Athens vs Santorini

Athens and Santorini are closely matched in January. Neither city has a clear advantage across all metrics. Your decision should come down to personal preference, cultural interests, and travel logistics rather than weather alone.

Athens is on the cooler side at 12°C, requiring warmer clothing. Santorini is cooler at 13°C.

For travelers who prioritize dry weather, Athens is the stronger choice in January. Santorini receives 1 more hour of sunshine per day, which matters for sightseeing and outdoor activities.

Athens reaches an average high of 12°C (54°F) and drops to 5°C (41°F) at night during January. The daily temperature range is 7°C, meaning relatively stable temperatures from day to night.

Santorini averages 13°C (55°F) for the high and 11°C (52°F) for the low, with a daily range of 2°C. The two cities feel quite similar in terms of temperature.

Both cities are in the Northern Hemisphere, so they share the same seasonal pattern in January.

Athens receives approximately 55 mm of rainfall across 8 rain days during January. You can expect rain roughly every other day.

Santorini sees 60 mm over 10 rain days. That makes Athens the drier option by 2 rain days and 5 mm of total precipitation.

Both cities share similar humidity levels at 65%.