Athens · Greece
January
Athens at its emptiest — genuinely uncrowded museums, rock-bottom prices, cold and grey.
Strong option
#8 of 12 months
There are better months for Athens — see the full ranking below.
See when to go instead →Climate
High
13°C
Low
6°C
Rain
61mm
Sun
4.5hrs/day
30-year climate normals · Open Meteo ERA5
How January scores in Athens
Weather
Average
Value
Perfect
Crowds
Perfect
Events
Below average
Atmosphere
Above average
What you gain in January
- ↑The Acropolis and Parthenon with almost no other tourists — the reality that millions of August visitors never see
- ↑Accommodation at its cheapest: budget hotels from €40–60, high-end options at a fraction of summer rates
- ↑National Archaeological Museum and Acropolis Museum fully accessible without queues or crowds
What you sacrifice
- ↓Cold and frequently overcast, with 61mm of rain and only 4.5 hours of daily sun
- ↓Outdoor dining and rooftop bars closed for the season
- ↓Some smaller cafés and tavernas in tourist-heavy Plaka run reduced hours or close entirely
How January compares to April (best month)
| Factor | January | April ★ |
|---|---|---|
| Weather | 4 | 8 |
| Value | 10 | 8 |
| Crowds | 10 | 8 |
January in other destinations
Lisbon (13.6°C)Barcelona (13.2°C)Tokyo (9.8°C)Bali (30.2°C)Santorini (13.4°C)Paris (7°C)New York (3.3°C)Marrakech (17.3°C)Amsterdam (5.6°C)Maldives (30.1°C)Rome (11.6°C)Bangkok (31.1°C)Istanbul (8.7°C)Vienna (3.2°C)Seoul (1.1°C)Dubrovnik (11.1°C)Rio de Janeiro (30.9°C)Kyoto (9.2°C)Phuket (31.5°C)Cape Town (26.1°C)Prague (2°C)Amalfi Coast (12°C)Mexico City (21°C)Medellín (28°C)Fiji (31°C)London (8°C)Sydney (26°C)Iceland (2°C)Tulum (28°C)Dubai (24°C)Singapore (30°C)Hoi An (24°C)Chiang Mai (29°C)Miami (24.1°C)Florence (9.2°C)Queenstown (22°C)Madrid (9.4°C)Porto (14°C)Edinburgh (7°C)Copenhagen (4°C)Budapest (4°C)Kraków (2°C)Tbilisi (6°C)Palawan (29°C)Hanoi (18°C)Osaka (9°C)Goa (32°C)Cusco (19°C)Buenos Aires (30°C)Mykonos (13°C)Zanzibar (32°C)Sri Lanka (31°C)Costa Rica (25°C)Cancun (28°C)Krabi (32°C)Seville (15°C)Cartagena (31°C)Siem Reap (29°C)
Climate data: 30-year normals (1991–2020) from Open Meteo ERA5 reanalysis. Scores compare months within Athens, not across destinations. Methodology →