
Santorini in December
Not the best time
December offers rock-bottom prices and complete solitude, but the weather is genuinely challenging. Most visitor infrastructure closes, making it feel like a different island entirely.
Weather
December brings winter weather with highs around 17°C and frequent rain - expect 11 wet days. Storms can be fierce with strong winds and choppy seas. Evening temperatures drop to 12°C, feeling colder with the wind chill.
17°C high12°C low11 rain days
Crowds & Cost
low crowds
~$95/day average
Events & Festivals
- •Christmas celebrations (December 25)
- •New Year's Eve festivities
December Tips
- •Most hotels and restaurants close for winter - book only confirmed open properties
- •Ferry schedules are severely reduced and weather-dependent
- •Consider this only if you want complete solitude and don't mind rough weather
All Months
May through June and September through October deliver Santorini's sweet spot — warm weather without the crushing crowds and prices that make your credit card weep. Temperatures hover around 22-26°C, perfect for both beach days and sunset chasing. Restaurant reservations become possible again, and you might actually find parking in Oia.
July and August turn the island into a beautiful nightmare. Temperatures spike to 30°C+, hotels triple their prices, and every sunset viewing spot becomes a human sardine can. But the trade-off? Those legendary 14-hour summer days and water warm enough for midnight swims at Kamari Beach.
April and early May offer the best deals and smallest crowds, though some restaurants and hotels stay shuttered until mid-May. The weather can be unpredictable — one day you're sunbathing, the next you're hiding from spring storms that roll across the Aegean like nature's special effects.
Winter (November-March) strips Santorini down to its bones. Most tourist restaurants close, ferry schedules shrink, and those famous sunsets happen over a gray, moody sea. But room rates drop to €30-50 per night, and you'll have the ancient ruins of Akrotiri practically to yourself. The island shows its authentic face when the crowds disappear.
Santorini Scores
Solo
6/10
Couples
10/10
Families
6/10
Adventure
4/10
Budget
4/10
Luxury
9/10
BUILD YOUR SANTORINI PLAN
Insider picks, smart timing, and a plan ready when you are.