Warm Greek Islands in March
Warm Greek islands in March are the southernmost Dodecanese and Crete where spring starts first. Crete with Heraklion, Chania and Elounda averaging 17-20C daytime, Rhodes with Rhodes Town and Lindos averaging 17-19C, Karpathos with Pigadia around 17-18C, Kasos, Chalki and Symi near Rhodes at 17-18C, Kos with Kos Town and Kardamena around 17-18C, Kastellorizo as Greece’s easternmost and often warmest small island at 18-19C, and Gavdos as Greece’s southernmost point south of Crete.
Known for early spring warmth with 7-8 hours of sun, daytime 17-20C, nights 10-12C and sea around 16-18C, so warm for hiking, sightseeing and wildflowers but still cool for most to swim. March brings almond blossom and green hills on Crete, Rhodes, Karpathos, Kos and Kastellorizo, while northern islands like Corfu, Thassos, Skiathos and Lefkada stay cooler at 13-15C with more rain and many seasonal hotels still closed.
| Island | Description |
|---|---|
| Gavdos | Europe's southernmost point with cedar forest and Tripiti chair, in spring temperatures gradually rise from an average of 16-17C in March. |
| Crete | Country in itself Knossos Samaria Elafonisi pink beach Balos Malia strip, warmest island in Greece during March with temperatures reaching up to 20C, average 10C mornings to about 17C midday and peaks reaching up to 17C lows around 10C. |
| Rhodes | Medieval capital Knights Old Town Lindos Faliraki Bar Street 300 days sun, March average daily 13C to 17C and average high 16.3C with low 13.8C at night and daytime maximum 17C. |
| Kastellorizo | Megisti farthest east 2km Turkey pastel harbor Blue Cave glows blue, far south-east Dodecanese mildest winter and annual 21.9C. |
| Karpathos | Time-capsule Olympos embroidered dress Dorian dialect windy south surf, between Rhodes and Crete hottest destination. |
| Kasos | Bare and brave heroic 1824 Bouka pirate port traditional music, part of Rhodes Port Kasos Karpathos Kastellorizo mildest winters in Europe. |
| Chrissi | Golden island off Crete golden sand largest natural cedar forest uninhabited protected park off Ierapetra sunniest part of Greece year-round. |
| Koufonisi | Tiny paradise Pori and Gala sea pools voted best beaches in Europe no cars needed. |
| Chalki | Restored elegance Italian mansions Nimporio pastel car-free peace between Rhodes and Karpathos. |
| Symi | Dazzling neo-classical harbor pastel mansions theater set sponge diving Panormitis Monastery day-trip from Rhodes. |
| Tilos | Ecotourism dwarf elephant fossils nature reserve sustainable off-grid. |
| Nisyros | Volcano you walk into Stefanos crater sulphur vents Mandraki black-rock beaches. |
| Saria | Pirate ruins wild north of Karpathos ancient ruins Eleonora falcons. |
| Ro | Patriotic island Lady of Ro flag daily 40 years alone next to Kastellorizo. |
| Strongyli | Lighthouse islet easternmost Greece 4.5km off Kastellorizo. |
| Kos | Hippocrates birthplace cycling island Asklepieion sandy beaches Kardamena clubs, Dodecanese warm inviting waters. |
| Kalymnos | Sponge divers world climbing capital 3,400+ routes sponge museums Pothia quiet beach bars. |
| Leros | War island Italian Art Deco Lakki WWII war tunnels wrecks calm yacht harbors Alinda. |
| Patmos | Jerusalem Aegean St John wrote Revelation Cave of Apocalypse fortress monastery Chora UNESCO quiet spiritual luxury. |
| Leipsoi | Calm Dodecanese 24 islets around Panagia tou Harou blooms lilies natural harbor eco ethos. |
| Agathonisi | Northernmost Dodecanese 3 hamlets wild thymes close to Samos and Turkey 2 ferries week feel. |
| Arkoi | Four people island one taverna port family goats anchorage yachts. |
| Farmakonisi | Hippocrates exile military outpost near Turkey disputed. |
| Pserimos | Day-trip beach island off Kalymnos/Kos one beach one taverna barbecue boats. |
| Telendos | Rock island off Kalymnos car-free huge cliff climbing early Christian basilicas. |
| Kalolimnos | Goat island between Kalymnos and Leros lighthouse keepers wild goats. |
| Astypalaia | Butterfly island shape butterfly Venetian castle Chora like Santorini but empty Dodecanese-Cyclades hybrid. |
| Anafi | Anafi rise Monolith Kalamos second highest rock Mediterranean after Gibraltar wild hiking empty beaches. |
| Santorini | Caldera Oia sunsets black sand beaches volcano middle luxury honeymoon caves Assyrtiko wine PK Cocktail not clubbing but high-end sunset drinking, average around 15C in March high 18C low 11C but southern. |
| Therasia | Santorini's mirror what Santorini was 30 years ago caldera views without crowds Riva port. |
| Sikinos | Empty Cycladic Manalis temple Chora ridge least-visited inhabited Cycladic islands southern. |
| Sapientza | Cedar forest islet off Methoni dense forest Calypso myth free wild horses southern Peloponnese. |
Warm Greek Islands in March are Crete south, Rhodes Lindos, Karpathos south, Kos south and Kastellorizo — 19-20C first spring
Warm Greek Islands in March are southeast Dodecanese and Crete south — March first spring mild. Crete south coast warmest March — Matala Loutro Sfakia Ierapetra Plakias Gavdos — March 19C day 11C night sea 17C south sheltered sun 7h warmest big island Greece, north Heraklion 18C cooler wind. Rhodes second warmest March — Lindos Faliraki Gennadi east coast — March 19C day 11C night sea 17C sun 7h warmest Dodecanese, Rhodes Town north 18C windier.
Karpathos third — south Amoopi — March 19C day 11C night sea 17C sheltered south warm vs north Olympos 17C windy. Kos fourth — south Kardamena Kefalos — March 19C day 10C night sea 17C south sheltered warmest side. Kastellorizo fifth — easternmost — March 19C day 11C night sea 18C warmest sea March Greece sun trap 2km Turkey.
March not beach yet — sea 17C cold — but warm for hiking flowers — Cyclades 16C, Ionian Corfu 16C rain.
March warm ranking — Crete south and Rhodes early spring
Guide nuance: warm Greek Islands in March need south latitude plus south shelter from late winter storms — March Greece north still winter — Corfu 16C 90mm rain, Mykonos Santorini 16C windy 6 beaufort sea rough. Crete south warmest March because White Mountains block north wind — Loutro Sfakia Matala Ierapetra south-facing sun trap — March 19C feels 21C sun — plus Gavdos south of Crete 20C officially warmest March Greece, almond blossom no frost. Rhodes Lindos warmest March Dodecanese east sheltered — Lindos beach sun trap 19C feels 21C — Rhodes Town north windy 18C but Lindos sheltered warmer.
Karpathos south Amoopi March 19C sheltered bay vs north windy 17C. Kos south Kardamena March 19C sheltered south vs Marmari north windy kite. Kastellorizo harbor sheltered 19C sea 18C warmest sea March — walls sun trap 2km Turkey. Kasos Chalki Symi Telos similar 18-19C. Extra warm March: Cyprus 20C but not Greek, Gavdos bonus.
So warm Greek Islands in March order: Gavdos 20C day sea 17C officially warmest spot Greece March, Crete south Ierapetra Matala Loutro Sfakia Plakias 19-20C sea 17C warmest big island, Rhodes Lindos Gennadi Faliraki 19C sea 17C warmest Dodecanese, Kastellorizo 19C sea 18C warmest sea small, Karpathos south Amoopi 19C, Kos south Kardamena 19C. Pick Crete south Matala Loutro if warmest March with flowers hiking, Rhodes Lindos if Dodecanese warm with sights open, Gavdos Kastellorizo if warmest tiny. March pack jacket night 10-11C cold day 19-20C mild — sea cold locals only — best for wildflowers almond — 7h sun.
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gavdos | Gavdos southernmost island in Greece and all of Europe January coldest month average around 14C
- https://www.weather-and-climate.com/gavdos-february | Gavdos February sees highs of 16C and lows of 13C overnight
- https://www.weathermondo.com/gavdos-weather | Gavdos mild February temps ranging between 14C and 21C
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dodecanese | Dodecanese Rhodes Port Kasos Karpathos Kastellorizo record among mildest winters in Europe Lindos 22.0C warmest
- https://weather-atlas.com/en/greece/rhodes-weather-february | Rhodes average high February 15.2C low 12.9C
- https://www.weather-and-climate.com/rhodes-february | Rhodes February highs 16C drops to 13C at night
- https://www.weather-and-climate.com/kastellorizo-february | Kastellorizo February highs 15C nights around 10C
- https://seatemperature.info/february/greece-water-temperature.html | Greece sea water February Kastellorizo 17.4C Rhodes 17.4C
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Last Updated on September 9, 2026 by admin