Guide XCIX — Calendar — Santorini
The Best Time to Visit Santorini, Month by Month
The caldera has a short, fierce season and two shoulders that are better than the peak. The year in full, including the months when the island closes.
Live inventory
Tonight's rates in the Collection
Drawn from connected partner inventory each time this page loads — not a hand-maintained table. Availability last confirmed Wed, 16 Sep 2026 08:25:19 GMT.
| Destination | Estates | From | Median | Available now |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Imerovigli, Santorini | 4 | $1,180 | $2,250 | 4 |
Book a stay in Santorini
Set your dates to see what the week costs — our own houses first, then live rates with our booking partners for this destination.
Our houses in Santorini
Oia, Santorini
$4,800 / night
Imerovigli, Santorini
$2,600 / night
Vlychada, Santorini
$1,900 / night
Hotels and other rentals
Partner rates are indicative and confirmed at checkout. Some links are affiliate links.
Santorini through the year
Santorini is not a year-round island. The season runs from around Greek Easter to the end of October, and the best of it sits in the two shoulders: late May into June, before the meltemi settles in and before the peak rates, and September into early October, when the sea is at its warmest and the caldera empties.
July and August are hot, windy and crowded, and cruise days put thousands of visitors into Oia for the late afternoon. A caldera house with its own pool is worth more in those months than at any other time, because it buys you the view without the queue.
Month by month
| Month | Weather | What the month is like | Indicative rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 10–15°C, wet and windy | Island closed; most hotels and kitchens shut | Closed |
| February | 10–15°C, wet | Still closed; village life only | Closed |
| March | 11–17°C, brightening | First openings late in the month | USD 700 – 1,400 |
| April | 13–20°C, fine | Greek Easter opens the season properly | USD 800 – 2,400 |
| May | 17–24°C, warm, sea 19°C | Late May is the first great fortnight | USD 1,000 – 3,200 |
| June | 21–28°C, hot, sea 23°C | The best month: warm, long light, pre-peak | USD 1,300 – 4,500 |
| July | 23–30°C, meltemi wind, sea 25°C | Peak crowds, peak rates, windy afternoons | USD 1,800 – 9,000 |
| August | 23–30°C, meltemi, sea 26°C | Busiest and dearest; book pools, not views alone | USD 1,800 – 9,000 |
| September | 20–27°C, calmer, sea 25°C | The connoisseur's month: warm sea, fewer people | USD 1,300 – 4,500 |
| October | 17–23°C, mild, sea 23°C | Lovely to mid-month; the island starts closing | USD 800 – 2,400 |
| November | 14–19°C, wet | Closing done; ferries thin out | Mostly closed |
| December | 11–16°C, wet and windy | Closed but for village tavernas | Closed |
The booking calendar
Demand in Santorini is driven less by weather than by a handful of fixed weeks. Book against those first and the rest of the year is forgiving.
- July and August caldera houses with a private pool: ten to twelve months ahead. The best twenty houses on the island go first.
- June and September: six to eight months.
- Late April, May and October: three to four months.
- Check opening and closing dates before booking the edges of the season — many properties shut entirely from November to March.
Where to stay, and what Santorini costs across the year:
Frequently asked questions
- What is the best month to visit Santorini?
- September. The sea is at its warmest of the year, the meltemi has eased, the light is long and gold, and rates fall well below the July and August peak.
- Is Santorini open in winter?
- Only partly. From November to March most caldera hotels, restaurants and villa operations close; the villages stay open and life continues, but it is a different, quieter island with limited flights.
- When is Santorini least crowded?
- In the open season, late April to mid-May and the second half of October. Within the peak, any day without a large cruise call is far calmer — cruise arrivals concentrate in Fira and Oia from late morning to sunset.
- How windy is Santorini in summer?
- The meltemi blows most afternoons in July and August, strongly enough to close some small-boat trips and to make an exposed terrace uncomfortable. A sheltered pool terrace matters more than a dramatic cliff edge in those two months.
Editorial note & limitations
Rates are indicative for a whole-house or whole-apartment booking and move with the calendar. Hotels and other rentals shown on the listings pages are searched live through our booking partners; nothing on this page is a sponsored placement.