Best time to sail

Best time to sail in Greece

The best time to sail in Greece is April to November, with peak conditions in June and September.

That verdict comes from 1991–2020 climate normals — wind, rain, sunshine, and air temperature — scored week by week for charter conditions across 5 sailing areas.

Open Greece in the interactive calendar

Boat Rental in Greece: The Complete Guide to Greek Yacht Charters

Discover everything you need to know about boat rental in Greece — from the best sailing regions and seasonal weather to costs, licensing requirements, and a complete 7-day Ionian island itinerary for your Greece yacht charter.

Read the country guide

Sailing conditions in Greece, month by month

Mean weekly values across our sailing areas in Greece. The sail score weighs wind, rain, sun, and temperature — and discounts tropical-storm season where one applies.

Temperature (°C)

  • Air
  • Water
0102030JFMAMJJASOND17°11°16°11°16°13°17°15°20°19°24°23°26°26°27°26°26°23°23°19°21°16°19°13°

Wind (kn)

051015JFMAMJJASOND12 kn11 kn10 kn9 kn8 kn8 kn8 kn9 kn9 kn9 kn10 kn11 kn

Rain (mm/day)

024JFMAMJJASOND2.9 mm2.4 mm1.8 mm1.2 mm0.7 mm0.3 mm0.1 mm0.1 mm0.6 mm2 mm3.2 mm3.2 mm

Sun (h/day)

051015JFMAMJJASOND12 h12 h12 h12 h12 h12 h12 h12 h12 h12 h12 h12 h
MonthSail scoreWind (kn)Rain (mm/day)Sun (h/day)Temp (°C)Water (°C)
JanuaryFair122.9121117
FebruaryFair112.4121116
MarchFair101.8121316
AprilExcellent91.2121517
MayExcellent80.7121920
JuneExcellent80.3122324
JulyExcellent80.1122626
AugustExcellent90.1122627
SeptemberExcellent90.6122326
OctoberExcellent92121923
NovemberExcellent103.2121621
DecemberFair113.2121319

Sailing areas in Greece

Every area below is scored individually in the interactive calendar; where we have an in-depth guide, it's linked.

Cyclades

Advanced

Best conditions around July 27

Aegean classic — strong summer meltemi, postcard whitewashed villages.

Read the guide

Dodecanese

Intermediate

Best conditions around July 27

Rhodes-Kos corner with steady winds and Crusader ports.

Read the guide

Ionian Islands

Beginner-friendly

Best conditions around July 27

Light, predictable winds; the easiest Greek charter region for families.

Read the guide

Saronic Gulf

Beginner-friendly

Best conditions around July 27

Athens-adjacent, sheltered, short hops — ideal first Greek week.

Read the guide

Sporades

Beginner-friendly

Best conditions around August 3

Pine-clad islands north of Skiathos, light breezes.

Read the guide

Frequently asked questions

When is the best time to sail in Greece?

April to November offers the most reliable conditions, with June and September scoring best for wind, rain, sunshine, and temperature in the 1991–2020 climate normals.

When is the cheapest time to charter in Greece?

The shoulder months — April and November — usually combine good sailing conditions with fewer crowds and lower charter prices than the peak in June and September.

How warm is it in Greece in June?

Around 23 °C air temperature on average in June, with about 12 hours of sun a day.

How warm is the water in Greece in June?

Around 24 °C sea-surface temperature on average in June, based on 2023–2025 marine averages.

Method: 1991–2020 weekly climate normals (wind, rain, sunshine, air temperature) per sailing area, combined into a 0–1 sail score for charter conditions; tropical-storm season is applied as a discount. Sea-surface temperature comes from 2023–2025 marine averages. This page updates automatically as new sailing areas are added.