The region of northern Greece in which Thessaloniki is located is at the crossroads of the temperate and subtropical zones and enjoys a typical Mediterranean climate.

It is characterised by very hot and dry summers and mild winters. Thessaloniki lies in a drier zone and in the shadow of the mountains, so it doesn't rain as often in winter.

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However, because of the high mountains to the south and north, it can snow in Thessaloniki during the winter, although it doesn't happen very often.

Normal summer temperatures soar to 32°C, expect temperatures between 9 and 14°C in winter.

Thessaloniki during the year

What is the weather like in Thessaloniki during the different months of the year?

Weather in January

January is the coldest month of the year and temperatures are often close to those in central Europe. On average, expect a daily temperature of around 9°C, and it rarely freezes.

January is a precipitation-rich month, with rain about every other day, but mostly only in the form of light showers, which can turn to snow once or twice a year. Most of the day is cloudy or overcast.

Weather in February

During February the weather improves only slowly, with temperatures rising to 11 °C, but it is still often cloudy with light but frequent showers, which may exceptionally turn to rain at the coldest times.

Weather in March

The onset of spring can already be felt in the air. Expect an average of 15°C, but it can be much sunnier, while clouds are decreasing slightly, as are showers.

Weather in April

April in Thessaloniki is quite similar to April here. Temperatures range from 14 to 20 °C, with less rain than in the Czech Republic and mostly only light showers.

The sky is often broken to partly cloudy, and nature is green and blooming. This makes April an ideal month for city walks and trips to the mountains of northern Greece or nearby Bulgaria.

Weather in May

The weather improves rapidly in May, although statistically more rain falls than in previous months. However, this is mainly due to the fact that shorter, heavier thunderstorms can occur in the evenings, but in general rain is unlikely to affect your trip.

Temperatures normally touch the summer high of 25 °C, and it is very pleasant outside because of the cool sea breeze. Nature is beautifully lush and blooming.

The weather in June

The summer season is slow to arrive and even during June there are noticeably fewer tourists than during the holidays. Temperatures are already purely summer-like, ranging between 26 and 30 °C, and usually reaching the 30s towards the end of the month.

Precipitation usually comes in the form of short summer thunderstorms, which do not occur every day.

Even the sea water is warming up to a relatively pleasant 23 °C.

Weather in July

July sees the summer season in full swing, when most tourists head to the city, especially on their way to the sea. Normal temperatures are between 30 and 34 °C, with only infrequent thunderstorms. The humidity is relatively low, so being outdoors despite the high temperatures is not that uncomfortable.

The sea temperature in and around Thessaloniki rises to 26 °C.

Weather in August

August is the least rainy month of the year, with very little rain and almost exclusively evening thunderstorms. Temperatures are similar to those in July, between 30 and 34 °C, but the still low humidity makes it survivable for urban tourism.

In addition, Thessaloniki has narrow streets and tall houses, so even on clear summer days there is shade everywhere.

Weather in September

Even during September you can enjoy an unadulterated Mediterranean summer in Thessaloniki, with temperatures between 26 and 30°C and very little rainfall. The sun will be shining in the sky for most of the day and even the evenings are not yet cool.

The sea temperature of around 25 °C invites a relaxing swim.

Weather in October

In October, summer finally leaves, with temperatures dropping to an average of 21 °C and, in addition to thunderstorms, showers during the day. However, these are not very frequent and usually don't last very long, so they won't affect your holiday too much.

On the contrary, the pleasant temperatures and fresh air are ideal for urban tourism.

Hardier individuals will still have no problem swimming in the sea, which is around 21°C.

Weather in November

Autumn in Thessaloniki is much more pleasant than here. November temperatures easily climb to 16 °C and don't expect any chilly weather. There is relatively little rain, mostly in the form of short showers, and skies are mostly partly cloudy or cloudy but rarely cloudy all day.

This makes November the perfect month for short 2-3 day visits to the city, with a possible trip to the Meteora Monasteries for example.

Weather in December

December is the second coldest month of the year with average temperatures around 7°C and often cloudy skies. It doesn't rain particularly often or heavily, but more than in summer, for example. Snow is rare, but not completely unknown in Thessaloniki in December.