Rhodes · Month comparison
December vs May
May ranks #1 overall vs December at #8. The smart-traveller month — 24C, 10 hours sun, almost no rain, hotels at half summer rates.
December
#8 of 12 months
Worth considering
Christmas market in Mandraki harbour and locals-only New Year — wettest stretch of the year shares the calendar.
- ↑Mandraki harbour Christmas market and ice rink run from early December
- ↑Old-town hotel rates at annual lows — €40-70/night for boutique conversions
May
#1 of 12 months
Best match
The smart-traveller month — 24C, 10 hours sun, almost no rain, hotels at half summer rates.
- ↑24C and 10 hours sun without summer humidity — best walking weather in the old town
- ↑Beach resorts fully open with 30-40% lower rates than June
| Factor | December | May |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 3 | 9 |
| Value score | 9 | 7 |
| Crowd score | 9 | 7 |
| Events score | 5 | 6 |
| Atmosphere | 7 | 9 |
| Avg high temp | 17°C | 24°C |
| Monthly rain | 145mm | 15mm |
| Daily sunshine | 5hrs | 10hrs |
December trade-offs
- ↓145mm rainfall — wettest stretch of the year alongside January
- ↓Many Northern European flight routes cut to once-weekly or seasonal-only
- ↓Sunset by 5pm and most beach roads dark and empty after
May trade-offs
- ↓Sea still cooler than most expect — 19-20C, viable but no warmer than UK August
- ↓Meltemi wind picks up on the west coast from mid-May (Ixia and Ialyssos windy)
Scores compare months within Rhodes. Climate data: Open Meteo ERA5 30-year normals (1991–2020). Methodology →