Does it snow in Greece?
Yes, it does snow in Greece. Snow can fall between the months of November and April, with the northern regions receiving most of the snowfall.
While Greece is known as a tropical destination full of paradise-like islands surrounded by sparkling turquoise water, it's also a destination that experiences snow during the winter months. However, the frequency of snowfall and the amount of snowfall a region receives depends on its location with areas on the mainland more prone to experiencing more frequent and heavier snowfall than those on the islands.
Snowfall generally coincides with the beginning of the winter season, however, snow can fall as early as November and last until April, meaning there's plenty of time to enjoy the country's beautiful white landscapes. January is the coldest month out of the year and also boasts the lowest sunlight hours per day, as well as the highest number of rainy days per month. January is also the month that experiences the most snowfall in the northern regions of the country, followed closely by February and December.
Where does it snow in Greece?
Technically it can snow anywhere in Greece (even the islands) but there are destinations that do experience more snow than others such as different regions on the mainland.
The northern regions of the mainland are prone to experiencing yearly snow so most of the best spots to enjoy the white phenomenon are located in that area.
Having said that, these are the best places to see snow and enjoy snow-related activities:
- Metsovo Village, Epirus
- Thessaloniki, northern Greece
- Meteora, Central Greece
- Macedonia, northern Greece
- Parnassos Snow Center, Central Greece
What's winter like in Greece?
There's no denying that winter in Greece offers a cool respite from the scorching temperatures of a European summer, but the country can get colder than you may think. In the northern regions of the country such as Macedonia and Epirus, the average temperatures in winter can reach a chilling 0°C, and on some occasions, can lower to an eye-watering -20°C.
In other areas of the country, the temperatures don't drop that low - instead hovering around the 12°C - 15°C mark. Even though it can get quite cold, the weather itself is relatively dry and sunny with a chance of extended, heavy rainfall on super cold days.
While snow is never expected in popular tourist destinations such as Athens and the Cyclades Islands, it's not entirely unheard of with the capital averaging light to medium snowfall once every four years.
Winter may not be the most popular time to travel to Greece but it's still a fantastic way to see the beauty of this spectacular country without having to share it with thousands of tourists all trying to do the same thing.
Some of the best things to do in Greece in the months of winter are exploring the country's many mountainous regions (by swapping those sandals for hiking boots), participating in snow activities such as skiing and snowboarding, and eating several traditional hearty meals you wouldn't dream of eating in the height of summer.