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Best time to visit Chios: month by month
Short answer
May, June and September are the best months, with highs of about 19–28°C, warm sea and almost no rain. July and August are hot (about 28°C average highs, hotter on many days) and busiest with Greek visitors; Easter brings the Rouketopolemos at Vrontados.
Month by month
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 8°C | 2°C | 16 | low |
| Feb | 8°C | 2°C | 9 | low |
| Mar | 8°C | 2°C | 11 | low |
| Apr | 13°C | 6°C | 8 | medium |
| May | 19°C | 10°C | 4 | medium |
| Jun | 23°C | 15°C | 3 | medium |
| Jul | 28°C | 19°C | 0 | high |
| Aug | 28°C | 19°C | 1 | very high |
| Sep | 23°C | 15°C | 3 | medium |
| Oct | 17°C | 10°C | 4 | low |
| Nov | 14°C | 7°C | 11 | low |
| Dec | 10°C | 5°C | 14 | low |
Temperatures and rainy days: Copernicus ERA5 averages, 2021–2023. Crowd levels are our estimate.
Season by season
Spring (Mar–May)
Highs rise from about 8°C in March to 19°C in May in the data, with 4–11 rainy days a month; Easter is the big festival.
Summer (Jun–Aug)
Dry and warm, with highs of about 23–28°C and almost no rain; the mastic harvest begins in July.
Autumn (Sep–Nov)
September is about 23°C and still good for swimming; October cools to about 17°C, and November brings more rain.
Winter (Dec–Feb)
Cool and rainy, with highs of about 8–10°C and 9–16 rainy days; Chios town stays open, many beach hotels close.
Events worth planning around
- Greek Orthodox Easter, with the Rouketopolemos (rocket war) between two churches at Vrontados (March, April or May)
- Feast of Agia Markella at Volissos (22 July)
- Feast of the Dormition, 15 August
- Mastic harvest in the southern villages (July–September)
When to avoid
Mid-August is the busiest and most expensive time, with ferries and rooms booked by Greek visitors. In winter, ferries are fewer and many beach hotels close.
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Common questions
What is the best month to visit Chios?
June or September: warm, dry and calmer than July–August.
When is the mastic harvest?
Roughly July to September, in the southern mastic villages.
When is the Rouketopolemos?
On the night of Greek Orthodox Easter Saturday, at Vrontados.