Warm Greek Islands in December
Warm Greek islands in December are the southernmost Dodecanese and Crete where winter is mildest. Crete with Heraklion, Chania and Elounda averaging 16-18C daytime, Rhodes with Rhodes Town and Lindos averaging 16-17C, Karpathos with Pigadia and Amoopi around 16C, Kasos, Chalki and Symi near Rhodes at 15-17C, Kos with Kos Town and Kardamena around 15-16C, Kastellorizo as Greece’s easternmost and often warmest small island at 17-18C, and Gavdos as Greece’s southernmost point south of Crete.
Known for mild winter weather with sea temperatures 17-19C, 4-5 hours of sun and frequent rain and wind, so warm compared to the rest of Greece with nights at 10-12C but not beach weather. December is for local life, hiking and Christmas lights rather than swimming on Crete, Rhodes, Karpathos, Kos and Kastellorizo, while northern islands like Corfu, Thassos, Skiathos and Lefkada drop to 11-13C with sea around 15-16C and most seasonal hotels closed.
| Island | Description |
|---|---|
| Crete | Country in itself with Knossos and Samaria Gorge and Elafonisi pink beach and Balos, consistently proves to be the warmest option in December boasting average high temperatures in the mid-teens around 60F and ample sunshine and champion of December warmth due to southerly location closer to North Africa. |
| Rhodes | Medieval capital Knights Old Town Lindos Faliraki Bar Street 300 days sun, average daytime temperatures between 12C and 17C during December and January on islands like Crete and Rhodes and warmest day of December average high 17.4C and southern islands Crete Rhodes average highs 16-18C lows 10-12C. |
| Gavdos | Europe's southernmost point cedar forest Tripiti chair Libyan Sea hippie nudist, southernmost island in Greece and all of Europe so holds summer longest and 14C January average so December similar. |
| Kastellorizo | Megisti farthest east 2km from Turkey pastel harbor Blue Cave glows blue, far south-east Dodecanese annual 21.9C and Rhodes Port Kasos Karpathos Kastellorizo record among mildest winters in Europe. |
| Karpathos | Time-capsule Olympos embroidered dress Dorian dialect windy south surf, between Rhodes and Crete hottest destination and mildest winter corridor. |
| Kasos | Bare and brave heroic 1824 Bouka pirate port traditional music, mildest winters in Europe. |
| Chrissi | Golden island off Crete golden sand largest natural cedar forest uninhabited protected park off Ierapetra sunniest part Greece year-round. |
| Koufonisi | Tiny paradise barely 3.5km but Pori beach and Gala sea pools voted among best beaches in Europe no cars. |
| Chalki | Restored elegance once abandoned now restored 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 pioneer 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 raised flag daily 40 years alone one house next to Kastellorizo. |
| Strongyli | Lighthouse islet easternmost Greece 4.5km off Kastellorizo. |
| Kos | Hippocrates birthplace cycling island Asklepieion sandy beaches Roman ruins Kardamena clubs, Dodecanese warm inviting waters. |
| Kalymnos | Sponge divers island turned world climbing capital 3,400+ routes sponge museums Pothia quiet beach bars. |
| Leros | War island Italian Art Deco town Lakki WWII war tunnels wrecks calm yacht harbors Alinda. |
| Patmos | Jerusalem of Aegean where 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 run by island's family goats anchorage yachts. |
| Farmakonisi | Hippocrates exile where Hippocrates was exiled now military outpost near Turkey disputed. |
| Pserimos | Day-trip beach island off Kalymnos/Kos one beach one taverna beach barbecue boats. |
| Telendos | Rock island off Kalymnos 500m strait car-free huge cliff for 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 south of Santorini. |
| Santorini | The caldera Oia sunsets black sand beaches volcano middle luxury honeymoon caves Assyrtiko wine PK Cocktail high-end sunset drinking, warmest Greek islands to visit in December are Crete Rhodes and Santorini average highs 14-17C. |
| 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. |
| Elafonisos | Caribbean Greece Simos beach double bay white sand emerald water tiny off Peloponnese often called best beach in Greece. |
| Kythira | Off Peloponnese waterfalls Neraida and Fonissa Chora castle Kapsali double bay myth Aphrodite washing ashore here. |
Warm Greek Islands in December are Crete south, Rhodes Lindos, Karpathos south, Kastellorizo and Gavdos — 17-18C mildest winter
Warm Greek Islands in December are southeast Crete and Dodecanese — December start winter 17C mild. Crete south coast warmest December — Ierapetra Matala Loutro Sfakia Gavdos — December 17C day 10C night sea 18C south sheltered sun 5h warmest big island Greece, north Heraklion 16C rain windier. Rhodes second warmest December — Lindos Faliraki Gennadi east — December 17C day 10C night sea 18C sun 5h warmest Dodecanese, Rhodes Town north 16C windier 110mm rain.
Karpathos third — south Amoopi — December 17C day 10C night sea 18C sheltered south warm vs north Olympos 15C windy. Kastellorizo fourth — easternmost — December 17C day 11C night sea 19C warmest sea December Greece sun trap 2km Turkey. Gavdos fifth — south of Crete — December 18C day 11C night sea 18C officially warmest spot Greece December.
December not beach — sea 18C cold — but mildest Europe — Cyclades 14C sea 16C, Ionian Corfu 14C rain 150mm, mainland 10C.
December warm ranking — Crete south and Dodecanese winter sun
Guide nuance: warm Greek Islands in December need low latitude south shelter from winter storms — December Greece north cold wet — Corfu 14C 150mm rain 13 days, Mykonos Santorini 14C wind 7 beaufort rough sea 16C. Crete south warmest December because White Mountains 2456m block north wind — Ierapetra Matala Loutro Sfakia sun trap south-facing — December 17C feels 19C sun — Gavdos south of Crete 18C officially warmest Greece December no frost ever — small island sun trap. Rhodes Lindos warmest December Dodecanese east sheltered — Lindos beach sun trap 17C feels 19C — Rhodes Town north windy 16C but Lindos sheltered warmer.
Karpathos south Amoopi December 17C sheltered bay vs north windy 15C. Kastellorizo harbor sheltered 17C sea 19C warmest sea December — walls sun trap tiny island hottest sea Greece winter. Kasos Chalki Symi similar 16-17C. Kos south Kardamena December 16C.
So warm Greek Islands in December order: Gavdos 18C day sea 18C officially warmest spot Greece December, Crete south Ierapetra Matala Loutro Sfakia 17-18C sea 18C warmest big island, Kastellorizo 17C sea 19C warmest sea small, Rhodes Lindos Gennadi Faliraki 17C sea 18C warmest Dodecanese, Karpathos south Amoopi 17C sea 18C. Pick Crete south Ierapetra Matala if warmest December big island Christmas mild open tavernas, Rhodes Lindos if Dodecanese winter sun, Gavdos Kastellorizo if warmest tiny escape. December pack jacket rain night 10-11C cold day 17-18C mild — sea cold locals only — best for hiking Christmas mild — 5h sun — risk 7-8 days rain.
Sources
- https://en.climate-data.org/europe/greece/rhodes/rhodes-711/ | Rhodes warmest day December average high 17.4C
- https://curiousexpeditions.org/blog-2-1/are-any-greek-islands-warm-in-winter | Average daytime 12C to 17C December January islands like Crete and Rhodes
- https://www.royalhaveli.ca/how-hot-is-greece-in-december | Southern islands Crete Rhodes average highs 16-18C lows 10-12C
- https://www.royalhaveli.ca/how-cold-is-greece-in-december | Islands in southern Aegean such as Crete and Rhodes tend to enjoy warmer temperatures average highs often reaching mid-teens even in December
- https://www.royalhaveli.ca/what-temperature-is-greece-in-december | Southern islands such as Crete and Rhodes enjoy mildest temperatures December average highs around 16-18C lows rarely below 10C
- https://www.greekisland.co.uk/december/ | Warmest Greek islands December Crete Rhodes Santorini average highs 14-17C
- https://curiousexpeditions.org/blog-2-1/which-greek-island-is-warm-in-december | Crete consistently proves to be warmest option in December average high mid-teens around 60F due to southerly location closer to North Africa
Back to Greek islands Weather
The Greek Island Directory is a project of passion where a love of Crete, Data Integrity and Directories converge to create something truly special for users: Learn More.
Last Updated on September 9, 2026 by admin