- Updated on: 2024-04-28
The weather in October in Santorini can be surprising quite often: the temperature at the beginning of the month seems to be very summery, and even the nights are not particularly cool. If you visit Santorini in October, you may feel like it is the beginning or even the middle of May, but comparing the weather statistics everything falls into place, because… according to the numbers it is exactly like that 🙂
What is the weather like in Santorini in October
The island’s velvet season is currently in full swing. Daytime temperatures in the first half of October are astonishingly high, ranging from +25 to +27 degrees Celsius. On particularly sunny days, the air can warm up to +29 degrees in the shade.
The night temperature is the only difference. It starts to decrease from +24 degrees in the first half of October, and by the end of the month, it is only +20 degrees.
The imminent approach of autumn is also periodically reminded by clouds appearing in the sky, sometimes with precipitation.
The humidity on the island is increasing, but it is not yet the rainy season. It’s still a long way off! Rain is more common in the latter half of October.
The air and water temperature in October in Santorini perfectly suits the velvet season: +26 degrees in the air and +23 degrees in the sea
Santorinika Travel Agency, from personal experience of living on the island
But seriously: we’re already talking about the weather in Santorini in late October!
Now for the details.
Air temperature in Santorini in October
Most often, the weather in the first half of October in Santorini enjoys surprisingly hot days: it can easily be +26 degrees, and +28 degrees in the shade. In the sun it can be as much as +35 – it’s very easy to burn unnoticed, so sunscreen with at least SPF 30 is still needed.
During the latter half of October, the weather undergoes a change. Cloudiness becomes more frequent, the island experiences a decrease in temperature, and the air temperature gradually drops. On average, the temperature reaches a maximum of 22 degrees Celsius during the day.
Believe us, this is a very comfortable temperature for swimming and walking. Of course, if the sun is shining and there is no strong wind (usually in October we do not have it yet).
Nighttime temperatures do not drop below +20 degrees. In the first half of the month, the temperature at night may reach +23 degrees, but in the second half and particularly in late October, it may be around +20 degrees.
The temperature trends in Santorini during October over the past few years are illustrated in the graph below. The blue graph represents nighttime temperatures, while the orange graph represents daytime temperatures:
The weather in Santorini during the first half of October is almost always quite different from the weather at the end of the month. If you think about weather anomalies and extremes, the record temperature in Santorini in October was as much as +31 degrees in the shade! The coldest night on the island was marked by a temperature of +7 degrees.
Water temperature in Santorini in October
The sea in Santorini in October slowly begins to cool down – nothing can be done. However, the key word here is – slowly, because almost the whole month the water on our beaches will keep above +22 degrees, and only in the last week of October the sea in Santorini may cool down to +20 degrees. Is it cold or not, is it possible to swim? We believe that in October in Santorini you can swim all month; at least we enjoy swimming 🙂
Towards the end of the month, the air temperature matches that of the sea water. Although there are fewer people on the beach during the last week of October compared to the beginning of the month, it is still a great time to relax on the beach, particularly in the morning and afternoon hours, at least for the first half of the month.
Water temperature in October in Santorini is +22 degrees
Santorinika Travel Agency, from personal experience of living on the island
The chart below shows the sea temperature statistics for Santorini in October. The chart displays the temperature for each day of the month in recent years:
Sunny days and precipitation in Santorini in October
The sun in Santorini in October is not that uncommon, but rather a frequent visitor! Of course, the number of sunny hours on our island is already decreasing, but we can still talk about 11 hours of sunshine per day. The decline in sunshine during the fall is noticeable but not significant:
At the beginning of the month, sunrise on the island occurs approximately at 7:15, and sunset in Santorini in October can be seen at 19:00. Closer to the end of the month the time changes: in October in Greece the clocks are moved one hour back, so you have to wake up earlier: the sunrise is about 6:40, while the sunset in late October can be seen approximately at 17:20.
Rains in Santorini in October
In October, as temperatures drop in Santorini, humidity increases, and there are typically 5-7 cloudy days throughout the month.
And as for the really cloudy and rainy days, when you just do not want to be outdoors, then… they either do not happen at all! Sometimes there are one, maximum two rainy days – closer to the end of October:
Rainfall on our island in October is still very rare. Typically, we receive only about two centimeters of rain during this month, and it usually falls in the second half of the month.
The trend, however, is increasing, so keep that in mind when choosing your travel dates:
It is possible for it to rain in Santorini during October, although it is still rare: there may be a few days of drizzle
Santorinika Travel Agency, from personal experience of living on the island
What can be useful for holidays in Santorini in October
The weather in October in Santorini is very similar to the weather in late spring and early summer, except that it changes in the opposite direction. In fact, it is the final month of the Velvet season. Tender sea, gentle sun, bright sunsets, everything is very warm and pleasant 🙂 In terms of weather the first half of the month is perfect for beach lovers and lovers of walking, while at the end of the month we would not advise planning a beach holiday.
Nevertheless, the tourist season is not over, and many come to the island at this time primarily for the sights and excursions, views and photos, and only on the second occasion – to swim and sunbathe on the volcanic beaches.
Are you planning a holiday in Santorini in October? Or are you already on the island? We are happy to help you organise your vacation! Check out tips, services and offers:
