What's The Weather Like in Athens in December?
Is It Good To Visit Athens In December?
December is one of the colder months of the year in Athens, but relative to much of northern Europe, the temperatures are mild, making it a great place to travel if you are in search of some warmth at the end of the year.
What's Athens Like At Christmas?
There are fewer tourists which means Athens' wonderful attractions will be less busy and you'll see locals out and about enjoying the festivities. There are lovely traditions to witness and tasty seasonal foods to tempt you.
How Warm Is Athens At Christmas?
The average temperature in December is 12°C, while the average low is 9°C, and the average high is 14°C.
Warmest And Coldest Decembers In Athens
The lowest ever recorded temperature in Athens in December is 0°C, and the highest is 20°C.
Sunshine Hours
Along with cooler temperatures, there is also not much sun in December, as the average daily sunshine this month is just three hours, tied for the lowest average total for Athens. In addition to a small amount of sun, there is also an increase in the amount of rain.
Is It Rainy In Athens In December?
The average rainfall in December is 70mm occurring over 11 days, and both totals are average yearly highs for Athens.
Is The Sea Warm In Athens In December?
The average sea temperature in December is 17°C, which is on the cool side.
How Humid Is Athens In December?
The average humidity in December is 75%, which is the highest average total for the year. However, this level is not high enough to cause discomfort, and with the cooler temperatures this month will be completely unnoticeable.
Does Is Snow In Athens In December?
There is an average of zero snow/fog days in December, so don't plan on seeing any snow.
Athens Hotels in December
The Athens Lotus Hotel was completely renovated in 2009 and is a four-star hotel with 31 rooms. All rooms come with air-conditioning/heating, wireless internet, and Egyptian cotton towels and sheets. Rooms vary from singles all the way to superior suites. The hotel also has a restaurant/bar on-site (serving breakfast from 7AM to 10AM), as well as café in the lobby. Room service and complimentary parking are also available. The hotel is a five minute drive from the city centre and just 50 metres from a metro station.
The Marble House is a family-run establishment that offers single through quadruple rooms. All rooms come with either a balcony or patio, wireless Internet, and a refrigerator among other amenities. They offer a continental breakfast for 5 a person and have both tour and car rental desks available for those who need assistance with either. The main appeal of staying at this hotel is its location, as it is walking distance to several attractions (just 0.6 km to the Acropolis). The hotel is about a four minute drive from the city centre.
Athens Beach for December
Palea Fokea Beach is a wide, sandy beach with a sandy seafloor as well. There are several facilities here including sunbeds and umbrellas for rent, as well as showers, and daily trash collection. It is easy to access as there is a paved road leading directly to the beach from the street. It is generally not very crowded, and this will certainly be the case in December. There are restaurants and cafés right on the beach, but if you want to get off of the beach for some food, Maistrali restaurant is not far. They offer fresh seafood and vegetables, cooked Cypriot-style (the chef is from Cyprus). Palea Fokea Beach is about a 50 minute drive from the city centre.
Thymarei Beach is made up of sand with fine pebbles, crystal clear water, and is relatively small. Swimming here is not as popular as the other nearby beaches, which bring in big crowds for windsurfing, despite the shallow, calm water and perfect conditions for a swim. There are facilities available during the summer months, but finding an umbrella or chair to rent during December might be hard to do. There are several taverns situated on the seafront and offer a variety of dishes. These places will be your best option for food in the area. Thymari Beach is just under an hour drive from the city centre.
Bars and Restaurants
Smile Café Restaurant is a family place that serves Greek dishes, prepared using traditional recipes. They are open every day from 9 AM to 11 PM and serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Their menu is extensive and includes a large list of starters, salads, pastas, pizzas, gyros, grilled meats, seafood, desserts, coffees, soft drinks, beer, wine, and spirits, in addition to daily specials. The restaurant is about a 15 minute walk from the city centre.
Things to do in Athens in December
Hellenic Cosmos Cultural Centre is both a cultural centre and a museum, and its goal is to try and understand and explain Hellenism (the period from 323 BC to 31 BC in Ancient Greece) and communicate this to its visitors in a unique way. They do this through interactive exhibitions, virtual reality, and various documentaries and films. Tickets cost different prices based on the event, but a day pass can be purchased for 15, which includes two different shows and an exhibition visit. The cultural centre is located about an 11 minute drive from the city centre.
The Greek Parliament Building was built sometime between 1836 and 1842 for King Otto I, Greece's first "modern" king. Much of the original building was burned in a fire in 1854 and due to a lack of funds and a new architect, it was not rebuilt until 1871, and at this point King Otto had be removed from the throne. The building housed Hellenic Parliament for 57 years (from 1875 to 1932). The Tomb of the Unknown Solider resides just in front of the building, and is guarded by the Evzones, who are part of the presidential guard and dress in traditional Greek attire. The "change of the guard" happens every hour, on the hour. The parliament building is just a 3 minute walk from the city centre.
Syntagma Square is beautiful and very popular to visit at Christmas.
