Greek island water is famously warm and clear. Cyclades (Mykonos, Naxos, Paros) and Dodecanese (Rhodes, Kos) sit in the Aegean, while the Ionian (Corfu, Zakynthos) faces Italy and stays a degree or two warmer in shoulder season. August averages 26°C; swimming season runs comfortably from late May to mid-October.
Greek Islands
Cyclades, Dodecanese and Ionian beaches with 26°C summer water.
Sea
Aegean Sea
Avg sea temp now
19.9°C
Best months
Late May – mid October
Best time to swim in Greek Islands
The sea in Greek Islands peaks in August, when the water averages around 26°C.
The main swimming season runs from May – November, when surface temperatures stay comfortable for extended sessions.
On average, 7 months a year sit above 20°C — the threshold most swimmers describe as pleasant without a wetsuit.
Shoulder months like April and December are noticeably cooler but often quieter, with fewer crowds and steadier weather.
Outside peak season the water drops toward 17°C, so a 3/2mm shorty or full wetsuit makes long swims much more comfortable.
The coldest month is typically February at around 15°C, when cold-water swimmers dominate the coast.
Greek Islands sea temperature history
Long-term climatology for Greek Islands shows an annual mean sea temperature of 20°C, ranging from 15°C in winter to 26°C at the summer peak.
The seasonal swing is roughly 11°C between the coldest and warmest month — a useful yardstick when comparing years or checking whether the current sea is running above or below average.
Recent decades have trended slightly warmer at Greek Islands, in line with regional sea-surface temperature records for the wider basin.
Monthly averages below are drawn from multi-decadal climatology and are updated as new observations arrive.
Jan
16°C
Feb
15°C
Mar
15°C
Apr
17°C
May
20°C
Jun
23°C
Jul
25°C
Aug
26°C
Sep
25°C
Oct
22°C
Nov
20°C
Dec
17°C
Values are area averages; individual beaches vary by exposure and depth.
Greek Islands sea temperature: frequently asked questions
What is the warmest month to swim in Greek Islands?
August is the warmest month in Greek Islands, when the sea averages about 26°C. Late-season warmth often persists a few weeks after peak.
When is the sea coldest in Greek Islands?
The coldest month in Greek Islands is typically February, when the water averages around 15°C. Cold-water swimmers and surfers dominate this period.
When can you swim in Greek Islands without a wetsuit?
The main swimming season in Greek Islands runs from May – November — about 7 months a year when the sea sits above 20°C, the level most swimmers describe as pleasant without a wetsuit.
Do I need a wetsuit in Greek Islands?
Outside peak summer the water in Greek Islands drops toward 17°C, so a 3/2mm shorty or full wetsuit makes long swims much more comfortable. In peak months most swimmers go without.
What is the average sea temperature in Greek Islands?
The long-term annual mean sea temperature in Greek Islands is about 20°C, based on multi-decadal climatology of the surrounding waters.
How do I check the current sea temperature in Greek Islands?
The live reading at the top of this page shows the current sea temperature in Greek Islands, updated hourly from marine buoy and satellite data. The 7-day forecast covers water, air, waves, wind and UV for the week ahead.
Beaches in the Greek Islands
Ranked by current live sea temperature.
- 1VoutoumiAntipaxos, Greece20.7°C
- 2Anthony Quinn BayRhodes, Greece20.6°C
- 3Mylos BeachLefkada, Greece20.6°C
- 4Glyfada CorfuCorfu, Greece20.6°C
- 5Monolithos BeachSantorini, Greece20.6°C
- 6Chrysi IslandIerapetra, Greece20.6°C
- 7Bali BeachBali, Greece20.6°C
- 8PreveliRethymno, Greece20.5°C
- 9Lindos BayLindos, Greece20.5°C
- 10Pounda BeachParos, Greece20.5°C
- 11Frangokastello BeachFrangokastello, Greece20.5°C
- 12TsigradoMilos, Greece20.4°C
- 13PrasonisiRhodes, Greece20.4°C
- 14Egremni BeachLefkada, Greece20.4°C
- 15PaliochoriMilos, Greece20.4°C
- 16Platis GialosMykonos, Greece20.4°C
- 17Kalo LivadiMykonos, Greece20.3°C
- 18Kedrodasos BeachElafonissi, Greece20.3°C
- 19Ammoudi Beach PlakiasPlakias, Greece20.3°C
- 20Agios Nikolaos BeachAgios Nikolaos, Greece20.3°C
- 21Xerokambos BeachXerokambos, Greece20.3°C
- 22Super ParadiseMykonos, Greece20.2°C
- 23PelekasCorfu, Greece20.2°C
- 24Issos BeachCorfu, Greece20.2°C
- 25Xerokampos BeachSitia, Greece20.2°C
- 26Amoudara BeachHeraklion, Greece20.2°C
- 27Malia BeachMalia, Greece20.2°C
- 28Stalis BeachStalis, Greece20.2°C
- 29Kokkini Hani BeachKokkini Hani, Greece20.2°C
- 30Elounda BeachElounda, Greece20.2°C
- 31PlakaNaxos, Greece20.1°C
- 32ParagaMykonos, Greece20.1°C
- 33KolymbithresParos, Greece20.1°C
- 34Porto KatsikiLefkada, Greece20.1°C
- 35VoutoumiPaxos, Greece20.1°C
- 36Marathi BeachChania, Greece20.1°C
- 37Loutraki CreteChania, Greece20.1°C
- 38Seitan LimaniaChania, Greece20.1°C
- 39Voulisma BeachAgios Nikolaos, Greece20.1°C
- 40Agia Marina BeachAgia Marina, Greece20.1°C
- 41Platanias BeachPlatanias, Greece20.1°C
- 42Almyrida BeachAlmyrida, Greece20.1°C
- 43MatalaHeraklion, Greece20.0°C
- 44BalosKissamos, Greece20.0°C
- 45Porto TimoniCorfu, Greece20.0°C
- 46Alyko BeachNaxos, Greece20.0°C
- 47Kalafatis BeachMykonos, Greece20.0°C
- 48Elafonissi BeachElafonissi, Greece20.0°C
- 49Kalives BeachKalives, Greece20.0°C
- 50MylopotasIos, Greece19.9°C
- 51PerissaSantorini, Greece19.9°C
- 52FiriplakaMilos, Greece19.9°C
- 53St Paul's BayLindos, Greece19.9°C
- 54Marcello BeachParos, Greece19.9°C
- 55Stavros BeachChania, Greece19.9°C
- 56Chrissi Island BeachIerapetra, Greece19.9°C
- 57Pyrgaki BeachNaxos, Greece19.9°C
- 58Kommos BeachPitsidia, Greece19.9°C
- 59Georgioupoli BeachGeorgioupoli, Greece19.9°C
- 60Hersonissos BeachHersonissos, Greece19.9°C
- 61Elia BeachMykonos, Greece19.8°C
- 62EgremniLefkada, Greece19.8°C
- 63TsambikaRhodes, Greece19.8°C
- 64Triopetra BeachRethymno, Greece19.8°C
- 65Komos BeachHeraklion, Greece19.8°C
- 66Souda BeachPlakias, Greece19.8°C
- 67Marathi BeachChania, Greece19.8°C
- 68StavrosChania, Greece19.7°C
- 69GlyfadaCorfu, Greece19.7°C
- 70Mikri ViglaNaxos, Greece19.7°C
- 71Gerakas BeachZakynthos, Greece19.7°C
- 72Banana BeachZakynthos, Greece19.7°C
- 73Analipsi BeachAnalipsi, Greece19.7°C
- 74Sarakiniko Beach CreteIerapetra, Greece19.7°C
- 75VaiSitia, Greece19.6°C
- 76ManganariIos, Greece19.6°C
- 77Agios ProkopiosNaxos, Greece19.6°C
- 78Agia AnnaNaxos, Greece19.6°C
- 79Golden BeachParos, Greece19.6°C
- 80AntisamosSami, Greece19.6°C
- 81Antisamos BeachKefalonia, Greece19.6°C
- 82Agrari BeachMykonos, Greece19.6°C
- 83Kalathas BeachChania, Greece19.6°C
- 84Rethymno BeachRethymno, Greece19.6°C
- 85Voulismeni BeachIerapetra, Greece19.6°C
- 86Lentas BeachLentas, Greece19.6°C
- 87ElafonisiChania, Greece19.5°C
- 88Red BeachSantorini, Greece19.5°C
- 89Vrika BeachAntipaxos, Greece19.5°C
- 90Panormos BeachRethymno, Greece19.5°C
- 91Damnoni BeachPlakias, Greece19.5°C
- 92Sitia BeachSitia, Greece19.5°C
- 93FalassarnaChania, Greece19.4°C
- 94Seitan LimaniaChania, Greece19.4°C
- 95KamariSantorini, Greece19.4°C
- 96SarakinikoMilos, Greece19.4°C
- 97PaleokastritsaCorfu, Greece19.4°C
- 98KathismaLefkada, Greece19.4°C
- 99Skala BeachKefalonia, Greece19.4°C
- 100Tsilivi BeachZakynthos, Greece19.4°C
- 101Almyros BeachAgios Nikolaos, Greece19.4°C
- 102Spinalonga BeachElounda, Greece19.4°C
- 103Plakias BeachPlakias, Greece19.4°C
- 104Xi BeachKefalonia, Greece19.3°C
- 105Manganari BeachIos, Greece19.3°C
- 106Panormo BeachPanormo, Greece19.3°C
- 107Voulisma BeachIstron, Greece19.3°C
Swimming in the Greek Islands — FAQ
How warm is the sea in the Greek Islands in November?
The Aegean Sea off the Greek Islands averages about 20.0°C in November, based on long-term monthly averages for this coast.
When is the best time to swim in the Greek Islands?
The Greek Islands is warmest in August (around 26.0°C) and coldest in February (around 15.0°C). There are typically 5 months a year when the water sits above 22°C.
What is the average yearly sea temperature in the Greek Islands?
Across all twelve months, the sea in the Greek Islands averages about 20.1°C.
Do you need a wetsuit to swim in the Greek Islands?
In peak season (around August, ~26.0°C) most swimmers are comfortable without a wetsuit. Outside summer, when the water drops toward 15.0°C, a 3/2mm to 5/4mm wetsuit is recommended.