Afitos has a typical Mediterranean climate of long, hot summers with cloudless days and short, mild winters. The resort sits on the north-eastern coast of the Kassandra Peninsula of Halkidiki in northeast Greece. The resortâs weather is heavily influenced by the Aegean Sea and the prevailing, etesian winds.
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Summer, from June till September, is baking hot and unbelievably sunny. Day time temperatures have long been in the 20s by the start of summer proper and reach an average high of 2°C in June and 30°C in August and July, getting back down to 26°C in September. In the peak of summer you should be careful as it can get into the mid 30s. The locals often disappear in the hottest part of the day, going inside to hide from the heat and the sun. The sunniest month is July with a whopping average of twelve hours per day. June and August see eleven hours per day and September a still great nine. The water is very inviting, providing an escape from the heat that isnât cool enough to require bravery. Its average temperature sits in the 20s for the entire summer, peaking in August at a bath-like 25°C. Most of the summer sees Afitos visited by the prevailing, northerly wind called the meltemi, and this helps to take the edge off the heat. The meltemi starts blowing in spring and doesnât stop till mid September. It is covetted by sailors who hop around the coast and from island to island, but they have to be careful as the meltemi can blow with great strength with absolutely no warning. Rainfall is minimal, though the odd shower does occur.
Autumn, in October and November, is mild and sunny but a little bit wetter than the summer months. The average high temperature drops to 21°C in October, which is still rather pleasant, and 16°C in November, which is pretty mild, though might call for an extra layer, especially if the wind picks up. The average low drops to 11°C and 7°C respectively so it can be a bit nippy at night time. The sea stays warm enough for swimming well into October.The start of autumn is a great time to visit as the summer crowds have largely gone home, and most days get into the 20s without reaching the scorching highs of midsummer. Sunshine levels do drop quite dramatically but are still good in comparison to somewhere like the UK with an average of six hours per day in October and four hours per day in November. Some grey days are quite likely and a few stormy days will also occur.
Winter, is mild and a bit wet but with good sunshine levels for the season. The average high temperature drops to around 10°C for most of the season and the aveage low sits around 3°C. It can get down to freezing and frosts often occur away from the beach, but snow is quite rare. Most would consider the sea too cold for swimming. It is coldest in February at around 13°C. Rainfall increases and often arrives with storms, but this still only happens on around ten days each month. Sunshine levels remain around four hours per day for the entire season. Winter can be windy and highly unpredictable. Clear days can see temperatures rising into the mid teens but similary poor conditions can send the temperature right down.
Spring, unsurprisingly sees a return of heat and sunshine. After the winter rains the whole region blossoms and many find late spring their favourite time to go. Like early autumn it is less crowded and the heat isnât yet at its full strength, but unlike autumn, which is parched after summer, the landscape is green. The average high temperature climbs to 14°C in March, 19°C in April and 24°C in May. The wind can sometimes bring a cold bite to even a clear day, but from mid April day time temperatures often get into the 20s. May sees the return of the meltemi wind and the start of the summer sailing season. It still gets pretty cold at night time though with the average low only getting up to 12°C in May. The sea also takes a while to heat up and swimmers might still be a bit dubios even at the end of the season; in May the sea is around 17°C, though thatâs about as warm as it gets on the UKâs coast in the height of summer. Rainfall levels drop and the sun comes out for longer and longer, reaching an average of nine hours per day by the end of the season.