Best Greek Islands in May
The best Greek islands in May for you may depend to some extent on what you are looking for. May is considered to be the end of the ‘shoulder’ season for pricing purposes. The weather in general will still be warming up through spring and the water at the beaches will also still be a little cool. That doesn’t mean that a beach-based holiday is out of the question but it does mean that some careful planning is required.
Best Greek Islands in May – what to consider
The other key factor to consider when thinking about the best greek islands in May to visit is what stage the different islands will be at in their various seasons – some Greek islands will be starting to see a good number of visitors while others may not be starting up their tourist activities yet. This means favourite tavernas might not be open, boat trips may not be available, even ferry routes may be less frequent than in high summer or not operating at all.
Best Greek Islands in May – popular islands will be quieter and cheaper
If you’ve thought about visiting Santorini or Mykonos but you’ve been put off by the stories of massive crowds and cruise ships, consider a May visit. You’ll find that they are much quieter than in the height of summer, accommodation will be cheaper but there will be enough facilities open to give you a great holiday that represents the best of the overall experience. But bear in mind that the weather will still be cooler than in the main summer period.
Others to consider: Paros and Milos
Best Greek Islands in May – very small islands may be too quiet
Just as the smaller islands are the first to start closing at the end of summer, so they are the last to start opening up for the new summer season. For example islands in the Small Cyclades like Iraklia and Schinoussa will be very quiet and short of visitors in May – that may be how you like it of course but many visitors will want to see more things operating for full enjoyment.
Best Greek Islands in May – it’s a great time for hiking
If you’re considering a hiking holiday in the Greek islands, May is a really good time to come. The weather is generally dry but not too hot, which means your walking time can be maximized and not just confined to cooler mornings like in the summer. Plus of course, those crowds have not arrived yet meaning cheaper stays and a better chance of getting into your favourite tavernas for the all-important replenishment of nutrients after a hard hike.
Islands to consider for hiking in May: Sifnos and Tinos
And also read about hiking in Naxos
Consider the ‘year-round’ islands
Syros might be one of the best greek islands in May to look at – it’s a great all-round destination anyway and as a ‘working’ island and the capital of the Cyclades, it will be largely fully functioning for locals during May and hence there will be plenty for tourists too. That doesn’t mean that everything will be up and running in the more touristy areas like Poseidinha and Galissas but there should be enough and the main centre of Ermoupoli will be a central focus. Naxos Town is another area to look at.
Further south is warmer?
As a generalisation, it’s likely that the weather will be a little warmer the further south you go i.e. away from Athens. So islands like Crete may offer a bit more warmth and particularly the southern coasts that face the African coastline.
So what is the Greek Island weather in May like?
The table below provides some historical averages for temperature and rainfall.
Obviously it doesn’t guarantee what this May will be like but it will give you a feel. I guess overall the summary would be ‘comfortable’. You’ll get some nice sunny warm (not hot) days and nights that do not get too cold. Ten hours of sunshine is something we could all cope with.
Greek island temperature in May
| Island | Avg Min Temperature (°C) | Avg Max Temperature (°C) | Avg Days with Rain | Avg Hours of Sunshine per Day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santorini | 16 | 23 | 2 | 10 |
| Mykonos | 16 | 22 | 2 | 10 |
| Crete | 15 | 24 | 4 | 9 |
| Syros | 17 | 23 | 4 | 8 |
| Naxos | 16 | 22 | 3 | 10 |
| Paros | 16 | 23 | 2 | 10 |
| Koufonisia | 17 | 23 | 3 | 9 |
| Sifnos | 16 | 23 | 2 | 10 |
| Rhodes | 17 | 24 | 3 | 9 |
| Skiathos | 16 | 23 | 3 | 10 |
Best Greek Islands in May – what to pack
The only difference, if you’re visiting in May compared with high summer, might be to slightly increase the warm clothing that you bring. So perhaps a jacket, a thin jumper/cardigan and a couple of pairs of long pants. But you can leave the puffer jackets at home.
Otherwise bring everything that you would normally bring, perhaps making sure that you have enough physical or electronic reading material for any inclement weather days.
Special note for 2024
Greek Orthodox Easter
Grek Easter – what to expect
This year Greek Orthodox Easter (based on a modified Julian calendar) falls unusually in early May, from the 3rd (Good Friday) to the 5th (Easter Sunday) to the 6th (Easter Monday). There will be the usual celebrations and ceremonies if you are lucky enough to be in Greece at this time.
Good Friday is considered to be a sacred day in Greece. Traditionally, the day starts out with local girls and women decorating a replica (or “epitaph”) of Christ’s funeral bier with flowers. This is then marched through the streets of the villages or neighbourhoods in the city following an evening mass entitled “The Epitaph Mass.”
Encompassed in the epitaph circumambulation are multiple choruses and bands. There are some areas in Greece that add a twist to the ceremony by burning effigies of Judas Iscariot. You can find these celebrations in areas such as Crete. Good Friday is recognised as a mournful day in which flags in homes and businesses around the country are set to half-mast in remembrance.
Easter Saturday is known as the The Resurrection or “Anastasis”. Preparations for the jovial dinner begin early in the morning with the cooking of the maghiritsa – a type of soup. The faithful begin to gather at churches and squares of the cities and villages before 11 p.m., carrying large white candles. Before midnight, the lights of the churches are put out in symbolism of the darkness that Christ had to endure as he passed through the underworld.
At midnight, a priest appears holding a lighted candle taper reciting the phrase “Avto to Fos”, which means “This is the light.” His candle, dubbed “the Holy candle”, is used to light several of the onlookers’ candles, which in turn then light their neighbour’s candles. This continues until the entire square is lit with flickering candlelight. The lighting of the candles is said to be the most significant moment of the entire year.
The resurrection is proclaimed at exactly midnight, and is celebrated with drums, fireworks, and church bells. Fireworks light up the sky in a majestic display. The crowd offers the salutation “Christós Anésti” (Christ has risen) to each other, which is responded to with the phrase “Alithós Anésti” (He has truly risen). They then dissipate; returning to their homes to the previously laid festive tables and break their fast with the traditional soup, maghiritsa.
Before entering their homes, they make the symbol of a cross in the air with the smoke of the candle above the door. Devout followers are said to light an oil candle inside the home beside their icon-candle and keep this light burning throughout the year. It is said that if you can make it home without your candle going out, you will have a good year.
After the traditional dinner, the family and friends that gathered for dinner will crack red eggs. The game symbolises resurrection and new life. Easter eggs are dyed red to exemplify the blood of the Christ. The hard shell of the egg is said to replicate the sealed tomb of Christ. Cracking the egg illustrates the resurrection.
Despite being up throughout the evening for the jubilant Resurrection feast, everyone is up early the next morning to prepare for the Easter Sunday dinner. The most celebrated of the Holy Week, Easter Sunday is a feast of lamb served in honour of the lamb of God. The lamb is usually roasted on a spit outside, and the entire day is celebrated with food, wine, music, friends, and lots of dancing.
Easter Monday is considered to be a day of rest after the week long festivities. People take the day to prepare for the return to work or school. Leftovers from the week are eaten on this day, and families take the day to revisit the events of the past week. Easter Monday is a public holiday so banks and post offices are closed.