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Greek Isles cruise scenery

Best time to cruise · No regular sailings

Greek Isles cruises in January

There’s no regular island cruising in January, and most hotels and tavernas on Santorini and Mykonos are closed. Greeks talk of the halcyon days, a spell of calm, sunny weather that often arrives mid-month, but storms and ferry cancellations are just as likely. Athens is a good winter city break, with uncrowded museums and highs in the mid-50s °F (12–14°C).

  • No regular sailings
  • Avg high 58°F
  • 10 hrs daylight

Photo: dronepicr, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Greek Isles in January: No regular sailings

There’s no regular island cruising in January, and most hotels and tavernas on Santorini and Mykonos are closed. Greeks talk of the halcyon days, a spell of calm, sunny weather that often arrives mid-month, but storms and ferry cancellations are just as likely. Athens is a good winter city break, with uncrowded museums and highs in the mid-50s °F (12–14°C).

Across Greek Isles cruise ports, January brings average highs around 58°F (14°C) and lows near 51°F, with about 4.4 inches of rain over the month and roughly 10 hours of daylight.

Verdict
No regular sailings
Season
April to early November; best late May–June and September
Average high / low
58°F / 51°F
Rainfall (month)
4.4 in
Daylight
About 10 hours
Typical cruise length
3 to 7 nights from Piraeus; 7 to 12 nights on wider Eastern Med routes

How January compares with the rest of the year

Greek Isles in DecemberGreek Isles in February

Greek Isles weather in January

Average monthly weather in Greek Isles cruise ports
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
High °F (°C)581459156216672074238228873188318328762468206216
Low °F (°C)511152115312581464187222762577257323671961165513
Rain in (mm)4.41122.5642.5641.0260.9230.8210.390.4111.4361.9483.4863.897
Daylight (hrs)101112131415151412111010
Average daily highs and lows and monthly rainfall for 2015–2024 from NASA POWER for the area around Greek Isles cruise ports, adjusted to sea level; daylight is calculated for mid-month. Real weather on any given day varies.

January weather port by port

PortAvg highAvg lowRainDaylight
Athens56°F46°F2.6 in10 h
Santorini59°F55°F4.1 in10 h
Mykonos58°F55°F4.4 in10 h
Rhodes60°F56°F4.8 in10 h
Heraklion, Crete60°F54°F4.0 in10 h
Chania (Souda Bay), Crete59°F53°F2.9 in10 h
Corfu57°F50°F5.0 in10 h
Kuşadası (for Ephesus)55°F40°F6.1 in10 h
Patmos58°F54°F5.8 in10 h
Nafplio57°F44°F3.9 in10 h
Katakolon (for Olympia)58°F54°F4.7 in10 h
Argostoli, Kefalonia58°F54°F4.7 in10 h

Average daily highs and lows, 2015–2024, from NASA POWER, adjusted to sea level. Rain is the average monthly total.

Other great cruise destinations in January

See every destination for January, with a port weather map →

Greek Isles in January: FAQs

Is January a good time to cruise Greek Isles?

Generally not: there are few or no regular sailings. There’s no regular island cruising in January, and most hotels and tavernas on Santorini and Mykonos are closed. Greeks talk of the halcyon days, a spell of calm, sunny weather that often arrives mid-month, but storms and ferry cancellations are just as likely. Athens is a good winter city break, with uncrowded museums and highs in the mid-50s °F (12–14°C).

What is the weather like on a Greek Isles cruise in January?

Across Greek Isles cruise ports, January brings average highs around 58°F (14°C) and lows near 51°F, with about 4.4 inches of rain over the month and roughly 10 hours of daylight. Conditions vary from port to port and day to day.

When is the best time to cruise Greek Isles?

April to early November; best late May–June and September. The best months are usually May, June, September.

Where else can I cruise in January?

January is also a top month for Caribbean, Eastern Caribbean, Western Caribbean, Southern Caribbean, Hawaii.

Updated November 2026 by the BookMyDreamCruise editorial team. How we research and fact-check.

Sources: NASA POWER climate data.