Greece in April 2026: is it worth going on vacation and where? Weather and reviews, air and water temperature in Athens, Crete and Rhodes, prices in hotels. What to see in Greece in April, where to go, what to do – says Eurotraveler.
April is not a “meh” month?! At least from a travel perspective. at sea somewhere in Europe?
There are almost no public holidays in mid-spring (Easter holidays are the only exception), and there is literally nothing to attach to a few missed vacation days. And the weather is usually such that there is no reason to think about a beach holiday.
This is the rule. But perhaps there are exceptions?!
After all, the south of Europe is almost Africa? And, for example, in Greece it can be warm in April?
Or not?
We have thoroughly studied this topic! At the same time, clarifying other points that usually interest an independent traveler.
Weather in Greece in April
In short – good, even excellent, suitable for walks and tripssightseeing and similar entertainment. And bad for a beach holiday!
No, it will be pleasant to walk along the surf and even sit on the shore, that’s without question. But the idea of refreshing yourself by swimming in the sea will probably come to the minds of only a couple of people out of a hundred.
The air temperature in Greece in early April during the day everywhere reaches +20 and even higher degrees Celsius. This is if we talk about the coast – it can be much colder in the mountains.
It is also worth dressing warmly for those who like to walk in the early morning or evening. Because after sunset the atmosphere even in Athens sometimes cools down to +6-8 °C.
Although, judging by long-term statistics, air temperatures in April in the capital of Greece, even at night, prefer the range of +12-14 °C.
You shouldn’t expect significant changes for the better until the middle of the month. Moreover, cold temperatures during the day down to +14-17 °C are also possible – this is far from fantastic!
However, these are all particulars – in most cases you won’t have to huddle and freeze. And at the end of April the weather in Greece clearly turns towards summer.
The air begins to warm up to +23-25 degrees Celsiusand the sun truly reigns in the sky.
You will say that this will not last long – not like it can be cool in Greece in April, early May? And it’s quite possible to freeze while walking around the streets in just a T-shirt?
But we will continue to insist – the temperature curve will gradually climb higher
What about the rains? In general, everything is not bad: in April, Greece sees no more than 2-5 stormy days. Depends on the location, of course: in Corfu, for example, it is a little damper than in Athens or, say, Crete – Rhodes.
Athens, by the way, in the middle of spring is generally the most warm place in Greece. That is, even if it’s hot, you may well get heatstroke while walking through unshaded places in Plaka or exploring the Acropolis in the middle of the day.
- Weather forecast in Athens for the coming days – worldweather.wmo.int/en/city.html?cityId=177
Where to go
Depends on preference, of course. But if you are very cold during the winter and are counting first of all to warm up, and only then to see the most interesting places in Greece – go to the islands in the Aegean and Mediterranean seas.
For it is there, in particular in Crete and Rhodes, in Greece in mid and late April that it is warm, but not excessively hot. In the last week of the month it can be up to +26-28 °C, but almost never higher!
In the capital Athens, long before the beginning of May, the weather will try to “undress” tourists. And not only undress – it sometimes makes you regret your choice.
Do you know why? The local sun beats down simply mercilessly, turning open spaces into a natural frying pan.
For some reason, almost no attention is paid to this in reviews. Although in fact, visiting the same Acropolis in the middle of the day can turn into real torture!
But in April, Corfu, plus other islands on the Adriatic Sea, as well as such a resort town on the coast as Parga, bloom, but are in no hurry to seal off tourists with the heat. So it won’t be higher than +22-24 °C here – hurry to see!
Thessaloniki? It will be cooler here than in the central region of the country. So yes – in the midst of spring you can stroll around this city for a long time and with pleasure.
But it’s too early to go to Halkidiki in April, cherishing hopes of a beach holiday. Unless you attach special importance to swimming and just expect to enjoy the beauty of nature, vigorously reaching out for warmth.
Water temperature
Literally invigorating. That is, it is not at all encouraging in the sense of taking “baths” in open water.
In early April, the Adriatic Sea off the coast of the Peloponnese or islands is usually warmed up to a maximum of +16-17 degrees Celsius. And in the future he does not show a strong desire to raise his own temperature at an abrupt pace.
On the contrary, everything happens lazily. By the middle of the month, you can only count on a water temperature of +18 °C for those who go to relax on the beaches of Rhodes.
And closer to May, the sea near Crete, in the south of the Peloponnese, and perhaps in Corfu and Parga will warm up to similar values.
Thus, at the end of April you can already swim in Greece. Well, that is, at least make a timid attempt to climb into sea.
Especially if by this moment there will be real heat in the air in the form of +26-28 °C…
Prices 2026
Cretan hotels, for example, are quite in demand even in the spring! However, if you do not regret setting the maximum level at 60-70 € per night (for two), you will find many simply excellent offers.
In Heraklion, Crete, for example, we looked closely at the cozy (albeit small) apartment Quattro Domus 2 townhouse, located in the old center. If you are lucky with the promotion, then the indicated price will also include accommodation in a Venetian Garden apartment that is twice as spacious.
In Rethymnon, for the indicated amount you can stay in a comfortable room at the Poseidon Hotel. Moreover, the price will include “very good breakfasts.”
Who wouldn’t want to peacefully watch epic sunrises and sunsets from their (own) balcony?
For 50-60 € per night in April you can stay in an apartment with a good level of comfort in Athens.
For our part, we recommend the separate apartment Studio MV in the center of Athens. Spacious enough to accommodate 3-4 people and located just a leisurely 15 minute walk from the centre.
Again, you can find a (free) parking space nearby. And on Sundays, on a nearby street there is a market where farmers sell the freshest vegetables and fruits…
Flights
from Moscow to Athens (Heraklion, Rhodes – it doesn’t matter) today the roads are so expensive (from 500 € per passenger without luggage – round trip) that you may want to look for a more budget destination for an off-season holiday. Flight duration via Istanbul ranges from 7 hours to infinity more than a day.
If it is possible to travel to Athens from Belgrade (about 250 € round trip, a little over an hour on the road) or, say, Frankfurt (from 300 €), then the idea starts to look good again.
Prices for excursions do not look alarmingly high – a guided walk around Athens will cost 100-120 € for a group of 1-6 people. For just 15 € per day you can rent a tiny car.
And you will definitely appreciate the benefits of such a decision if you plan to see Rhodes or Corfu in 1-2 days.
Visas
Greece will also issue visas to Russians in 2026. However, we are no longer talking about 3-5 year Schengen visas – if they get at least a multi-visa for a month or two, consider yourself lucky
The majority of Russian tourists, even with a good visa history and previous long-term Schengen “cartoons,” today receive single-entry tourist visas in Greece exactly for the dates of their trip. Well, or with a small “corridor”…
They make them, however, quickly – at the end of 2025, the entire process from the moment of submission took 7-10 working days (in Moscow).
Things to do
There can be no doubt – in April you can see a lot of interesting places in Greece. This means your trip will be bright and memorable.
In the most positive sense, wherever you go!
Those who decide to settle
In Athens
Of course, they will decide on a program of action faster than anyone else. Of course – in Greece, first of all, you need to see the Athens Parthenon and watch the sunset from the top of the Acropolis.
Then, of course, you can get to know the city better at excursions with mythological overtones. And try traditional Greek moussaka in a restaurant.
Organizing a trip from Athens to Delphi or even Meteora also seems like a simple task.
How to do it on your own – by renting a car and being puzzled by finding a hotel in the village of Kalambaka. So with the help of purchasing a two-day tour, which promises significantly less labor and stress. However, emotions and excitement will also not overflow…
Thessaloniki and islands
It’s worth developing a comprehensive action plan if you decide to go to Thessaloniki in April. After all, here Athos is close to you, and you can go and see the abode of the gods, Olympus.
Moreover, at this time of year the mountain paths are cleared of snow, and you can climb to the top!
You don’t have to think long about what to see first in Crete – there are plenty of really interesting places there. You won’t get bored even if you decide to limit yourself to Heraklion and Rethymnon alone.
But in general, it would be much more appropriate to visit one or several amazingly beautiful beaches on the island. See its monasteries and mountains, visit the legendary Dictaean cave.
There is something to visit for tourists in Corfu. Moreover, note that you will be visiting it in mid-spring almost alone – foreigners usually plan a trip to this island in the summer or September.
A holiday in Rhodes in April also looks more than natural. For the main of the Dodecanese islands at this time is fully enjoying the arrival of warm weather, immersing itself in flowers and greenery.
What promises to give you unforgettable emotions for a lifetime – the natural and man-made attractions of Rhodes, brightly illuminated by the sun, look exceptionally fresh and festive! There can be only one problem here: to explore everything with a tour or to free up your hands by renting a small car?
Santorini? We are sure that in a spring full of promises and hopes, you will not miss the opportunity to personally see these snow-white walls against the backdrop of the turquoise waters of the volcanic caldera. Even if you decide to stay on the continent, you can get to Thira from the Athens port of Piraeus by high-speed ferry!
© Eurotraveler
