Best time to visit
Best Time to Visit Thessaloniki
Greece's second city, a seafront university town with a layered Byzantine, Ottoman, and Jewish history, and a lively food and nightlife scene. It has a younger, more relaxed energy than Athens, driven partly by its large student population.
Best time to visit: April to June or September to October for comfortable temperatures.
Local tip: Thessaloniki is considered Greece's food capital by many Greeks themselves — its street food and tavernas are worth building time around.
Getting around: The waterfront and old town are both walkable on their own, with local buses covering the wider city — Thessaloniki's compact size means a car is rarely necessary.
Good to know: Try bougatsa, a custard- or cheese-filled pastry, for breakfast — it's a Thessaloniki specialty best eaten fresh from a local bakery rather than a café chain.
What to plan your trip around
- White Tower
A former Ottoman fortress on the waterfront, now the city's best-known landmark and a museum.
- Rotunda
A 4th-century Roman monument later used as a church and mosque, now a museum site.
- Ano Poli (Upper Town)
The old town above the modern city, with preserved Byzantine walls and narrow streets.
- Aristotelous Square
The city's main seafront square, a central meeting point framed by early 20th-century architecture.
Thessaloniki weather by month
Thessaloniki weather by month
Average temperatures and rainfall Thessaloniki gets in each month (2011–2020). Tap a month for the full breakdown.
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Humidity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 9°C | 1°C | 43 mm | 82% |
| February | 11°C | 3°C | 43 mm | 81% |
| March | 14°C | 5°C | 57 mm | 77% |
| April | 19°C | 9°C | 37 mm | 71% |
| May | 24°C | 14°C | 47 mm | 65% |
| June | 30°C | 19°C | 39 mm | 57% |
| July | 33°C | 21°C | 27 mm | 50% |
| August | 33°C | 22°C | 27 mm | 49% |
| September | 28°C | 18°C | 47 mm | 59% |
| October | 22°C | 12°C | 39 mm | 71% |
| November | 16°C | 8°C | 46 mm | 79% |
| December | 11°C | 3°C | 55 mm | 81% |
Thessaloniki through the year
January · 9° / 1°C · 43 mm
- Thessaloniki is usually about 3°C cooler than Halkidiki, 70 km away, in January.
- It's one of the greyest months, with cloud cover near 67%.
April · 19° / 9°C · 37 mm
- April brings mid-spring to Thessaloniki.
- Just 70 km apart, but Thessaloniki runs about 2°C warmer than Halkidiki this month.
July · 33° / 21°C · 27 mm
- It's one of the sunniest months here, with cloud cover around 29%.
- With the heat, see Aristotelous Square early in the morning or late in the afternoon.
October · 22° / 12°C · 39 mm
- It cools down fast from here: November is about 6°C cooler.
- October brings mid-autumn to Thessaloniki.
The best time to visit Thessaloniki is April, September and October, when average highs are 19–28°C and rainfall is around 41 mm a month.
At a glance
When to go to Thessaloniki, season by season
December – February
Cold10° / 2°C · 47 mm
Cool to cold days. Fine for museums and city breaks, less so for the beach.
March – May
Good19° / 9°C · 47 mm
Comfortable weather overall, with fewer visitors than peak season.
June – August
Hot32° / 21°C · 31 mm
Very hot days. Plan sightseeing for mornings and evenings and keep the afternoon for shade or the beach.
Frequently asked questions
- When is the best time to visit Thessaloniki?
- For pleasant, fairly dry weather, go to Thessaloniki in April, September and October. Average highs are then 19–28°C.
- Why is April a good time to visit Thessaloniki?
- In April, Thessaloniki averages 19°C by day and 9°C at night, with about 37 mm of rain and 58% cloud cover: warm enough to be outdoors without the peak heat or the wettest weather.
- What is the warmest month in Thessaloniki?
- July is the warmest month in Thessaloniki, with average highs of 33°C and lows of 21°C.
- What is the coldest month in Thessaloniki?
- January is the coldest month in Thessaloniki: average highs of 9°C, dropping to 1°C at night.
- When does it rain the most in Thessaloniki?
- March is the wettest month in Thessaloniki with about 57 mm of rain. The driest is July, with around 27 mm.
- When is the worst time to visit Thessaloniki?
- January is the least pleasant month in Thessaloniki, with average highs of just 9°C. It's still fine for museums and fewer crowds.
- Is the shoulder season a good time to visit Thessaloniki?
- Yes. March, May and November sit just outside the best months for Thessaloniki, with average highs of 14–24°C and about 50 mm of rain a month. Weather-wise, they are a good alternative to the peak months.
- How can I check the weather in Thessaloniki before I travel?
- Compare the live forecast for Thessaloniki from three independent weather services on WeatherCompare. When they agree, the forecast is more reliable.
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Best time to visit Thessaloniki. WeatherCompare, 2026 (climate averages: NASA POWER / ERA5, 2011–2020). https://weathercompare.eu/guides/best-time-to-visit/greece/thessaloniki
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