Athens weather in May
Athens averages 25°C by day and 16°C at night in May, with the sea at 19°C and 5 days with at least 1 mm of rain. It warms up by about 6°C into June.
Day
25°C
Night
16°C
Sea
19°C
Rainy days
5
Flight from London
3½h
What May feels like
May is hot in Athens: proper beach weather.
The sea is 19°C: refreshing, and chilly for most people after a few minutes.
Rain is occasional, on about 5 days.
Of the 48 sun destinations we track, Athens is the #30 warmest in May, and #7 of 23 within 5½ hours of the UK.
Want it warmer in May?
These are hotter than Athens this month for at most an hour and a half more flying:
Athens weather by month
May is highlighted. Compare with April and June, or see the full year in Athens.
Athens in May: quick answers
Is Athens hot in May?
May is hot in Athens: proper beach weather. Average highs are 25°C and lows 16°C.
Can you swim in Athens in May?
The sea is 19°C: refreshing, and chilly for most people after a few minutes.
Does it rain in Athens in May?
Rain is occasional, on about 5 days.
What is the warmest month in Athens?
July, at an average high of 34°C. The coolest is January at 12°C.
How long is the flight to Athens from the UK?
About 3½h direct from London, estimated from the 2,410 km distance. Check your airline for exact times.
Still choosing? See where is hot in May for every destination ranked by temperature, sea and flight time.
How we measured this
Averages of every day in May from 2016 to 2025, from the Open-Meteo historical weather archive (ECMWF ERA5 reanalysis). Sea temperature is the 2023 to 2025 average from the Open-Meteo marine archive. A rainy day has at least 1 mm of rain. Reanalysis describes an area about 25 km across, so sheltered resorts can run a degree or two warmer. Flight time is a distance-based estimate from London Heathrow.
Planning Athens in May?
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