When to sail — the honest month-by-month version.
Each month has a trade. Here are the trades.
May
Water still cold (18–20°C), air pleasant, winds light, very few people. Good for couples and experienced sailors. Less good for swimmers and families.
June
Water warms (21–24°C), winds steady, prices still below peak. The month we recommend most.
July
Warm, busy, Meltemi building in the Aegean. Fine in Ionian. Increasingly hard in Cyclades.
August
Peak heat, peak crowds, peak prices, full Meltemi. Avoid Aegean with first-timers. Ionian works for families.
September
The best month, quietly. Water still 24°C, wind easing, fewer people, prices softening. Our top recommendation if dates are flexible.
October
First half is excellent. Second half is gambling on weather.
If you're wondering about the wind specifically, read the Meltemi guide.