Greece
Greece in May
Where it is warm, dry and good for swimming in Greece in May — compared across the country’s main destinations.
Quick answers
- Where is it warmest in Greece in May?
- Larissa is the warmest of the 16 destinations compared, with highs of 26°C (78°F) in May; Alexandroupoli is the coolest at 22°C (71°F).
- Can you swim in the sea in Greece in May?
- Hardly: even the warmest water, at Rhodes (20°C (67°F)), stays below 21 °C.
Warmest
26°
Larissa
Coolest
22°
Alexandroupoli
Driest
11 mm
Chania
Warmest sea
20°
Rhodes
Larissa is the warm end of Greece in May (26°C (78°F)); Alexandroupoli the cool end (22°C (71°F)). On average it is 5 °C (9 °F) warmer than April. Most destinations stay largely dry. Best bets this month: Athens, Heraklion, and Chania.
Best places in Greece in May
94 
Athens
Attica · Greece
25° / 16° 17 mm May
98
Heraklion
Crete · Greece
24° / 15° 14 mm May
99
Chania
Crete · Greece
24° / 16° 11 mm May
99
Rhodes
South Aegean Islands · Greece
24° / 16° 20 mm May
99
Sitia
Crete · Greece
23° / 16° 14 mm May
94
Nafplion
Peloponnese · Greece
24° / 14° 21 mm May
98
Ierapetra
Crete · Greece
24° / 16° 14 mm May
96
Rethymno
Crete · Greece
24° / 15° 14 mm May
Weather in May by city
| Place | Day | Night | Rain | Sea | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chania | 24° | 16° | 11 mm | — | 99 |
| Rhodes | 24° | 16° | 20 mm | 20° | 99 |
| Heraklion | 24° | 15° | 14 mm | 19° | 98 |
| Ierapetra | 24° | 16° | 14 mm | — | 98 |
| Hersonissos | 24° | 16° | 16 mm | 19° | 97 |
| Rethymno | 24° | 15° | 14 mm | 19° | 96 |
| Athens | 25° | 16° | 17 mm | — | 94 |
| Nafplion | 24° | 14° | 21 mm | — | 94 |
| Piraeus | 24° | 15° | 18 mm | 19° | 94 |
| Pátrai | 24° | 13° | 25 mm | — | 90 |
| Kavala | 24° | 14° | 40 mm | 19° | 88 |
| Alexandroupoli | 22° | 12° | 36 mm | 18° | 87 |
| Volos | 24° | 14° | 35 mm | — | 86 |
| Corfu | 24° | 14° | 36 mm | 19° | 86 |
| Thessaloniki | 24° | 13° | 45 mm | — | 85 |
| Larissa | 26° | 12° | 38 mm | — | 84 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the weather like in Greece in May?
Average daytime highs range from 22° in Alexandroupoli to 26° in Larissa.
Can you swim in Greece in May?
The sea is cool: the warmest water is around Rhodes at about 20°.