Greece
Greece in December
Where it is warm, dry and good for swimming in Greece in December — compared across the country’s main destinations.
Quick answers
- Where is it warmest in Greece in December?
- Ierapetra is the warmest of the 16 destinations compared, with highs of 17°C (63°F) in December; Thessaloniki is the coolest at 9°C (49°F).
- Can you swim in the sea in Greece in December?
- Hardly: even the warmest water, at Rhodes (19°C (67°F)), stays below 21 °C.
Warmest
17°
Ierapetra
Coolest
9°
Thessaloniki
Driest
46 mm
Thessaloniki
Warmest sea
19°
Rhodes
Ierapetra is the warm end of Greece in December (17°C (63°F)); Thessaloniki the cool end (9°C (49°F)). On average it is 3.5 °C (6 °F) cooler than November. Rain is frequent in most destinations. Best bets this month: Athens, Heraklion, and Sitia.
Best places in Greece in December
50 
Athens
Attica · Greece
14° / 8° 67 mm Dec
53
Heraklion
Crete · Greece
17° / 11° 88 mm Dec
57
Sitia
Crete · Greece
17° / 11° 90 mm Dec
57
Ierapetra
Crete · Greece
17° / 11° 96 mm Dec
52
Piraeus
Attica · Greece
15° / 8° 67 mm Dec
54
Rhodes
South Aegean Islands · Greece
16° / 11° 160 mm Dec
55
Agios Nikolaos
Crete · Greece
17° / 11° 95 mm Dec
52
Chania
Crete · Greece
17° / 11° 88 mm Dec
Weather in December by city
| Place | Day | Night | Rain | Sea | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ierapetra | 17° | 11° | 96 mm | — | 57 |
| Rhodes | 16° | 11° | 160 mm | 19° | 54 |
| Heraklion | 17° | 11° | 88 mm | 18° | 53 |
| Piraeus | 15° | 8° | 67 mm | 17° | 52 |
| Chania | 17° | 11° | 88 mm | — | 52 |
| Rethymno | 16° | 10° | 95 mm | 18° | 51 |
| Hersonissos | 16° | 10° | 99 mm | 18° | 51 |
| Athens | 14° | 8° | 67 mm | — | 50 |
| Nafplion | 15° | 7° | 98 mm | — | 48 |
| Pátrai | 15° | 6° | 110 mm | — | 46 |
| Corfu | 15° | 7° | 163 mm | 17° | 43 |
| Volos | 12° | 5° | 62 mm | — | 39 |
| Kavala | 10° | 4° | 75 mm | 15° | 35 |
| Alexandroupoli | 10° | 3° | 81 mm | 14° | 32 |
| Larissa | 11° | 2° | 48 mm | — | 31 |
| Thessaloniki | 9° | 2° | 46 mm | — | 30 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the weather like in Greece in December?
Average daytime highs range from 9° in Thessaloniki to 17° in Ierapetra.
Can you swim in Greece in December?
The sea is cool: the warmest water is around Rhodes at about 19°.