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Typical conditions for the monthNOAA 1991–2020NASA POWER 2001–2020

Greece in May

In May the sea averages 22 °C or warmer in 10 of the 12 coastal regions; it is warmest in Central Macedonia (23 °C) and coolest in North Aegean (21.6 °C). The weather is comfortable for walking and sightseeing (average temperature 16 to 24 °C, little rain) in 1,425 of the 1,600 towns and villages with a page; in the rest, the average temperature is below 16 °C in 93 and rain is over 50 mm in 82. On the 15th daylight lasts 14 h 25 min in Thessaloniki and 14 h 0 min in Heraklion.

Warmest sea
23.0 °CCentral Macedonia, NOAA OISST 1991–2020
Coolest sea
21.6 °CNorth Aegean, NOAA OISST 1991–2020
Comfortable for walking
1,425 placesof 1,600 towns and villages with a page, NASA POWER 2001–2020
Day length, Thessaloniki
14.4 hon the 15th, Greek time
Day length, Heraklion
14.0 hon the 15th, Greek time
Rainiest regions
Western Macedonia, Central Macedoniaaverage rain 54 and 49 mm for the month across their places (NASA POWER 2001–2020)

The sea

Average sea temperature in May at each region's official bathing-water beaches (NOAA OISST, 1991–2020). Each region links to its beaches in the beach list.

Sea by region, May
RegionSea °CBeaches at 22 °C or warmer
Central Macedonia23.0114 of 114
Thessaly22.7103 of 103
Eastern Macedonia and Thrace22.656 of 56
Epirus22.535 of 36
Crete22.4150 of 157
Ionian Islands22.3144 of 148
Peloponnese22.3103 of 145
Attica22.2121 of 158
Western Greece22.255 of 79
Central Greece22.274 of 140
South Aegean21.9115 of 279
North Aegean21.60 of 122
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.

Comfortable for walking and sightseeing

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.

Peloponnese (278 of 315)

South Aegean (171 of 171)

Ionian Islands (136 of 136)

Crete (136 of 136)

Attica (123 of 123)

Central Macedonia (107 of 165)

North Aegean (104 of 104)

Thessaly (92 of 93)

Eastern Macedonia and Thrace (77 of 89)

Western Greece (75 of 76)

Central Greece (68 of 78)

Epirus (52 of 75)

Western Macedonia (6 of 39)

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

44 islands with a page where the weather in the main town is comfortable in May and the sea reaches 22 °C, warmest sea first. Next to each island: mean air and sea temperature.

All islands of Greece

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

1,051 beaches where the average sea temperature in May is 22 °C or warmer (NOAA OISST) and the water was classified Excellent in the 2024 season (EEA). Beaches that were Excellent in most seasons since 2011 come first. Beside each beach: municipality, sea temperature, and seasons classified Excellent out of classified seasons. Up to 6 per region.

Central Macedonia (111 beaches)

Thessaly (103 beaches)

Eastern Macedonia and Thrace (53 beaches)

Epirus (35 beaches)

Crete (150 beaches)

Ionian Islands (142 beaches)

Peloponnese (101 beaches)

Attica (120 beaches)

Western Greece (53 beaches)

Central Greece (71 beaches)

South Aegean (112 beaches)

All bathing-water beaches in Greece

The classification is the EU assessment based on samples from four seasons, not a reading on the day. For recent samples see the official results linked from each beach page.

Daylight

Sunrise and sunset on the 15th, north to south, in Greek local time.

Sunrise and sunset, 15 May
PlaceSunriseSunsetDay length
Thessaloniki06:1220:3614 h 25 min
Athens06:1520:2614 h 12 min
Heraklion06:1520:1514 h 0 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

·

Greece month by month

See also

Sources

Every figure on this page comes from the sources below, with the date each was updated.

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 .