tourists like Santorini and Mykonos.
Skiathos in Summer
Skiathos is a quick flight from Athens. The airport runway begins right on the water, so it’s a popular spot for avgeeks to gather to watch planes land right over their heads.
The town is charming, full of winding, walkable stone streets. It’s vibrant, and full of shops and restaurants.
At the port, you’ll find boats for day trips to other nearby islands, sunset cruises, sailing trips, and more.
Skiathos, like all Greek islands, is home to gorgeous beaches.
You can hike different trails on the island, or rent ATVs and cars to explore different towns and coves.
The only thing you can’t do on Skiathos is drink the water! Always use bottled water here.
Skopelos in Summer
Skopelos is quieter, and a bit harder to get to since the island doesn’t have an airport.
It really became famous after several scenes for the Mamma Mia movie were filmed here.
The ferry options from Skiathos to Skopelos include the giant SeaJets ferry (for about $20) and also smaller water taxis.
The town is built for tourism, lined with shops and restaurants. The best restaurant I found is called Anna’s, which requires a nice walk through the village.
You can rent ATVs or cars, or hike like we did, to beautiful beaches on Skopelos. Stafilos (or Stafylos) and Amarandos are two of my favorite. Another, Agnontas, has several seaside restaurants to relax at.
A tiny church at the top of a rocky staircase, made famous by the Mamma Mia movie, is also on Skopelos. It’s touristy, but worth a visit. And I found the souvlaki at the tiny beach cafe there to be surprisingly good!
In addition to the main Skopelos port town, I’d suggest taking the bus or a taxi over to Glossa and Loutraki. It’s a quiet side of the island, with a nice hotel and good restaurants serving locally-sourced food.
Summer Crowds and Overtourism in Greece
Around 35 million international tourists visit Greece each year, and the industry is a backbone of the economy.
The number of annual tourists is triple the number of people who actually live in Greece.
Overtourism is a challenge the Greek government is addressing, so in addition to caps on cruise ship dockings, we’re likely to see more changes in the years ahead.
The concerns include:
- Maintaining historic sites, like the Acropolis, and preventing damage from crowds.
- Increased demand for water
- Waste disposal
- Commercialization and loss of traditional culture and heritage.
- Short-term rentals (VRBO, Airbnb) driving up property prices and rent for local people.
- Crowded airports, ports, and public transit.
Wrap: Is Summer a Good Time to Visit Greece?
Again, for me, a visit to Greece sounds good any month of the year! Summer may be the hottest and most-crowded, but it also opens up more options for tourists. More ferries are running, and more shops and restaurants on the islands are open.
As you plan your trip to Greece, just keep the crowds in mind and try to book hotels and ferries earlier rather than later. Plus, if there’s a specific restaurant you want to eat at, make sure to make a reservation.
If you plan ahead, mentally prepare to be patient in the crowds, and hydrate well, you’ll have a wonderful time visiting Greece in June, July, and August!
