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Best time to visit Thessaloniki: month by month
Short answer
April to June and September to November are best, with highs of 18–29°C and lively streets. Summer is hot and humid at about 33°C, and many locals leave for Halkidiki. Winter is cold and windy at 11–13°C by day and near freezing at night, but the city stays lively with students and festivals.
Month by month
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 11°C | 4°C | 8 | low |
| Feb | 13°C | 3°C | 5 | low |
| Mar | 14°C | 5°C | 10 | medium |
| Apr | 18°C | 9°C | 9 | medium |
| May | 24°C | 15°C | 11 | medium |
| Jun | 29°C | 19°C | 8 | medium |
| Jul | 33°C | 22°C | 3 | low |
| Aug | 33°C | 22°C | 6 | low |
| Sep | 27°C | 18°C | 7 | high |
| Oct | 22°C | 13°C | 5 | high |
| Nov | 18°C | 10°C | 9 | high |
| Dec | 13°C | 5°C | 9 | medium |
Temperatures and rainy days: Copernicus ERA5 averages, 2021–2023. Crowd levels are our estimate.
Season by season
Spring (Mar–May)
Highs rise from 14°C in March to 24°C in May, with lows of 5–15°C and 9–11 rainy days a month.
Summer (Jun–Aug)
Hot at 29–33°C by day and 19–22°C at night, with 3–8 rainy days, often thunderstorms.
Autumn (Sep–Nov)
Warm September at 27°C, pleasant October at 22°C, cooler November at 18°C; the festival season.
Winter (Dec–Feb)
Cold and windy (the Vardaris wind) with highs of 11–13°C and lows of 3–5°C; 5–9 rainy days.
Events worth planning around
- Thessaloniki International Fair (September).
- Dimitria cultural festival and the feast of Agios Dimitrios (October, the saint's day is 26 October).
- Thessaloniki International Film Festival (November).
- Thessaloniki Documentary Festival (March).
When to avoid
July and August are hot and humid, and many locals and some restaurants leave for the summer. Cold Vardaris winds can make January and February raw.
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Common questions
What is the best time to visit Thessaloniki?
April to June and September to November, with highs of 18–29°C and the autumn festivals.
Is Thessaloniki too hot in summer?
July and August reach about 33°C with humidity; many locals head to Halkidiki's beaches.
When is the Thessaloniki Film Festival?
In November, one of the main film festivals in South-East Europe.