Athens, Greece: vitamin D, best months and travel guide
Ancient wonders such as the Acropolis, very hot in summer. Best for: history fans, city-break travellers.
The best months for vitamin D in Athens are April, May, September, October, when a full dose takes about 7 minutes at midday. Too hot from June to August and too cool from November to March.
Athens month by month
| Month | Rating | Sun window | Peak UV | Full dose, age 30 | Afternoon high | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Too cold | 2.5 h | 2.9 | 18 min | 15°C | 5/30 |
| February | Too cold | 4.4 h | 3.9 | 14 min | 17°C | 4/30 |
| March | Too cold | 6.6 h | 5.6 | 10 min | 19°C | 8/30 |
| April | Excellent | 8.3 h | 7.1 | 8 min | 25°C | 3/30 |
| May | Excellent | 8.7 h | 7.5 | 7 min | 26°C | 1/30 |
| June | Too hot | 9.8 h | 8.2 | 7 min | 36°C | 0/30 |
| July | Too hot | 9.6 h | 8.4 | 6 min | 36°C | 1/30 |
| August | Too hot | 8.8 h | 7.8 | 7 min | 36°C | 2/30 |
| September | Good | 7.4 h | 6.6 | 8 min | 30°C | 1/30 |
| October | Good | 6.2 h | 5.1 | 10 min | 26°C | 0/30 |
| November | Too cold | 3.6 h | 3.5 | 15 min | 19°C | 4/30 |
| December | Too cold | 1.9 h | 2.7 | 20 min | 16°C | 7/30 |
Sun window is the number of hours a day with UV Index 2.5 or higher. Full dose is the minutes at midday for about 1,000 IU of vitamin D with a quarter of the body bare, for skin type III. Rainy days are days with at least 1 mm out of 30.
What to expect in Athens
Ancient wonders such as the Acropolis, very hot in summer. Hot, dry summers and a strong northern wind (the meltemi) in July and August. Many island hotels close and ferries run less often from November to March. May, June and September give good sun with fewer people.
In Athens afternoon highs average from 15°C in January to 36°C in July. The wettest month is March (about 8 rainy days out of 30) and the driest is October (0). Midday UV peaks at 8.4 in July, which is very strong, so protect your skin.
The capital and largest city, known for the Parthenon (Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 4.0)
Questions about Athens
When is the best time to visit Athens for vitamin D?
The best months for vitamin D in Athens are April, May, September, October, when a full dose takes about 7 minutes at midday.
What is the weather like in Athens?
Afternoon highs average from 15°C in January to 36°C in July. The wettest month is March, with about 8 rainy days out of 30.
Which months should I avoid in Athens?
For a beach stay, avoid the months when it is too hot from June to August and too cool from November to March.