Warm Greek Islands in January
Warm Greek islands in January are the southernmost Dodecanese and Crete where winter is mildest. Crete with Heraklion, Chania and Elounda averaging 15-17C daytime, Rhodes with Rhodes Town and Lindos averaging 15-16C, Karpathos with Pigadia around 15C, Kasos, Chalki and Symi near Rhodes at 14-16C, Kos with Kos Town and Kardamena around 14-15C, Kastellorizo as Greece’s easternmost and often warmest small island at 16C+, and Gavdos as Greece’s southernmost point just south of Crete.
Known for mild days but not beach weather, with sea around 16-18C, 5-6 hours of sun and frequent rain and wind. January is the coldest month even in the south, so 15-17C feels warm compared to northern islands like Corfu, Thassos and Skiathos at 9-11C, but you go for hiking, sightseeing and local life rather than swimming, with many beach bars and small hotels closed.
| Island | Description |
|---|---|
| Gavdos | Europe's southernmost point below Crete with Tripiti chair and cedar forest, January the coldest month averages around 14C so it's the warmest winter spot in all of Europe. |
| Rhodes | Medieval capital with Knights Old Town and Lindos, annual average 20.9C at port and Lindos 22C warmest in Europe, and Rhodes Town is the warmest city in January with daytime peaks near 16C and nights near 13C. |
| Kastellorizo | Megisti farthest east 2km from Turkey with pastel harbor and glowing Blue Cave, annual 21.9C and records among the mildest winters in Europe, January highs around 14C lows 10C. |
| Karpathos | Time-capsule Olympos where women still wear embroidered dress and speak Dorian dialect, records among the mildest winters in Europe and sits between Rhodes and Crete as hottest destination. |
| Kasos | Bare and brave with heroic 1824 history and Bouka pirate port, also records among the mildest winters in Europe. |
| Crete | A country in itself with Knossos, Samaria Gorge, Elafonisi pink beach and Balos, January average 14C with highs around 15C and lows 10C. |
| Chrissi | Golden island off Crete with golden sand and Europe's largest natural cedar forest, sharing south Crete's 14C January average off Ierapetra which is the sunniest part of Greece year-round. |
| Koufonisi | Tiny paradise with Pori and Gala sea pools voted best beaches in Europe, no cars needed, far south Small Cyclades in Crete's warm shadow. |
| Chalki | Restored elegance with Italian mansions and pastel Nimporio harbor car-free, tucked between Rhodes and Karpathos in the warmest Dodecanese corridor. |
| Symi | Dazzling neo-classical harbor like a theatre set of pastel mansions, old sponge diving island with Panormitis Monastery, day-trip from Rhodes. |
| Tilos | Ecotourism pioneer with dwarf elephant fossils and off-grid sustainable nature reserve, in the warm South East Aegean. |
| Nisyros | Volcano you can walk inside at Stefanos crater with sulphur vents, whitewashed Mandraki below, deep in the warm Dodecanese. |
| Saria | Pirate ruins wild north of Karpathos with ancient Nisyros ruins and Eleonora falcons, sharing Karpathos warm climate. |
| Ro | Patriotic island where Lady of Ro raised Greek flag daily for 40 years alone, one house next to Kastellorizo, easternmost warmest waters. |
| Strongyli | Lighthouse islet easternmost Greece 4.5km off Kastellorizo, same eastern heat. |
| Kos | Hippocrates birthplace and cycling island with Asklepieion and sandy beaches and Kardamena clubs, Dodecanese renowned for warm inviting waters. |
| Kalymnos | Sponge divers turned world climbing capital with 3,400+ routes and sponge museums in Pothia, central Dodecanese warm. |
| Leros | War island with Italian Art Deco town Lakki and WWII war tunnels and calm yacht harbors like Alinda, central Dodecanese warm. |
| Patmos | Jerusalem of the Aegean where St John wrote Revelation in Cave of Apocalypse and fortress monastery Chora UNESCO. |
| Leipsoi | Calm Dodecanese with 24 islets around and Panagia tou Harou icon that blooms lilies, natural harbor eco ethos. |
| Agathonisi | Northernmost Dodecanese with 3 hamlets and wild thymes close to Samos and Turkey, 2 ferries a week feel but still Dodecanese warmest group. |
| Arkoi | Four people island with one taverna at port run by island's family, goats and yacht anchorage. |
| Farmakonisi | Hippocrates exile now military outpost near Turkey disputed, far east warm Dodecanese. |
| Pserimos | Day-trip beach island off Kalymnos/Kos with one beach and one taverna beach barbecue boats. |
| Telendos | Rock island off Kalymnos 500m strait car-free huge cliff for climbing old early Christian basilicas. |
| Kalolimnos | Goat island between Kalymnos and Leros with lighthouse keepers and wild goats. |
| Astypalaia | Butterfly island shaped like butterfly Venetian castle Chora like Santorini but empty, Dodecanese-Cyclades hybrid on warm south edge. |
| Anafi | Anafi rise with Monolith Kalamos second highest rock in Mediterranean after Gibraltar, wild hiking empty beaches south of Santorini. |
| Santorini | The caldera with Oia sunsets black sand beaches volcano in middle luxury honeymoon caves Assyrtiko wine and PK Cocktail bar high-end sunset drinking. |
| Therasia | Santorini's mirror what Santorini was 30 years ago caldera views without crowds from Riva port. |
| Sikinos | Empty Cycladic with Manalis temple and Chora on ridge one of least-visited inhabited Cycladic islands. |
| Sapientza | Cedar forest islet off Methoni dense forest Calypso myth free wild horses, southern Peloponnese warm. |
Warm Greek Islands in January are Crete south, Rhodes Lindos, Karpathos south, Kastellorizo and Gavdos — 16-18C mildest winter
Warm Greek Islands in January are southeast Crete and Dodecanese — January coldest month Greece but south still mild. Crete south coast warmest January — Matala Loutro Sfakia Ierapetra Gavdos — January 17C day 9C night sea 17C south sheltered sun 5h warmest big island Greece, north Heraklion 15C rain windier. Rhodes second warmest January — Lindos Faliraki Gennadi east coast — January 15C day 9C night sea 17C sun 5h warmest Dodecanese, Rhodes Town north 15C windier 90mm rain.
Karpathos third — south Amoopi — January 15C day 8C night sea 17C sheltered south warm vs north Olympos 13C windy. Kastellorizo fourth — easternmost — January 16C day 9C night sea 18C warmest sea January Greece small sun trap 2km Turkey. Gavdos fifth — south of Crete — January 17C day 10C night sea 17C officially warmest spot Greece winter — small island sun trap.
January not beach weather — sea 17C cold swim only locals — but mildest Europe — Cyclades 13C, Ionian Corfu 13C rain 130mm.
January warm ranking — Crete south and Dodecanese winter sun
Guide nuance: warm Greek Islands in January need south latitude plus south shelter from north winter storms — January Greece north cold wet — Corfu 13C 130mm rain, Thessaloniki 9C, Mykonos Santorini 13C wind 7 beaufort sea rough. Crete south warmest January because White Mountains 2456m block north wind — Loutro Sfakia Matala Ierapetra south-facing sun trap — January 17C day feels 19C sun — Gavdos south of Crete 17-18C warmest Greece, no frost ever. Rhodes Lindos warmest January Dodecanese east coast sheltered from northwest storms — Lindos Acropolis sun — January 15C day but sheltered feels 17C.
Karpathos south Amoopi January 15C sheltered bay vs north windy 13C. Kastellorizo harbor sheltered tiny 16C sea 18C warmest sea January — sun trap walls. Kasos Chalki Symi similar 15C. Extra warm January: Crete Ierapetra officially warmest town Crete 17C, Sitia east Crete 16C, Kalymnos south, Cyprus not Greek 17C.
So warm Greek Islands in January order: Gavdos 17-18C day sea 17C officially warmest spot Greece, Crete south Ierapetra Matala Loutro Sfakia 17C sea 17C warmest big island, Kastellorizo 16C sea 18C warmest sea small, Rhodes Lindos Gennadi 15C sea 17C, Karpathos south Amoopi 15C. Pick Crete south Ierapetra Matala if warmest January big island with Tavernas open, Rhodes Lindos if Dodecanese mild, Gavdos Kastellorizo if warmest tiny. January pack jacket rain — night 8-10C cold, day 15-17C mild — not swim — best for hiking — 5h sun.
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gavdos | Gavdos southernmost island in Greece and all of Europe January coldest month average around 14C
- https://tripscour.com/en/travel/weather/january/gavdos-island | Gavdos mean temperature average in January is 14C
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_of_Greece | Climate of Greece Kastellorizo 21.9 Rhodes Port 20.9 average annual
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dodecanese | Dodecanese Rhodes Port Kasos Karpathos Kastellorizo record among mildest winters in Europe Lindos 22.0C warmest
- https://www.greekisland.co.uk/january/ | Best Greek islands January hottest winter Crete 14C Rhodes 14C
- https://www.weather-and-climate.com/kastellorizo-january | Kastellorizo January highs around 14C lows 10C
- https://weather-and-climate.com/greece-temperature-map-january | Rhodes Town warmest city in January daytime peaks near 16C nights close to 13C
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Last Updated on September 9, 2026 by admin