Is Greece in July too hot?!

[LemooonSlice]

Planning to visit Corfu for a week at the end of July. Wanting to spend time at the beach mainly. DC all teens. Will it be too unbearably hot?

Have only been to France up til now, high 20s / low 30s. Thanks!

I remember the rain hatching the mozzies! My post should have read "I can't cope with temperatures above the early 30s. Look what happened to Michael Mosley!

Unfortunately May half term unaffordable for us but will keep an eye on prices! Can't skip school as partner is a teacher...

Does it have to be Greece?

We go May and September to Corfu and it's still 33 on a night time.

We were in Corfu in July 2023:during a heatwave, which caused huge fires around Greek islands. It was 42 degrees at breakfast. Luckily I like the heat!

The temperature itself isn't usually dangerous for healthy people, even if it gets to 40°C. What's dangerous is a high UV index, and that isn't linearly tied to (shade) temperature. But in any case you would want to ensure that you are drinking enough water and slapping on the factor 30/50.

Of course, heat can be unpleasant, especially if combined with high humidity. It should be a couple of degrees less hot by the sea, but only you can decide what's too hot. From what I see on social media, when extra-high temperatures are announced a lot of people seem to go "Bring it on" no matter how high the numbers, but maybe this is the same mentality that makes phaal curries popular.

My neighbour went to Greece last June. She would never go back. It was too hot to do anything.

I wouldn't go in July. I have family in Greece and have visited most years since the mid 1990s. Global warming is having a big impact (see data on heat waves and wildfires), and it feels very different. It was in the high 30s when we went last July and was hard to deal with.

www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/articles/cd11jenp1r5o.amp

It was 40 when we were in Greece in July last year and it was too hot tbh. Not so hot you couldn’t do anything but you were certainly constantly thinking about the risk of dehydration and getting sunburn.

I go to Crete for just under two weeks every year mid to late June. I love the heat but apart from a few trips down to town to shop I spend my time in or near the hotel pool. If I were travelling with other people and wanting to do activities I'd probably go at a cooler time of the year.

Yes. Far too hot for me.

We chose the Cyclades in July/August as the winds keep the temperature pleasant.

Michael Mosley was fit and healthy and died in the heat in Greece.

Doesn't anyone google the weather when planning a holiday?

The number of people I know who have come back from Greece/another Mediterranean country in August then complained it was too hot just baffles me.

Everyone knows it gets hot in August in the Med. Don't they?

I think there’s a difference though - 30-35 is hot, but what if expect for southern Europe in the summer. However for me 35+ just feels too much, those extra 5 degrees seem to make a big difference! Also I don’t think everyone necessarily appreciates what it’s like when the temperature doesn’t really drop at night.

It was over 40 for most of June last year (Rhodes)

I'm Australian (although live in the UK) so low to mid 30s and occasionally warmer seems normal to me for summer. So, no I don't consider it to be hot. For context we have family in Cyprus and spend 2 weeks in July with them most years. Last year we did Crete for a week then Cyprus. I love the heat and and just spend alot of time in the pool and in the sea and relish it.

You have to play it like a Greek person. Get up in the morning if you fancy, and have an early morning swim - hit a bakery and bring croissants and iced coffees on your way to the beach, nab a lounger if you're lounger people and then at 11 when it gets too hot, head back to your Airbnb/hotel/whatever for a nap or a book in the aircon, late, lazy lunch, back to the beach at 4 til sunset (always have a bag with a nice dress and some makeup in the car), shower on the beach, bit of leave in conditioner and mascara, then go to a restaurant around 9pm and have a long dinner.

If that's your day, the temperatures will be fine. If you're more likely to want to get to the beach at 11am, and plan to stay there til 4 or something, or visit some ruins during the day etc. then it will be stressful and too hot.

It’s fine. It’s hot but you just go indoor for lunch and a siesta if you need in the middle of the day. We went to Greece when the kids were 3 and 6 in July. Going again this July (kids are 9 and 12 now). We also did vegas in August because we’re also stuck to school holidays. You just have plenty of sunscreen, water and spend time in the pool. Wear hats. It’ll be lovely. I can’t wait!

Agree with @wonderingisthisokay - Greece is our usual holiday destination and we love it in July.
We tend to avoid the sun from 11-4pm - lunch, siesta / kids on screens or reading, or we might go for drive (ac in the car) to have lunch somewhere a bit further along the coast… oh I’m so hanging out for it now! Just 5 months to go!

We went to Athens in eighties and it was hot. In every single photo someone had a can of soft drink.

We are doing a Greek island cruise at the end of July. Am going to be prepared for the heat and mosquitos!

I’m not sure if the statistics back this up but my impression is that heatwaves are more common in June-July than August. So could you consider August?

I wouldn’t go to the Ionians in August though due to wasps and mozzies… the drier islands like the Cyclades are a better bet.

May half term is lovely temp but sea and pools are chilly. September is wonderful but obviously not school holiday compatible.

Yes. If you are happy to spend your time in air conditioning or under a parasol fine but if you want to go out and about it will be horrible.