Greece in December
In December the sea does not reach 22 °C in any of the 12 coastal regions; the average runs from 12.9 °C in Eastern Macedonia and Thrace to 16.6 °C in South Aegean. None of the 1,600 towns and villages with a page has an average temperature of 16 to 24 °C with little rain in December: the average temperature is below 16 °C in 1,591 and rain is over 50 mm in 9. On the 15th daylight lasts 9 h 17 min in Thessaloniki and 9 h 48 min in Heraklion.
- Warmest sea
- 16.6 °CSouth Aegean, NOAA OISST 1991–2020
- Coolest sea
- 12.9 °CEastern Macedonia and Thrace, NOAA OISST 1991–2020
- Comfortable for walking
- 0 placesof 1,600 towns and villages with a page, NASA POWER 2001–2020
- Day length, Thessaloniki
- 9.3 hon the 15th, Greek time
- Day length, Heraklion
- 9.8 hon the 15th, Greek time
- Rainiest regions
- Ionian Islands, Epirusaverage rain 150 and 139 mm for the month across their places (NASA POWER 2001–2020)
The sea
Average sea temperature in December at each region's official bathing-water beaches (NOAA OISST, 1991–2020). Each region links to its beaches in the beach list.
| Region | Sea °C | Beaches at 22 °C or warmer |
|---|---|---|
| South Aegean | 16.6 | 0 of 279 |
| Crete | 16.3 | 0 of 157 |
| North Aegean | 16.0 | 0 of 122 |
| Ionian Islands | 15.8 | 0 of 148 |
| Peloponnese | 15.8 | 0 of 145 |
| Epirus | 15.7 | 0 of 36 |
| Western Greece | 15.6 | 0 of 79 |
| Attica | 15.2 | 0 of 158 |
| Central Greece | 14.5 | 0 of 140 |
| Thessaly | 14.1 | 0 of 103 |
| Central Macedonia | 13.9 | 0 of 114 |
| Eastern Macedonia and Thrace | 12.9 | 0 of 56 |
| Western Macedonia | – | 0 of 1 |
All bathing-water beaches in Greece
The average is taken over the beaches of the official register, not over all the sea of the region. Each NOAA cell is 0.25 degrees (about 25 km) wide, so close to the shore the temperature can differ a little. Beaches with no nearby sea cell (a lake, for example) are left out of the temperature column.
Walking weather in December
Places with a page of their own where the month's average temperature is 16 to 24 °C and rain stays at or under 50 mm (NASA POWER MERRA-2, 2001–2020). Temperature is adjusted for the altitude of the place where OpenStreetMap records one. Up to 6 are shown per region: cities and towns first, then villages with a known altitude.
In December most places are below the comfortable band: the average temperature is under 16 °C in 1,591 of 1,600.
No place is inside the band this month. Below are the three warmest in each region, which makes them the mildest.
Eastern Macedonia and Thrace
- Golden Beach11.0 °C
- Kalyvia11.0 °C
- Limenaria11.0 °C
Attica
North Aegean
- Agios Kirikos14.4 °C
- Evdilos14.4 °C
- Fanari14.4 °C
Western Greece
- Agios Ilias15.0 °C
- Katakolo15.0 °C
- Leventochori15.0 °C
Western Macedonia
Epirus
- Asprokklisi13.5 °C · 25 m
- Filiates12.6 °C · 210 m
- Fragma Kalama12.6 °C · 100 m
Thessaly
Ionian Islands
- Kalamaki15.7 °C
- Laganas15.7 °C
- Ano Vasilikos15.0 °C
Central Macedonia
- Agios Nikolaos11.4 °C · 100 m
- Destenika11.4 °C
- Fteroti11.4 °C
Crete
- Paleochora16.5 °C
- Sougia16.5 °C
- Agia Fotia15.5 °C
South Aegean
Peloponnese
- Agia Kyriaki14.8 °C · 70 m
- Agia Paraskevi14.8 °C · 2 m
- Agios Fokas14.8 °C · 20 m
Central Greece
- Skyros13.1 °C
- Ano Potamia12.6 °C
- Kymi12.6 °C
Beside each place: the month's average temperature and, where OpenStreetMap records it, the altitude. These are regional model values, not a measurement in the place.
Islands with comfortable weather and a warm sea
In December no island with a page has a main town with comfortable weather and a sea of 22 °C or warmer, so there is no list.
The weather is read at the island's main town by the same rule as the list of places (NASA POWER MERRA-2) and the sea from the nearest NOAA OISST cell. These are typical conditions, not a forecast.
Where to swim
In December the average sea temperature does not reach 22 °C at any official beach, so there is no list. The sea reaches 22 °C at some beaches from May to September.
Daylight
Sunrise and sunset on the 15th, north to south, in Greek local time.
| Place | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thessaloniki | 07:44 | 17:02 | 9 h 17 min |
| Athens | 07:33 | 17:06 | 9 h 33 min |
| Heraklion | 07:20 | 17:08 | 9 h 48 min |
Calculated from the place's position and the date, without local terrain. Day length changes by a few minutes a day, so the values hold for the middle of the month.
The other months
See also
- All bathing-water beacheslist
- All islandslist
- Regions of Greecelist
- Sights of Greecelist
- Greece month by monthall months
Sources
Every figure on this page comes from the sources below, with the date each was updated.
- Monthly climate normalsNASA POWER, MERRA-2 meteorological model · 2001–2020 climatology period returned by NASA POWER · Date:
- Sea temperature (NOAA OISST)NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information / Physical Sciences Laboratory · OISST v2.1 monthly long-term mean climatology, 1991-2020 period · Date:
- Designated bathing waters (locations)Ministry for Environment and Energy: YPEN geoportal · Current bathing season register · Date:
- Bathing water quality classificationEuropean Environment Agency: WISE Bathing Water Directive database · Latest assessed season in the EEA database; every season from 2011 is kept as a per-beach history · Date:
- Municipal boundaries, settlements and settlement altitudesOpenStreetMap (Geofabrik Greece extract, 24 Sep 2026), ODbL · Date:
These are typical conditions from regional models, not a forecast. Sea: NOAA OISST v2.1, 1991–2020, 0.25 degree cells. Temperature and rain: NASA POWER (MERRA-2), 2001–2020, as monthly averages. Daylight: calculated for the 15th of the month. Water quality: EEA, classified by season.
Page updated .