Weather on Naxos

The climate of Naxos, as that of most of the Cycladic islands follows the typical coastal Mediterranean rule. This means that the summers are warm but not too hot and winters are (usually) quite mild. That makes the Cyclades (and therefore Naxos) a great place to stay all year round, as far as the climate is concerned.

In the summer, the sea breeze keeps Naxos fairly cool, not letting the thermometre exceed the 35o Celsius. Sometimes the wind is excessive that during the evening, wearing a jacket may be necessary for some people. These are the Greek “Meltemia” which not only keep the temperatures bearable, but tend to over joy most wind surfers and other summer sports enthusiasts.

On Naxos, there is very little rain (if any) during the summer months, so the islanders have built a big water reservoir mainly to cover their cultivation needs.

Good weather usually starts from early May and lasts till the end of October for Naxos, this is the potential tourist season, although the first tourists tend to appear after May 15 and leave towards the middle of October, thereby missing better prices and fewer crowds. During May and early June, the countryside is very green and the flowers are in bloom. The late spring sun brings out the aromas of all the wild flowers, the herbs and the moist soil. As we enter the summer, the bright colours give way to a mixed palette of straw coloured grass offset by the dense green of the trees and low chaparral.

Winter brings with it lower temperatures but usually for a very short time and hardly ever below zero. Τhere have been very rare exceptions to this rule which is the reason that some tourists have wondered why most of the permanent residents older houses have no heating at all! The sea remains warm for the better part of the year with mid-winter being the exception. Even then, from November to February, sun-drenched days are many subsequently numerous locals refuse to stay away from the sea, opting to go swimming hoping to play with the dolphins.

Weather forecast

When arranging for a trip, we almost always check the weather forecast. We want our holidays to be just perfect and weather plays a very significant role in this. While planning our holiday to Naxos, weather forecast can be checked via many sources. One of the most reliable ones is “meteo.gr”, which provides detailed and accurate information for a 5 day forecast. The website also provides extreme weather phenomena alerts (in case of heavy storm, strong wind or hurricane) and is compatible with all mobile devices as well. However, extreme conditions may appear on Naxos (and on the entire Cyclades) only on rare cases (i.e. once every 20 years or so).

For those of us who prefer to travel by boat and enjoy the journey along the Aegean Sea, a good prediction of the weather conditions is important. It can safely point out whether we will take the fast catamaran boats that arrive to Naxos earlier but travel better in a calm sea or choose the Blue Star Ferries vessels that take longer to get to Naxos but are very stable even when 9 Beaufort winds blow. It is never a good idea to get dizzy on your first day of holidays!

Although early weather prediction is possible, a 5 day notice is not enough for most people who need to plan their trip to Naxos early enough and book online all their accommodation and tickets. A decision on how to travel to Naxos is made several months ahead. Still, an accurate weather forecast will help us be better prepared for what we are about to face during our trip (by boat or by airplane) and bring with us the appropriate clothes, cosmetics and other necessary items that will make our holiday safe. It will also enable us to plan our Naxos activities properly and make sure we enjoy them when the weather is right.

On our naxos.net website, we provide you with a built in weather forecast system so that you will not need to look further.

The four seasons on Naxos

Spring on Naxos

Officially, in Greece, spring begins on March 21st and ends on June 21st. The climate in the islands is temperate, with only a few exceptions when March resembles more to winter than to spring. Along the coastline, there are few rainy days. The vast amount of sea water of the Aegean Sea makes sure of that. However, this is not the case for inland Naxos. Villages with high altitude, such as Filoti, Apeiranthos, Moni and most of all, Koronos, have much lower temperatures and more rain throughout the spring. The fact remains that from the beginning of March, the scenery starts changing day after day. With the daylight being increased by several hours per day, flowers bloom, trees blossom and the valleys and mountains of Naxos are dressed in a colourful carpet of flowers of every colour variety. The smell of wet soil gives way to a palette of flowery scents that will make you dizzy and the singing of the birds starts all over again.

It is not just nature that changes mood. People become more active too, enjoying outdoor life again. Spring is also the time to start preparing businesses for the summer season. Weather on Naxos during spring allows locals to perform most preparation tasks without worrying much about rain or cold temperatures. Even if weather goes bad, it will be only for a short while.

The tourist season on Naxos starts as early as mid-May, a full month before the end of spring. Though only few tourists arrive on the island on May, the summer mood is already there. By the end of May, the most popular beaches of Naxos are already quite full with people and all tourist related businesses are open and functioning 100%.

Summer on Naxos

Following spring, summer begins on June 21st and ends on September 21st. By June, many tourists have already arrived on the island but it is still not busy enough. June is mostly a cool month on Naxos, with temperatures rising up to 30^oC during the day. During the evening, temperature falls and a light jacket is necessary. When strong winds blow (the “meltemia” as the locals call them), it is best to wear warm clothes and shoes. Those who don’t, seek refuge to the alleys of Naxos Town which are well protected from the wind. There, you will find many restaurants, traditional taverns and bars.

However, in some rare cases, temperatures can rise much higher, reaching 38^oC or even 40^oC which, combined with the humidity and lack of wind, can make your days really hot and your evenings unbearable without an air conditioning unit in your room.

July and August are the months that usually score the highest temperatures on Naxos. Weather, of course, still depends on the winds. It is good though to always carry with you a sun screen, to protect your skin from the harmful sun rays of the Mediterranean. As the climate becomes drier day after day, proper hydration is necessary to minimize the effects of the heat.

During summer, nature loses its green colours and the colourful carpet of flowers now becomes golden. As the last remaining moisture evaporates through the atmosphere, so do the scents of oregano, rosemary and lavender, filling the air with the mesmerizing aromas of the summer.

Autumn on Naxos

Starting on September 21st, on the day of the autumn equinox, although it is a precursor of winter, it is considered one of the most beautiful seasons for Naxos and the entire Cyclades. The temperature has already cooled down and the winds have dropped to a minimum. During the last days of September and the first days of October, it is no longer difficult to stay under the sun for hours. Instead, you can enjoy the beach without being afraid of burning your skin.

The sea water is warmer than it used to be during July and August which makes it much easier to swim for hours. An occasional rain usually lasts for only a few minutes, filling the dry atmosphere with moisture and aromas of the earth and the dried-out vegetation. All activities are easier; hiking, mountain biking, surfing, horse riding … the sun rays are no longer unforgiving.

Many tourists are now gone, leaving plenty of space for the ones who chose to have their holidays in autumn. Most of them are nature lovers, appreciating that the beauty of Naxos does not simply lie on the sun washed sandy beaches. They are not many. Many hotels on Naxos (and other accommodation types) are getting ready to shut down and most of them do by October 20th. The more distant resorts are pretty lonely, giving the remaining tourists the sense that they own the beach.

Naxos Town, Agios Prokopios, Agia Anna and Plaka are still lively, now gathering the majority of tourists. Temperatures can reach 28^oC during the day, but it cools down during the evening. The absence of winds makes it easier to stay out till late at night. A jacket is, however, necessary, just in case. After October 20th, nearly all tourists are gone. The holiday season is over, time for the locals to rest. But Naxos Town never rests. With more than 18,000 permanent inhabitants on Naxos, its capital remains the commercial and fun centre. It is always busy, even when the winter cold enters.

Winter on Naxos

Officially starting on December 21st, on the day of the winter solstice, it already finds the northern hemisphere under a cold blanket. It is still the Aegean Sea that protects the islands from extreme weather conditions, keeping winter relatively mild in most cases. And, although daylight hours are to a minimum, full sunshine is not uncommon. Some snow may appear but only for a few days.

The “party” has now moved from the beaches, now battered by the cold and the waves, to the villages. The local taverns are full with people enjoying the food and the wine. The streets are not as busy, so it is faster to get around the island. Naxos Town still remains the heart of the fun. Although temperature is higher than in other areas of Greece, the humidity still makes you feel cold. The first two months of winter are the coldest. But as we approach the end of February, nature prepares itself once again for the entrance of spring. The holiday of the locals reaches its end as they must now prepare their businesses for the summer season.