Warm Greek Islands in May
Warm Greek islands in May are the southernmost Dodecanese and Crete where early summer starts first. Crete with Chania, Heraklion and Elounda averaging 23-26C daytime, Rhodes with Lindos and Faliraki around 23-25C, Karpathos with warm south coast at Amoopi, Kos with Kardamena and Kefalos around 23C, Kasos, Chalki and Symi near Rhodes at 23-24C, Kastellorizo as Greece’s easternmost and warmest small island at 24C+, Gavdos as Greece’s southernmost point, and Cyprus-close Kastellorizo.
Known for ideal hiking and first swimming, with sea temperatures 19-21C on Crete, Rhodes, Kos, Karpathos and Kastellorizo, 9-10 hours of sun and Meltemi winds still light. May brings wildflowers and fewer crowds than June, while northern islands like Corfu, Thassos, Skiathos and Lefkada stay cooler at 20-22C with more rain and sea around 17-19C.
| Island | Description |
|---|---|
| Crete | Country in itself Knossos Samaria Elafonisi pink beach Balos Malia strip, warms up as early as May hitting around 25C, average May 23C with 10 hours sunshine and most southerly Greek island. |
| Karpathos | Time-capsule Olympos embroidered dress Dorian dialect windy south surf, located between Rhodes and Crete hottest destination in Greece monthly average 30C throughout summer. |
| Rhodes | Medieval capital Knights Old Town Lindos Faliraki Bar Street 300 days sun, one of warmest Greek islands to visit in May around 24C and plenty of sunshine and 300 days sun. |
| Kos | Hippocrates Asklepieion cycling sandy beaches Kardamena clubs, warmest Greek islands in May around 24C with plenty of sunshine. |
| Gavdos | Europe's southernmost point cedar Tripiti chair Libyan Sea hippie nudist, southernmost island in Greece and all of Europe so first to hit May 25C+ sea air. |
| Chrissi | Golden island off Crete golden sand largest natural cedar forest uninhabited protected, off Ierapetra hottest part of Crete southeast Ierapetra has highest average temp winter and most sunny year-round. |
| Koufonisi | Tiny paradise Pori Gala best beaches Europe no cars, far south Small Cyclades warm May sea. |
| Kastellorizo | Megisti farthest east 2km Turkey pastel harbor Blue Cave glows blue Mediterraneo, far SE Dodecanese mildest winter and May 24C+. |
| Kasos | Bare and brave heroic 1824 massacre Bouka pirate port traditional music, Dodecanese hottest corridor Karpathos-Kasos. |
| Chalki | Restored elegance Italian mansions Nimporio pastel car-free peace, between Rhodes and Karpathos warm May. |
| Symi | Dazzling neo-classical harbor pastel mansions theater set sponge diving Panormitis day-trip Rhodes, Rhodes corridor warm May. |
| Tilos | Ecotourism dwarf elephant fossils nature reserve sustainable off-grid, Dodecanese warm May. |
| Nisyros | Volcano walk into Stefanos sulphur vents Mandraki black-rock beaches, Dodecanese warm May. |
| Saria | Pirate ruins wild north Karpathos ancient Nisyros ruins Eleonora falcons, Karpathos May hottest destination. |
| Ro | Patriotic island Lady of Ro flag daily 40 years alone next to Kastellorizo one house, easternmost Greece May warmest waters. |
| Strongyli | Lighthouse islet easternmost Greece lighthouse 4.5km off Kastellorizo, same eastern May heat. |
| Anafi | Anafi rise Monolith Kalamos second highest rock Mediterranean after Gibraltar wild hiking empty beaches, south of Santorini warmest Cycladic May. |
| Santorini | Caldera Oia sunsets black sand volcano luxury honeymoon caves Assyrtiko PK Cocktail not clubbing but high-end sunset drinking, warmest islands in April/May listed alongside Crete Rhodes. |
| Therasia | Santorini's mirror what Santorini was 30 years ago caldera views without crowds Riva port, same southern May warmth. |
| Astypalaia | Butterfly island shape butterfly Venetian castle Chora like Santorini empty hybrid architecture, Dodecanese/Cyclades southern edge warm May. |
| Telendos | Rock island off Kalymnos car-free huge cliff climbing early Christian basilicas, Dodecanese May warm. |
| Kalymnos | Sponge divers world climbing capital 3400+ routes sponge museums Pothia quiet beach bars, central Dodecanese May warm. |
| Leros | War island Italian Art Deco Lakki WWII tunnels wrecks mental hospital history calm yacht harbors Alinda, central Dodecanese May warm. |
| Patmos | Jerusalem Aegean St John wrote Revelation Cave Apocalypse fortress monastery Chora UNESCO quiet spiritual luxury, Dodecanese May warm. |
| Leipsoi | Calm Dodecanese 24 islets Panagia tou Harou blooms lilies natural harbor eco ethos, sheltered warm May. |
| Agathonisi | Northernmost Dodecanese 3 hamlets wild thymes close to Samos Turkey 2 ferries week feel, Dodecanese warmest group May. |
| Arkoi | Four people island one taverna port family goats anchorage yachts, Dodecanese May warm. |
| Farmakonisi | Hippocrates exile military outpost near Turkey disputed, far east warm May. |
| Pserimos | Day-trip beach island off Kalymnos/Kos one beach one taverna barbecue boats, Dodecanese May warm sea. |
| Sikinos | Empty Cycladic Manalis temple Chora ridge least-visited inhabited Cycladic, southern Cyclades May 20-25C corridor. |
Warm Greek Islands in May are Crete south, Rhodes Lindos, Karpathos south, Kos south and Kastellorizo — 25C swim starts
Warm Greek Islands in May are Dodecanese and Crete south — May first real summer 25C. Crete south coast warmest May — Matala Loutro Sfakia Plakias Gavdos — May 25C day 16C night sea 21C south sheltered sun 10h warmest big island, north Crete Heraklion 24C cooler. Rhodes second warmest May — Lindos Faliraki Gennadi east coast — May 25C day 16C night sea 21C sun 10h 300 days, Rhodes Town north 24C windier.
Karpathos third — south Amoopi — May 24C day 15C night sea 21C sheltered bay warm, north windy cooler. Kos fourth — south Kardamena Kefalos — May 24C day 15C night sea 21C south warmest. Kastellorizo fifth — easternmost — May 26C day 17C night sea 22C warmest sea May Greece.
May best month warm but not hot — sea 21C swim possible — Cyclades 22C cooler, Ionian 22C rain ending.
May warm ranking — Crete south and Rhodes Lindos first swim
Guide nuance: warm Greek Islands in May need south latitude shelter — May Greece north still spring — Corfu 22C sea 19C, Mykonos Santorini 22C windy 19C sea. Crete south warmest May because White Mountains block Meltemi — Loutro Sfakia Matala sun trap 25C sea 21C first swim locals — plus Gavdos 26C warmest May Greece. Rhodes Lindos warmest May Dodecanese east sheltered — Lindos beach 25C sea 21C — Rhodes Town north windier 24C but Lindos feels 27C.
Karpathos south Amoopi May 24C sheltered warm vs north Olympos 22C windy. Kos south Kardamena 24C sheltered south vs Marmari north windy. Kastellorizo harbor sheltered 26C sea 22C warmest sea May — tiny sun trap 2km Turkey. Extra warm May: Kasos Chalki Symi Telos 24-25C, Cyprus 26C but not Greek.
So warm Greek Islands in May order: Crete south Matala Loutro Sfakia Gavdos 25-26C sea 21C warmest big, Rhodes Lindos Gennadi 25C sea 21C sun 10h, Kastellorizo 26C sea 22C warmest sea small, Karpathos south Amoopi 24C, Kos south Kardamena 24C. Pick Crete south if warmest May with beach, Rhodes Lindos if Dodecanese warm first swim, Kastellorizo if hottest sea. May best month warm 25C not 35C July — sea 21C swim comfortable — bring light jacket night 15-16C — no Meltemi yet calm.
Sources
- https://www.citizendailypost.com/what-is-the-warmest-month-in-greece/ | Crete warms up as early as May hitting around 25C, Karpathos hottest destination hottest in Greece average 30C
- https://curiousexpeditions.org/blog-2-1/which-greek-island-is-hottest-in-may | Which Greek island is hottest in May Rhodes Crete 300 days sun Karpathos between Rhodes and Crete
- https://www.greekisland.co.uk/may-weather/ | Hottest Greek islands May Crete Kos Rhodes warmest around 24C plenty sunshine
- https://www.101holidays.co.uk/hottest-greek-islands-in-may/ | Hottest Greek islands May Crete average temperature in May 23C 10 hours daily sunshine
- https://en.tutiempo.net/climate/ws-167540.html | Crete May average maximum 24.6C minimum
- https://weather2travel.com/crete/may/ | Crete May at sea level average 24C day to 17C night 10 hours sunshine
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Last Updated on September 9, 2026 by admin