Chalkidiki, Greece Weather and Climate

Geographical location

The Greek peninsula of Chalkidiki is located in Macedonia, southeast of Thessaloniki. The region is known for its so-called “three fingers”: Kassandra, Sithonia and Athos. These peninsulas are located in the southeast of Halkidiki.

Kassandra and Sithonia in particular are popular holiday destinations, with Kassandra having the best tourist infrastructure and most hotels. Athos, the eastern finger of the peninsula, occupies a special position and with the “Holy Mount Athos” is to a certain extent an autonomous monastic state. You need a so-called pilgrimage visa to visit, women are generally not allowed in.

In the center of Chalkidiki there is a mountain range over 1100 meters high, the region flattens out towards the sea. The hinterland receives little tourist attention, but it is ideal for hiking.

Chalkidiki can be reached via Thessaloniki Airport. The flight from Frankfurt takes about 2.5 hours.

Climate in Halkidiki

A typically Mediterranean climate can be found on the coast of Chalkidiki. In the winter months from November to February, temperatures can drop to 10 degrees. In the summer months, on the other hand, temperatures rise to values ​​above 30 degrees. The water temperature is also warm in summer during this time, with over 26 ° C nothing stands in the way of a relaxing beach holiday.

The location of our climate data, Gerakini, is located directly on the coast between the two peninsulas Kassandra and Sithonia. However, it is representative of all parts of the Chalkidiki region. Summer is very warm with daytime temperatures between 29 and 32 degrees a day. During the night they drop to around 15 to 18 degrees. The summer months remain very sunny and dry, with most of the rain falling between November and April.

When to go to Halkidiki

The season in Halkidiki begins every year with rising temperatures in mid- May and ends, depending on the hotel, usually at the beginning of October. Most of the hotel complexes close out of season, with the best offers in the edge months of May and September / October. A holiday in Greece outside of this period only makes sense for individual tourists who want to explore the region on their own with a rental car.

We therefore recommend the months of June as the best travel time for Halkidikiuntil September. Here the Mediterranean climate shows itself in all its splendor, Halkidiki is now sun-drenched and the good weather puts a smile on every holidaymaker’s face. Even in the main season you can find lonely bays for swimming in Chalkidiki, especially in the southern areas of the two fingers Kassandra and Sithonia there are significantly fewer hotels.

Temperatures, precipitation, sunshine in Gerakini (Chalkidiki)

Temperatures

The annual average temperature in Gerakini is 15 ° C. For comparison: Munich reaches an average of 8.6 ° C, in Berlin it is 9.6 ° C. The warmest month is July (24.8 ° C), coldest month of January with mean values of 5 ° C. The maximum water temperature in Gerakini is 24 ° C. Comfortable bathing is possible at these temperatures. All but January, February, March and December have a water temperature of at least 17 ° C. Bathing is then possible to a limited extent. The months of June, July, August, September and October have a water temperature of at least 21 ° C and are therefore suitable for a beach holiday.

Precipitation

The annual precipitation is 458 mm on 62 days with precipitation. For comparison: In Munich, 967 mm, in Berlin 570 mm, precipitation is measured annually. There is no rainy season, i.e. months with more than 175 mm of precipitation. In the months of January, February, March and December snowfall is possible.

Sunshine

As our climate table shows, July is the sunniest month with an average of 12 hours of sunshine per day. The average annual sunshine is 7.3 hours per day. For comparison: In Munich and Berlin, the sun shines an average of 4.7 hours per day throughout the year.

Cities nearby

The following larger towns are nearby and have a similar climate: Municipality of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki and Kordelio-Evosmos.

Highlights and attractions

The infrastructure in Chalkidiki is excellently developed, the area is predestined for exploring with a rental car. The low prices make it possible to borrow a car with which you can explore your fingers as you like or visit one of the great lakes in the hinterland. The scenic highlights here are Lake Volvi or Lake Koronia in the north of Chalkidiki.

Another attraction is a trip to the small island of Amouliani. Tours to the stalactite caves of Petrálona are particularly popular. Despite the distance of around 300 kilometers, we recommend a tour to the world-famous Metéora monasteries near the city of Kalambaka. The impressive UNESCO World Heritage Site is unique in the world and the rocky landscape is ideal for day trips.

Halkidiki weather in March, April and May

Average daily temperatures between 14 ° C and 25 ° C can be expected over the next three months. In Gerakini it gets warmest in May, while March is noticeably cooler.

Do you want to go on a beach holiday? The water temperatures are in March, April and May 16-20 ° C.

You can expect precipitation for about 7 days in March, about 5 days in April and about 6 days in May.

In the period from March to May , the sun shines an average of 5 to 9 hours a day. The sunniest weather is in April in Gerakini, but with less sun you will have to get by in March.