Santorini is the unofficial name of the Thera, the largest island of the group of volcanic islands called Santorin. The Santorin group is part of the Cyclades archipelago in the Aegean Sea. Inner coast of the island is sheer precipice with elevation of up 300 m while outer coasts are smooth beaches. Thera has rock terrain with altitude u to 500 m above sea level.

Climate of the island is typical Mediterranean. Southern and central portions of Thera are warmer than northern. Summer days are hot but by the evening temperature decreases to comfortable range. Rains are rare in summer. Winters are cool and wet, though temperatures are suitable for outside strolls.

Seasons

Contents:

• Spring
• Summer
• Autumn
• Winter

Spring in Santorini

March on Santorini is cool and rainy. Daily range of 16-10 °С (61-50 °F) is too cool for most of tourists. By the middle of April air warms up to 19 °С (66 °F) and cools to 12 °С (53 °F) at night. Also there are 8 hours of sunshine per day and less rainfall comparing to March. Second half of April is the beginning of busy season in Thera. In May warmth intensifies with 22 °С (71 °F) in the middle of a day and 15 °С (59 °F).

Temperature of the sea grows through whole season reaching 19 °С (66 °F) in late May. It may seem too cold for swimming nevertheless beach season opens in final weeks of spring.

Climate of the Spring Months

March Max average t°: +16 °C (60 °F) Min average t°: +11 °C (51 °F) Water t°: +16.5 °C (62 °F) Sundial in the day: 8.5 hours Rainy days: 2 days Precipitation: 33 mm (1.3")

April Max average t°: +18 °C (65 °F) Min average t°: +13 °C (55 °F) Water t°: +17 °C (63 °F) Sundial in the day: 10.5 hours Rainy days: 1 day Precipitation: 14 mm (0.5")

May Max average t°: +22 °C (72 °F) Min average t°: +16 °C (61 °F) Water t°: +19.5 °C (67 °F) Sundial in the day: 12.5 hours Rainy days: 1 day Precipitation: 11 mm (0.4")

Spring Holidays

March-April – Easter celebrations.
May – selection process for Art of Motion (parkour competition).
May 29 – The feast day of Agia Theodosia in Akrotiri village.

Summer in Santorini

Summer on Santorini means up to 13 hours of daylight per day, almost complete absence of rains and high temperatures. Such weather conditions are suitable for every activity on the island. But visitor should mind high exposure of the island to UV rays and have respective precautions. In June average daytime averages reach 27 °С (80 °F) in shade and sits around this mark through whole season. Nighttime averages are between 19 °C (66 °F) and 22 °С (71 °F).

Rains are rare in summer. In average there is only one rainy day in July. Weather might seem too hot, but breezes and the sea are easing heat. The sea continuously warms up through the season from 22 °С (71 °F) in June to 25 °С (77 °F) in August.

Climate of the Summer Months

June Max average t°: +27 °C (81 °F) Min average t°: +21 °C (69 °F) Water t°: +23 °C (73 °F) Sundial in the day: 14 hours Rainy days: 0 days Precipitation: 5 mm (0.2")

July Max average t°: +29 °C (84 °F) Min average t°: +23 °C (73 °F) Water t°: +24.5 °C (76 °F) Sundial in the day: 14 hours Rainy days: 0 days Precipitation: 0.3 mm (0.01")

August Max average t°: +29 °C (84 °F) Min average t°: +23 °C (73 °F) Water t°: +25 °C (77 °F) Sundial in the day: 13 hours Rainy days: 0 days Precipitation: 1.1 mm (0.04")

Summer Holidays

July – Santorini Jazz Festival.
July 1 – The feast day of Agioi Anargyroi in Megalochori village.
July 20 – The feast day of Profitis Ilias in Fira village.
July 24 – The feast day of Agios Ioannis in Monolithos village.
July 25 – The feast day of Agia Anni in Bothonos village.
July 27 – The feast day of Agia Anni in Bothonos village.

August – Megaron Gyzi Festival, Ifestia Festival, Aegean Regatta.
August 4 – The feast day of Agia Anni in Bothonos village.
August 6 – The feast day of Transfiguration of Christ.
August 15 – The feast day of the Diocese of Virgin Mary.
August 31 - the feast day of Agia Zoni in Kamari village.

Autumn in Santorini

In many ways autumn is the best time to visit the island. Summer heat changes to pleasant warmth. September has mild daily range of 25-20 °С (77-68 °F) and 24 °С (75 °F) of temperature of the sea. In October it cools down to 22 °С (71 °F) at afternoon and to 16 °С (61 °F) at night. Nov3mber is the only month with actual autumn weather. It has daily range of 17-13 °С (62-55 °F). And still the sea is as warm as 20 °С (68 °F).

Amount of precipitation doubles each month from 2 rainy days in September to 8 in November. Relatively frequent rainfall does not affect amount of sunshine. Even in November there are 8 hours of sunshine per day.

Climate of the Autumn Months

September Max average t°: +26 °C (79 °F) Min average t°: +20 °C (68 °F) Water t°: +24.5 °C (76 °F) Sundial in the day: 11.5 hours Rainy days: 1 day Precipitation: 14 mm (0.55")

October Max average t°: +22 °C (72 °F) Min average t°: +17 °C (63 °F) Water t°: +22 °C (72 °F) Sundial in the day: 9.5 hours Rainy days: 2 days Precipitation: 28 mm (1.1")

November Max average t°: +18 °C (65 °F) Min average t°: +14 °C (56 °F) Water t°: +20 °C (68 °F) Sundial in the day: 7.5 hours Rainy days: 3 days Precipitation: 33 mm (1.3")

Autumn Holidays

September - International Music Festival in Fira.
September 8 – The feast day of Holy Cross in Perissa.
September 20 – The feast day of Agios Efstathios in Kontohori village.
September 24 - The feast day of Mary Myrtidiotissa in Kamari village.
September 26 – The feast day of Agios Ioannis in Fira village.

October – Art of Motion main event.
October 10 – The feast day of Agia Zoni in Kamari village.
October 20 – The feast day of Agios Gerasimos in Firostefani village.
October 22 – The feast day of Agios Averkios, Patron of wine.
October 26 – The feast day of Agios Dimitrios in Messaria village.

November 1 – The feast day of Agios Anargyros in Messaria village.
November 11 – The feast day of Agios Minas in Fira village.
November 13 – The feast day of Agios Ioannis in Imerovigli village.

Winter in Santorini

Winter on the island is rainy. In fact half of annual amount of precipitation falls in winter. In general winter weather is rather unpredictable but sky is bright most of the time. Also amount of visitors dramatically decreases due changes of schedule of ferries rather than some weather issues. Daytime averages hover around 15 °С (59 °F) and 10 °С (50 °F) at night. The sea has around 17 °С (62 °F) so swimming is out of question.

Climate of the Winter Months

December Max average t°: +15 °C (59 °F) Min average t°: +11 °C (51 °F) Water t°: +18 °C (64 °F) Sundial in the day: 6 hours Rainy days: 5 days Precipitation: 53 mm (2.1")

January Max average t°: +14 °C (57 °F) Min average t°: +9 °C (49 °F) Water t°: +17 °C (63 °F) Sundial in the day: 6 hours Rainy days: 6 days Precipitation: 72 mm (2.8")

February Max average t°: +14 °C (57 °F) Min average t°: +10 °C (49 °F) Water t°: +16.5 °C (62 °F) Sundial in the day: 7 hours Rainy days: 5 days Precipitation: 54 mm (2.1")

Winter Holidays

December 6 – The feast day of Agios Nikolaos in Thira village.
December 9 – The feast day of Agia Anni in Bothonos village.
December 12 – The feast day of Agios Spyridon in the villages of Pyrgos, Emporio and Oia.
December 13 – The feast day of Agios Efstratios in Vourvoulos village.
December 15 – The feast day of Agios Eleftherios in Kontohori village.