Covers 18 European islands, from Crete and the Cyclades to Sicily, Sardinia, Mallorca, the Canaries, Madeira and the Azores, with euro prices converted to dollars on a dated rate.
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If you can choose one month for the Greek islands, choose September. The sea has had all summer to warm and sits between 76°F and 80°F (24°C and 26°C) on every island we rank. The July and August peak is over, and the meltemi, the Aegean's strong summer wind, eases from about mid-September.
That is why every island on this page scores 8.9 or better on September weather, and why the scores here are the highest of the four Greek months we rank. Crete gets a perfect 10 and leads; Rhodes, Naxos and Paros follow within a point. The one island with a real weather caveat is Corfu, where the autumn rain starts.
Score = 55% this month's weather + 45% the island's other five factors. How we score
| # | Island | Score | High °F | Sea °F | Rain (in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Crete | 9.1 | 83 | 80 | 0.7 |
| 2 | Rhodes | 8.6 | 86 | 78 | 0.3 |
| 3 | Naxos | 8.5 | 81 | 76 | 0.3 |
| 4 | Paros | 8.2 | 80 | 76 | 0.3 |
| 5 | Corfu | 8.2 | 80 | 79 | 3.4 |
| 6 | Milos | 7.9 | 80 | 77 | 0.4 |
| 7 | Santorini | 7.8 | 81 | 77 | 0.2 |
| 8 | Mykonos | 7.5 | 78 | 76 | 0.3 |
1Crete scores a perfect 10 on September weather: highs of 83°F (28°C), an 80°F (26°C) sea, the warmest here, and about 0.7 inches (17 mm) of rain. With beaches at 9 and things to do at 9.5, it wins by more than half a point. September suits it: Knossos and the gorge walks are easier at 83°F than at August's 87°F. A Chania 3-star was $112 for July 14, 2027. Samaria Gorge is closed until further notice.
2Rhodes is second, with a September weather score of 9.8 and the hottest days, 86°F (30°C). The sea is 78°F (26°C) and rain about 0.3 inches (7 mm). Its value score of 9.6 is the best of the big islands, from $36 in January and $96 in July near the Old Town. Beaches at 7 keep it behind Crete. Climb the Lindos acropolis early; it is hot by late morning.
3Naxos is a close third, with a September weather score of 9.6: highs of 81°F (27°C), a 76°F (25°C) sea and about 0.3 inches (8 mm) of rain. Its own page names September as ideal. Its beaches, 8.5, are the best in the Cyclades, from Agios Georgios in town to the long sand at Plaka, and its crowd score of 6.3 is the best in the group. A town 3-star was $122 for July 14, 2027.
4Paros is fourth, by a hair over Corfu. Its September weather scores 9.4: highs of 80°F (27°C), a 76°F (25°C) sea and about 0.3 inches (8 mm) of rain. Its value score, 9.2, comes from a Parikia 3-star at $89 on July 14, 2027. Once the meltemi eases after mid-September, the 50-minute hop to Naxos is usually smoother. Kolymbithres, with its boulder coves, is still the calmest swim.
5Corfu is fifth because September is when its rain returns: about 3.4 inches (86 mm), the most on this page. Otherwise its weather is good, 9.3, with highs of 80°F (27°C) and a 79°F (26°C) sea, warmer than anywhere here but Crete. Things to do score 8.5: the old town, the Achilleion and boat days to Paxos. A 3-star near town was $130 for July 14, 2027. Pack for a wet day or two.
6Milos has a September weather score of 9.6: highs of 80°F (27°C), a 77°F (25°C) sea and about 0.4 inches (9 mm) of rain. Its own page names September as one of its two best months. It ranks sixth because rated hotels are scarce, which gives it a value score of 4.3: the cheapest 3-star-or-better in Adamas was $291 for July 14, 2027. Boat days to Kleftiko are more reliable once the wind drops.
7Santorini has the second-best September weather here, 9.7: highs of 81°F (27°C), a 77°F (25°C) sea and the least rain, about 0.2 inches (5 mm). It is seventh because its beaches score 5 and its crowd score 1.0. Cruise passengers pay $22 (€20) to land until September 30. The Fira to Oia path is cooler than in August, and Fira's 3-star floor was $92 for July 14, 2027.
8Mykonos is last, on the mildest September of the eight: highs of 78°F (26°C) and a 76°F (24°C) sea, for a weather score of 8.9. Its own page calls September one of its two best months, with beach clubs still open and lower prices than in high summer. The July floor in town was $198. Delos boats run until November 30, for $28 (€25) return plus $22 (€20) site entry.
In this guide
Each island's September score is 55% September weather, built from the month's daytime high, sea temperature, rainfall and sunshine, and 45% everything else we score: beaches, things to do, access from the US, hotel value and crowds. A conditional verdict on an island's own page costs 0.4 points of that second half. The detail is on how we score islands.
Greece has no hurricane season, so no island here takes a storm penalty. That matters when you compare Greece with the Caribbean, where September is the peak of the Atlantic hurricane season; see the storm seasons guide.
September's sea is close to its August peak: on every island here the September average is within 2°F of August's. The meltemi can still blow hard until about mid-month, which matters for boat days to Kleftiko on Milos and fast ferries between the Cyclades.
Late September is usually calmer, with the sea still warm. It is the better choice for a ferry-hopping trip. If your dates slip into October, see our October ranking, where the order changes at the bottom.
Greece has no hurricane season, but it does get rare Mediterranean tropical-like cyclones. Storm Daniel in September 2023 caused severe flooding in Greece. These storms are uncommon, but September is a month in which they have happened, so keep an eye on forecasts and on Greece's 112 emergency alerts.
On Crete, plan around one closure: Samaria Gorge is shut until further notice, according to the park agency NECCA.
No airline flies nonstop from the US to a Greek island. Fly to Athens, which has nonstops from New York JFK and Newark and seasonal flights from Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Philadelphia and Washington Dulles. Check that your seasonal route still runs on your return date late in the month.
Greece's climate resilience fee stays at its summer rate until October 31: $5.60 (€5) per room per night at a 3-star, $11.20 (€10) at a 4-star and $16.80 (€15) at a 5-star. You need a passport valid three months beyond your departure from the Schengen area; the EU Entry/Exit System takes fingerprints and a photo, and ETIAS is not yet operating. See our passport guide and, for the wider picture, the best islands in September.
Transfers and guide are included, but the gorge ticket (10 EUR) and the boat from Agia Roumeli at the end (15 EUR) are paid on the day. The gorge is seasonal and closes on bad-weather days.
Rating as shown on GetYourGuide
The boat and free time are included; there is no guide on Symi, and hotel transfer is an extra option. Rhodes Sea Lines runs the boat.
Rating as shown on GetYourGuide
Only the bus and an English-speaking escort are included; Demeter's Temple (5 EUR cash) and meals are extra. At about $34 it is cheaper than renting a car for one day.
Rating as shown on Viator
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It is the best month on most of them. The sea is 76°F to 80°F (24°C to 27°C), rain is rare in the Aegean, and the summer crowds thin. Corfu is the exception, with about 3.4 inches (86 mm) of rain.
Crete, at about 80°F (26°C), followed by Corfu at 79°F (26°C) and Rhodes at 78°F (26°C).
No. Greece has no hurricane season. Rare Mediterranean tropical-like cyclones can bring floods, as Storm Daniel did in September 2023, but they are uncommon.
Early in the month, sometimes. The meltemi blows from about mid-May to mid-September, so late September is usually calmer for ferries and boat trips.
Less than in July and August, but Santorini and Mykonos stay busy; their crowd scores are the lowest on our list. Naxos and Crete have the most room.
Further reading
