The best time to visit the Greek islands, like Santorini, Mykonos, Corfu and Kefalonia (Argostoli), is in October when the weather is still warm and the crowds are few. The Greek islands are an all-year-round vacation destination, with temperatures ranging from 50°F (10°C) to approximately 100°F (38°C).
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Greek islands which are smaller and less touristic have a shorter season, larger islands like Crete, Corfu and Santorini have extended seasons sometimes up to full year. Hotels have different opening/closing dates but the general rule for islands is that they open in April and close at end October.
The average high in Santorini in October is 23oC, so it is still warm and lovely, even though you may need to pack a warmer jumper for after sunset. At night, the temps can drop to 16oC-18oC. Generally, though, October may be a cooler month than September but it's by far warmer than most European summer months.
Towards the middle of October, the Aegean and Ionian seas begin to cool, and there are more cloudy days. In the last week or so, the average rainfall begins to increase, and you'll want to bring warmer clothes if you want to visit Greece in October, especially during that time.
With average daily high temperatures in the mid-70s Fahrenheit, it's usually still warm enough in early October to sunbathe in comfort and to dine outside at night, with little chance of rain. By mid-October the Ionian and Aegean seas are cooling quickly; if you love to swim, go early in the month.
The fact that it's less crowded in October often leads people to worry that Santorini is dead during the fall. That's simply not the case. Restaurants and tourist attractions open as early as April and stay open through October, November or all year round.
Travelers flock to Greece year-round, but some months are better to visit than others, especially if you're keen to explore beaches, avoid the masses, or score a deal on a hotel room. Here are the main tourist seasons to keep in mind: High Season: June to September. Shoulder Seasons: April to May and October.
Winter (late October through mid-March) is colder, with some rainfall. Sights may close during lunch, tourist information offices keep shorter hours, and some tourist activities vanish altogether. Hotel rates are soft; look for bargains.
Tourist season in Greece is roughly Easter through October. Peak season is summer, when Athens is packed with tourists, and hotel prices can be high. July and August are the hottest. The best time to visit is late spring (May) and fall (Sept–Oct).
What are the hottest places in Europe in October? The warmest place in mainland Europe in October is Cyprus (26°C) followed by Malta (25ºC), Dalyan (25ºC) in southern Turkey and the Greek island of Kos (25ºC).
While short pants, skirts and short-sleeved t-shirts are essential fording the perfect layered outfit, make sure that a sweater, light jacket, long pants and comfortable walking shoes are part of your ensemble as at this time of tyear the weather can change from hot to chilly within minutes.
October is a great month to explore the vast landscape of Crete, especially the mountains. The temperatures are not as high as in summer which means that you can enjoy much longer walks in great comfort and without melting under the sun.
The perfect packing list. While short pants, skirts and short-sleeved t-shirts are essential fording the perfect layered outfit, make sure that a sweater, light jacket, long pants and comfortable walking shoes are part of your ensemble as at this time of tyear the weather can change from hot to chilly within minutes.
October is an ideal time to visit Santorini. Many seasonal flights and restaurants finish for the year this month which means that, despite it being shoulder season, the crowds that filled Santorini over recent months are gone.
And, yes, you can also swim in Santorini in October. In fact, the sea is sometimes even warmer than in June! Plus, you get a little extra when visiting the island's shores as October is a low-tourism month.