May in Santorini averages highs of 22 °C (71 °F) and lows of 17 °C (62 °F), with about 2 rainy days and 14 h 05 min of daylight. The sea is fresh, around 19 °C (67 °F): fine for a quick swim.
May weather in Santorini at a glance
average high to low each dot ≈ 3 rainy days
Is May a good time to visit Santorini?
Great time to go: comfortably warm and fairly dry. May is usually shoulder season in Santorini: fewer crowds than peak months, with prices often a little lower.
Our rule: a month scores 2 points for comfortable average highs of 18–28 °C (1 point for 14–18 or 28–32 °C) and 2 points for 5 or fewer rainy days (1 point for 6–10). Average highs above 35 °C or below 8 °C make it a tough month whatever the rain. A rainy day here means 2 mm of rain or more. 4 points = great, 3 = good, 2 = mixed, 0–1 = tough.
Holidays and events in May 2026
- Fri 1 May: Labour Day (Εργατική Πρωτομαγιά) public holiday
- Sun 31 May: Pentecost (Πεντηκοστή) public holiday
Banks and many shops close on public holidays, and museums may change their hours, so check before you go.
Things to do in Santorini in May
May's weather suits a mix of outdoor sights and museums, so the open-air ones come first.
- Oia sunset — arrive an hour early outdoors
- Fira to Oia caldera walk — about 10 km, best in cool months outdoors
- Red Beach and Perissa — black and red volcanic sand outdoors
- Caldera boat trip — volcano and hot springs outdoors
- Akrotiri — Bronze Age town under ash indoors
- Wineries — Assyrtiko tastings indoors
Where to stay: Fira for transport and value; Oia or Imerovigli for caldera views; Kamari or Perissa for beaches.
What to pack for Santorini in May
- Light layers for the day.
- Comfortable walking shoes.
What a day in Santorini costs
| Budget traveller | Mid-range | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical total per person, per day | €60–170 | €250–680 |
Excluding flights. May is usually shoulder season in Santorini: fewer crowds than peak months, with prices often a little lower.
May in nearby cities
| City | High / low | Rainy days | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Athens | 25° / 16° | 4 | Great time to go |
| Istanbul | 21° / 13° | 7 | Good time to go |
| Cairo | 34° / 19° | 0 | Mixed weather |
Plan your Santorini trip
- Is Santorini Expensive? Real Costs and a 2026 Budget Guide
- How to Choose an AI Trip Planner in 2026 — 7 Things That Actually Matter
- Best Time to Visit Greece: Month-by-Month Guide 2026
Want the whole trip planned? Join the Journey waitlist: tell it where, when and your budget, and it plans every day hour by hour.
FAQ
Is May a good time to visit Santorini?
By the numbers, May is a great time to go: comfortably warm and fairly dry, with average highs of 22 °C (71 °F) and about 2 rainy days. May is usually shoulder season in Santorini: fewer crowds than peak months, with prices often a little lower. The best months for weather are May, September, October.
How warm is Santorini in May?
Average highs are 22 °C (71 °F) and lows 17 °C (62 °F) (2015–2024 averages). The sea is fresh, around 19 °C (67 °F): fine for a quick swim.
Does it rain a lot in Santorini in May?
Expect about 2 days with 2 mm of rain or more, about 11 mm in total. It is the 6th driest month of the year in Santorini.
Sources: climate averages from Open-Meteo historical weather (ERA5 reanalysis, 2015–2024); sea temperatures from the Open-Meteo marine API (2023–2024); public holidays from Nager.Date. Daylight is calculated for the 15th of the month. Averages are a guide, not a forecast. Costs are typical ranges per person per day, excluding flights.