Santorini in August is hot, dry and very sunny, around 29 to 32C, with the warmest sea of the year at 25 to 26C, but also the most extreme crowds and the highest prices of the season. This guide covers the August weather, swimming, the crowds and prices, and the best things to do, including how to escape the crush.
August is the height of summer in the wider Santorini travel guide. It is at its hottest and busiest. The sections below cover August.
How hot is Santorini in August?
Santorini in August is hot, dry, sunny and very reliable, with daytime highs around 29 to 32C and hotter spells possible. Evenings are warm at 23 to 25C, though the meltemi wind can make cliffside dinners feel cooler. It is one of the island’s driest months, with rain very unlikely.
August serves up the most reliable hot summer weather of the year. Daytime highs sit at 29 to 32C, with occasional hotter spells pushing higher, under relentless sunshine, and the evenings stay warm at around 23 to 25C, ideal for late dinners, though the meltemi wind that blows in midsummer can make exposed clifftop tables feel cooler than the numbers suggest. Rain is very unlikely, as August is among Santorini’s driest months, so you can count on day after day of clear, dry, blazing weather. It is peak summer in every sense, glorious for the beach and the sea but demanding of sun protection and hydration, set within the wider Santorini weather. The sea is at its warmest.
Can you swim in Santorini in August?
You can swim wonderfully in Santorini in August, with the sea at its warmest of the year, around 25 to 26C. The black-sand beaches, watersports and boat tours are all in full swing, making August the prime month for swimming, snorkeling and beach days, though the popular beaches get very busy.
August offers the best swimming conditions of the year. The sea reaches its annual peak of around 25 to 26C, beautifully warm after the long summer, perfect for relaxed swimming, snorkeling and water activities. The dark-sand beaches at Perissa, Perivolos and Kamari are at their liveliest, with every sunbed, beach bar, taverna and watersports operator running at full tilt, and the caldera boat tours and catamaran cruises are hugely popular. The flip side is that the beaches and the water around the boat-trip stops are crowded, so arriving early for a sunbed and booking cruises ahead pays off. For pure warm-sea summer fun, though, August is unbeatable, set out alongside the guides to the beaches and watersports. The crowds, however, are extreme.
What are the crowds and prices like?
August has the most extreme crowds and the highest prices of the year, as the peak of high season. Hotels, ferries, restaurants, cars and the best tables stay in heavy demand all month, including late August, so book everything far ahead and expect packed viewpoints and premium rates.
August is the busiest and priciest month, without exception. Crowds are at their most extreme, swelled by holidaying Europeans and daily cruise arrivals, so the famous spots, the Oia sunset above all, the caldera restaurants, the boat tours and the ferry port, are intensely packed throughout the month. Do not assume late August will quieten or cheapen: demand for hotels, villas, rental cars, ferries and sunset-view restaurant tables stays high right to the end. Prices for accommodation, flights, cars and many tours are at or near their annual peak. If you travel in August, book absolutely everything as far in advance as possible, and plan around the crowds rather than hoping to avoid them, set out alongside the guides to the sunset and the best time to visit Santorini. There are ways to escape the crush.
What should you do in Santorini in August?
August suits swimming, beach days, nightlife, boat trips and late dinners. To escape the crowds, head to the quieter south-west around the Akrotiri lighthouse and its less-visited beaches, take a ferry to peaceful Thirassia, and cool off at the photogenic wineries south of Fira.
August is all about embracing full summer while dodging the worst of the crowds. The warm sea makes it the prime month for swimming, beach days, snorkeling, watersports and boat tours, and the long, warm nights are made for nightlife and lingering dinners. To find space, escape to the quieter south-western end of the island around the Akrotiri lighthouse, with its less-frequented beaches, or take a ferry across to rugged, tranquil Thirassia for hiking and its old monastery, far from the Oia throng. The island’s wineries, especially photogenic with the grapes ripened by the August sun, make a lovely, cooler-feeling escape for a tour and tasting. Pyrgos is also a good alternative to Oia for the sunset, set out alongside the guides to Thirassia and the wineries. The questions below cover the points travellers ask most.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is the weather in Santorini in August?
August in Santorini is hot, dry, sunny and very reliable, with daytime highs around 29 to 32C and hotter spells possible. Evenings are warm at 23 to 25C, though the meltemi wind can make cliffside dinners feel cooler. It is one of the driest months, with rain very unlikely.
Is the sea warm in Santorini in August?
The sea in Santorini in August is at its warmest of the year, around 25 to 26C, making it the prime month for swimming, snorkeling and beach days. The black-sand beaches, watersports and boat tours are all in full swing, though the popular beaches and viewpoints get very busy.
Should you visit Santorini in August?
August is good for hot weather, the warmest sea and full summer energy, but it has the most extreme crowds and the highest prices of the year, all month including late August. Book everything far ahead, and escape the crush at Akrotiri, Thirassia and the wineries. September is calmer.