Typical winter daytime highs on this guide run from 16°C in Heraklion, Chania and Rhodes down to 8°C in Kastoria and Kozani, with Athens in the middle at 14°C and Thessaloniki at 11°C. Nights are cold everywhere. The most useful thing you can pack is a clear idea of which of those winters you are flying into.
Three winters, three suitcases
The south and the islands — around 15–17°C
Crete, the Dodecanese, the southern Cyclades and the Ionian: mild days, properly cold evenings, and rain that arrives in bursts rather than settling in. Think layers rather than a heavy coat. Wind is the real variable on the islands, so a windproof layer matters more than extra warmth.
- A warm mid-layer — fleece or a light down jacket
- A windproof, waterproof shell
- Walking shoes that can take rain
- Sunglasses — the winter light is low and bright
Athens and the cities — around 11–14°C
Athens and Thessaloniki are cold at night and damp after rain, and stone buildings hold the cold. Thessaloniki's northerly winds make 11°C feel colder. A real coat, a scarf and shoes with grip cover it — polished marble pavements are slippery when wet.
The mountains and the north — around 8–12°C, and snow
Ioannina, Kastoria, Kozani and the ski villages have a proper winter: frost, fog and snow on the high roads. Pack as for a northern European winter — thermals, a warm coat, waterproof boots with real grip, gloves and a hat. If you are driving, check the snow-chain rules for the roads you will use.
Rain, and what it means
Winter is the wet season: most of Greece's rain falls between October and March. It tends to come as heavy spells between bright days rather than a week of grey. A compact umbrella and a waterproof layer are worth their space — and so is a plan for the afternoon, which is why every destination page here lists what actually stays open.
What else goes in
- Clothes for monasteries and churches — shoulders and knees covered, and a skirt or wrap for women at many monasteries (wraps are often lent at the gate)
- A plug adapter: Greece uses the European two-pin Type C and F sockets, at 230V
- Swimwear anyway — for the thermal springs, and for the sea if you are brave
- A small torch or your phone light — in December the sun sets around 5pm, and village lanes are dark
- Your travel insurance details, somewhere you can reach offline
The other practical guides
Practical information for travellers, not legal, medical or insurance advice. Emergency numbers, entitlements and provider networks change — confirm anything critical with the official source before you rely on it.