Greece Weather in January

Season: winter
In short: cold and rainy

Ruins of Delphi

In general, the weather of Greece in January can be summarized as cold and rainy, which is not the best time to travel to this country to some extent. It is the coldest month of the whole year. The average temperature in January is 3-12℃ (37.4-53.6℉). Sometimes the temperature of its mountains can drop below freezing. It is more likely to be gloomy and rain a lot in this month, and among the 31 days, there are 13 rainy days on average. But you do not have to worry much about the weather condition because it does not remain cloudy or rainy for days on end. In colder northern regions and mountain areas, it may be snowy in cold January. 

The coldest cities in Greece in January:
Thessaloniki: 2-10℃ (35.6-50℉), Olympia: 5-14℃ (41-57.2℉) 
The warmest cities in Greece in January:
Santorini: 10-15℃ (50-59℉), Rhodes: 10-15℃ (50-59℉)

What to Wear and Pack

As January is the coldest month, you need to keep warm as much as possible. Sweater, trench coat and thick sweat pants are advised if you travel to Greece in this month. It is often windy on islands and it cools down quickly in the evening. Therefore packing a thermal shirt and windbreaker in your suitcase is also a good idea. If you plan to visit attractions on mountains, it is wise to carry a light down coat and light and comfortable shoes. Besides, you’re likely to meet some rainy days in this month, so make sure that raingear is carried.

Where to Go & What to Do

Tourism Rate: 

Due to the cold climate, January in Greece is not suitable for a trip to coastal areas and Mediterranean islands, but you can visit human landscapes instead, which are no less attracting even in cold days and worth visiting all year round. January is the low season for tourism when air tickets and accommodations are cheap and there is no need to queue up to check in at famous scenic spots, so you can slow down to enjoy your trip. 

Athens 

Acropolis of Athens is located on a hill of the center of Athens. Founded in 580 BC, it is a sacred place dedicated to Athena, the patron deity of this city. The Temple of Athena and some religious buildings were earliest built. Parthenon Temple and Acropolis Museum are also popular attractions in Athens, which are all the symbol of the profound history of the country. Temple of Zeus, the largest temple of ancient Greece, is also worth visiting. You can also have a tour of Hadrian’s Library, Ancient Agora and Syntagma Square. Besides, there are many wonderful mythological stories about ancient Greece, and in the above places, you will have a deep feeling about them. For a better visiting experience, you can learn some stories on the Internet in advance. When going to attractions on mountains such as the Acropolis, please be careful when going up the hill to avoid slipping. 

Temple of Erechtheion in Acropolis

Olympia

Olympia is the birthplace of Olympic Games. In Olympia, you can climb to the highest point of the stadium to admire the view, open your arms to take pictures under the Olympic rings and collect torches and posters for each Olympic Games to fully feel the sportsmanship of this game. Olympia is a great place to visit all year round. But in January, tickets for the heritage site and museum is half price, which makes the visit more cost-effective.

Archaeological Site of Olympia

Epiphany on January 6

Greek celebrate the Epiphany on every January 6, marking the end of the twelve-day Christmas season. Unique activities of blessing are held on this day throughout Greece every year. At that time, the priest throws a cross into the water, and then young people rush to jump into the water to retrieve it. The lucky ones who get the cross first will receive good luck. This ceremony commemorates the baptism of Jesus. If you plan to travel to Greece in January 2025, remember to watch the celebrations of Epiphany.

Weather of Major Greece Cities in January

City	Temp	Rainfall (mm)	Humidity (%)	Sunrise / Sunset
Athens	7 - 14℃ (44.6 - 57.2℉)	51.9	68	7:30 - 7:41 / 17:16 - 17:46
Santorini	10 - 15℃ (50 - 59℉)	119.0	67	7:20 - 7:29 / 17:13 - 17:42
Patra	6 - 14℃ (42.8 - 57.2℉)	49.4	77	7:39 - 7:49 / 17:23 - 17:54
Delphi	7 - 14℃ (44.6 - 57.2℉)	51.9	68	7:31 - 7:42 / 17:13 - 17:44
Olympia	5 - 14℃ (41 - 57.2℉)	105.9	78	7:38 - 7:48 / 17:25 - 17:55
Crete	9 - 15℃ (48.2 - 59℉)	92.2	72	7:20 - 7:28 / 17:18 - 17:47
Rhodes	10 - 15℃ (50 - 59℉)	109.5	72	7:09 - 7:18 / 17:02 - 17:31
Mykonos	8 - 14℃ (46.4 - 57.2℉)	114.3	69	7:23 - 7:33 / 17:11 - 17:41
Corfu	6 - 14℃ (42.8 - 57.2℉)	131.5	80	7:49 - 8:01 / 17:26 - 17:58
Thessaloniki	2 - 10℃ (35.6 - 50℉)	41.4	75	7:39 - 7:52 / 17:11 - 17:44
Zakynthos	7 - 14℃ (44.6 - 57.2℉)	108.2	74	7:41 - 7:51 / 17:27 - 17:58
Meteora	7 - 14℃ (44.6 - 57.2℉)	51.9	68	7:30 - 7:41 / 17:14 - 17:45