Santorini in September stays warm and sunny, around 25 to 28C, with the sea still warm at about 23C and the crowds easing, especially from the middle of the month onward. Widely rated the island’s finest month, it pairs summer warmth with a calmer feel. This guide covers the September weather, swimming, crowds and best things to do.
September is early autumn and a top pick in the wider Santorini travel guide. Summer lingers but eases. The sections below cover September.
How is the weather in Santorini in September?
Santorini in September stays warm, sunny and dry, feeling much like peak summer, with daytime highs around 25 to 28C, sometimes higher early in the month, and warm evenings. Skies are clear blue and rain is very rare, while the fierce midday heat of August begins to ease slightly.
September holds onto summer while taking the edge off it. Daytime temperatures sit at a warm 25 to 28C, climbing higher in the first half of the month when it feels every bit like high summer, before softening a little towards October, with warm, pleasant evenings throughout. The skies stay almost permanently clear and blue, rain is very uncommon, and the relentless midday intensity of August gradually relaxes into something more comfortable for sightseeing and walking. With long sunny days and beautiful light, September is one of the loveliest months to be on the island, summery but a touch gentler, set within the wider Santorini weather. The sea stays warm.
Can you swim in Santorini in September?
You can swim beautifully in Santorini in September, with the sea still very warm at around 23C after the long summer, among the warmest of the year. The beaches, watersports and boat tours run fully early in the month, making September excellent for swimming, snorkeling and relaxed beach days.
September offers some of the best swimming of the entire year. Having soaked up the summer heat, the sea stays very warm at around 23C, among the warmest seawater temperatures of the year, second only to August, so the water is gloriously inviting for swimming, snorkeling and long beach days. The black-sand beaches of Perissa, Perivolos and Kamari remain in full swing, especially in early September, with sunbeds, beach bars, tavernas, watersports and boat tours all operating, but with fewer people than in August. This combination of warm sea, warm weather and thinner crowds is exactly why so many regulars consider September the ideal time for a Santorini beach holiday, set out alongside the guides to the beaches and snorkeling. The crowds are thinning.
What are the crowds and prices like?
September has medium crowds, with the real drop in numbers and prices coming from the middle of the month onward. Early September still feels like high season, with Oia and Fira crowded, but it grows calmer and better value later, with shorter lines, easier reservations and a more relaxed atmosphere.
September is a month of two halves where crowds are concerned. The first half still feels like peak season, with crowded hotels, restaurants, beaches and ferries, and Oia and Fira busy, much like late August. From the second half of the month, however, the crowds and prices noticeably ease: lines shorten, restaurant and tour reservations become easier, hotel rates soften and the whole island takes on a calmer, more relaxed feel while still being fully open and warm. For most travellers this makes mid-to-late September a sweet spot, delivering summer weather and a warm sea without the frantic peak crush, set out alongside the guides to the best time to visit Santorini and Santorini on a budget. Everything is on offer.
What should you do in Santorini in September?
September is ideal for everything: swimming and beach days in the warm sea, caldera and volcano cruises, the Fira-to-Oia hike in slightly cooler conditions, the Oia sunset and wine tasting as the grape harvest approaches. Full operations and a calmer feel make it arguably the island’s finest all-round month.
September lets you enjoy the island’s whole repertoire in near-ideal conditions. The warm sea makes for excellent swimming and beach days, the caldera and catamaran cruises to the volcano and hot springs run fully, and the Fira-to-Oia caldera hike is more comfortable than in the searing peak. The Oia sunset is as magical as ever, and with full restaurant and tour operations but a less frantic atmosphere, it is easier to enjoy than in August. The wineries are a particular pleasure as the grape harvest approaches, with the vineyards at their most evocative. Warm weather, warm water, full services and thinning crowds combine to make September arguably Santorini’s best all-round month, set out alongside the guides to the sunset and the wineries. The questions below cover the points travellers ask most.
Frequently Asked Questions
How warm is Santorini in September?
September in Santorini is warm, sunny and dry, feeling much like peak summer, with daytime highs around 25 to 28C, sometimes higher early in the month, and warm evenings. Skies are clear blue and rain is very rare, while the fierce midday heat of August begins to ease.
Is the sea warm in Santorini in September?
The sea in Santorini in September is still very warm at around 23C after the long summer, among the warmest of the year. The beaches, watersports and boat tours run fully, especially early in the month, making September excellent for swimming, snorkeling and relaxed beach days.
Should you visit Santorini in September?
September is widely rated among the finest months to visit, pairing warm summer weather and a warm sea with thinning crowds and easing prices, especially from the middle of the month onward. Full operations and a calmer feel make it arguably the island’s finest all-round month.