Greece in August?

[GreySkiesComing]

I'm keen on Greece as I've heard it's relaxed, beautiful, cheap ish.

I was aiming for hot as I've not had a summer out of the uk for over 10 years and i want to be able to get in the pool! But am i overshooting? Is Greece too hot? It's there variation temperature between the islands?

Please help!

Thanks
Holiday novice

It will be hot. Expect mid 30s (could be a few degrees less or more). But if you are near the sea there is a breeze, especially in the Cyclades, and it’s dry heat not humid.

The main issue in August is the crowds rather than the heat. If you want to visit beaches I would aim for a quieter island (which probably means taking a plane then a boat, as the islands you can fly to direct are busiest). If you plan to mainly stay by your hotel pool, crowds aren’t such an issue.

Yes there is some temperature variation- further south is hotter! So the Sporades (most northern islands) are usually a little cooler. But the Cyclades have more breeze.

Having spent many holidays in Greece in the peak summer, the hottest ones were the more south eastern island - Kos, Rhodes, Lesbos, Samos.

In your shoes I’d look at somewhere like Skiathos which I found a bit cooler

We went to Kos in August last year and it was HOT. The outdoor thermometer in our hotel said 43c at one point and it was impossible to walk barefoot around the pool without getting blistered feet. I've also been to Corfu in august. Much more manageable and typically around 32-33c. In Corfu, I'm a big fan of Sidari as a holiday destination. The canal d amour is beautiful.

@dingledangledinkledoo

It was like that in both Kos and Rhodes in August. The sand on the beach was like walking on hot coals. In Rhodes the temp gauge in the car was as flashing due to exceeding maximum safe temperature when we got back in after a few hours on the beach.

We've only been to Greece in summer for watersports holidays. Before kids we'd go in May, that was plenty hot enough for sudden dunks in the sea let alone the pool!

If you are worried about it being too hot I'd go for the Ionian islands

Ionian islands (Corfu and surrounding) are a bit less hot (they are greener which helps) but they are dreadful for wasps and mosquitoes in August IME. Perhaps due to all the greenery.

I agree Skiathos and other Sporades islands would be a good shout - Skopelos and especially Alonissos are quieter. Alonissos is my favourite greek island.

I would agree however we’ve been to Kefalonia when it’s been 40 degrees a few times - once in June!

We go to Hydra in July - been a few times-always about 40 degrees- so hot but relatively bearable -

Maybe try Halkidiki or Thassos which are further North and a little bit cooler

We went to Paphos in Cyprus in August and it was 40 deg every day. DH stayed indoors.

Thank you so much everyone. Blue you mention it I'm worried about the crowds more than the heat. I hate crowds.

@minipieI like the sound of Alonissos @minipie

Greek holidays are no longer as cheap as they were.

We went to Rhodes 2 years ago and we had 33-35, for us too hot.

It was a popular island, not sure how it will be this year after the fire last year. it got really crowded in the popular areas like Lindos, Rhodes City etc, we often drove at 8am to be ahead of the crowds when we went sightseeing.

Greece is lovely but I won't go back in August ever again.

Must admit we did notice prices in Greece are a lot higher post covid but it’s the same everywhere.

I went to Greece twice last year and both times prices were on par with here where Greece was always significantly cheaper to eat and drink.

I would be tempted with Kefalonia or Zante for this year, due to the geology they don't dry out as much and will be a bit less likely to have the horrendous forrest fires that some of the more southern islands had last year. (And, Kefalonia have turtles swimming past without you needing to go on a boat trip!)

Yes but they have the breeze

OP I’d it’s crowds you hate them avoid any popular islands like Rhodes Santorini etc though we had a really peaceful holiday in Corfu in school holidays by choosing a very quiet village .

Create had a breeze in mid June. Can you do an earlier month than August?

The wasps and the wind in August, the Melmet? dear Lord, no....