Greece weather in December

What the weather is like in December

December is the wettest month (76mm) with the year's least sunshine (4.1 hours) and cool 14°C days. Athens and Thessaloniki put on Christmas markets and lights; the islands are effectively closed. Hotel rates in the cities are at their lowest outside the holiday week.

Against November, December runs 5°C cooler with much the same rainfall and 1 hour less sun a day.

These December averages are station normals for Athens (downtown) (National Observatory of Athens, via Wikipedia, 1991-2020); other parts of Greece vary. Full sources below.

Greece in December, on the ground

December is deep off-season in Greece. Athens and Thessaloniki carry on as normal, with Christmas lights in Syntagma Square and busy cafés, but most island hotels, beach bars and ferry routes are shut or reduced until spring.

Crowds and prices in December

Athens is at its emptiest and cheapest outside the Christmas and New Year week, and the major sites have no queues. On the islands, choice is very limited, so it is a city trip, not a beach one.

What to do in December

• Visit the Acropolis and the National Archaeological Museum without the summer crowds; on the first Sunday of the month, many state sites are free.
• Go skiing at Parnassos or Kalavryta, both within a few hours of Athens, if snow has arrived.
• Try the Christmas sweets, melomakarona and kourabiedes, from the city’s bakeries.

Before you book: Winter opening hours at archaeological sites are shorter, often closing mid-afternoon; check before you go.

What to pack for Greece in December

• Warm layers and a proper coat
• A scarf for chilly mornings

Is December the right month?

Greece's best month, May, is five months after December; the toughest, August, is four months before. If your dates can move, October is the nearest best-season month. For the best balance of good conditions and smaller crowds, aim for March. See the full month-by-month breakdown for Greece, or where else to go in December.