Greece in April: where you can already swim and how much a night costs before the season

In April, Greece opens up before beach season officially begins. Island hotels resume operations, ferries switch to summer schedules, and prices stay noticeably lower than in August.

An Acropolis ticket costs €30 in April (as of 09/2026, official ticket office of the Greek Ministry of Culture), and there is almost no line at the entrance. Add the spring blooms in the Peloponnese, Crete, and the Ionian Islands.

The short answer: April is great for sightseeing and walks, swimming is comfortable only in southern Crete and around Rhodes at the end of the month, and the busiest week of the year happens when Easter falls in April.

All figures below are verified against official sources, data current as of 09/2026.

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Weather in Greece in April

💡 In short:

• Daytime highs in Athens around 20 °C, nighttime lows around 10 °C.
• Rain falls on about six days per month, more often in the first half.
• The sea remains cool; comfortable swimming starts in late April and only in the south.

In Athens, daytime temperatures are around 20 °C, nighttime around 10 °C, with about six rainy days per month (as of 09/2026, Holiday-Weather). Crete and Rhodes are a couple of degrees warmer, while the north of the country is cooler and rainier.

April weather changes quickly. You may be having lunch on an open terrace, but by evening you will need a light jacket. The second half of the month is noticeably warmer than the first, so late April beats early April.

Factor in the wind: on the islands it strips away the warmth and intensifies your tan.

Holidays and events in April

Orthodox Easter is the main event of the Greek year. The date shifts and is calculated according to the Julian calendar, so the holiday falls sometimes in April, sometimes in early May.

Good Friday. Late in the evening, processions with a decorated epitaphios move through the streets. In Athens, the most atmospheric spots are the Plaka and Anafiotika neighborhoods; in Thessaloniki, the Ano Poli quarter. The procession draws the whole neighborhood, and you can easily join in along the way.

Holy Saturday night. At exactly midnight, the lights in the church go out, the priest brings out the holy fire, and people light candles from one another. "Christos anesti" rings out across the entire country at once, and the sky above the cities lights up with fireworks.

Easter Sunday. From the morning, lamb is roasted in courtyards, red eggs are cracked, and everyone sits down at a shared table. Guests are welcomed readily here, and you should not turn down an invitation.

Corfu. The island has its own Venetian tradition: on Holy Saturday, clay pots are thrown from windows. Locals call it Botides. The spectacle is loud and very photogenic, so bring a camera.

A note on money: admission to the religious events of Holy Week is free. This is a public celebration, not a ticketed show, and you will not have to pay to join a procession.

If you are traveling for Easter, check the dates in advance: Holy Week shifts along with the holiday and in some years falls entirely in May.

Where to stay in April

Most island hotels open from mid-April. The exceptions are Santorini and Mykonos: when Easter falls in April, Greek travelers fill the islands during Holy Week, and mid-range options sell out first.

Athens. In the Plaka district, Electra Palace Athens operates in a neoclassical building a few minutes from the Acropolis. Near the Acropolis Museum stands Herodion Hotel, a solid mid-range option for the city.

Santorini. In the island's capital, there is Kalisti Hotel, a quiet mid-range property near the caldera path. In Oia, Chelidonia Traditional Houses stand out, traditional cave houses. April rates here are lower than August rates, so for the same money you get a higher category.

Crete. In Chania, by the Venetian harbor, stands Nostos Hotel. Casa Delfino occupies a restored seventeenth-century Venetian mansion. Both options are convenient for exploring the old town.

Prices in April stay in a mid-range band, noticeably below the summer peak. You only need to book in advance for the two weeks around Easter. You can compare available rooms by date on Trip.com.

Restaurants in April

Terraces are already open in April, but you can get a table without a reservation: the season is just picking up.

Athens. Varoulko Seaside in Piraeus holds its place among the city's best fish restaurants and looks out over the water. The check here is high, but the occasion is special. In Monastiraki, Kuzina serves modern Greek cuisine with meze and a rooftop view.

Santorini. In Pyrgos, Selene offers modern Cycladic cuisine based on local products. In Fira, Koukoumavlos serves tasting menus built on island ingredients.

Crete. In Chania, next to the lighthouse, Ela is a lively fish restaurant by the water with consistent quality.

Prices in April are lower than in summer, and a table by the window is easier to find. During Holy Week, some tavernas are closed or run on special hours, so check opening times in advance.

What to do in April

In April, all island routes are running, and tour prices stay below August levels. On Santorini you see the caldera almost without people, on Crete the hiking trails open up, and you can visit the Palace of Knossos without a group.

Ticket prices were checked on the Greek Ministry of Culture website, as of 09/2026. Go to the Acropolis at opening time, before the groups arrive. For the Samaria Gorge, take the first bus: it gets hot there by midday.

From Athens in April, day trips are easy: Delphi, Olympia, Nafplio, and Corinth are all doable in a single trip or with one overnight stay.

Book guided tours and skip-the-line tickets in advance: tours and tickets on GetYourGuide.

What to pack for an April trip

• A light jacket. Temperatures drop in the evening, especially near the water.
• Sunscreen. The April sun already burns, especially on a boat deck.
• Layers. Mornings are cool, days are warm, evenings are cool again.
• A swimsuit. Useful in southern Crete and on Rhodes at the end of the month.
• A candle. For the midnight Easter service, buy one locally or bring your own.
• Comfortable shoes. Stone streets on the islands and ancient sites call for sturdy soles.

Bring some cash. In April, some tavernas on smaller islands still do not accept cards.

Is Greece worth visiting in April

April is one of the best months to go if you want both good weather and culture without the crowds. You get green landscapes, open islands, uncrowded viewpoints, and prices below summer levels.

What is not ideal: the water is still cold, and the weather is changeable. Swimming is not comfortable everywhere, and one rainy day can land in the middle of your trip. If you need guaranteed beach weather, plan for late May.

We have put together a full month-by-month breakdown in a separate article on the best time to visit Greece.

It is convenient to compare hotels by dates in advance.

⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions

When is Orthodox Easter in Greece?

The date changes every year: it is calculated according to the Julian calendar and does not coincide with Western Easter. The holiday falls between early April and early May. In some years the dates match, in others Orthodox Easter comes a few weeks after Catholic Easter.

What happens during Holy Week?

It is the most atmospheric week of the Greek calendar. On Good Friday, late in the evening, processions with the epitaphios walk through the streets. At midnight on Holy Saturday, the lights go out, the priest brings out the holy fire, people light candles, and the sky above the cities glows with fireworks.

Can you swim in Greece in April?

The sea remains cool, so getting in the water is comfortable only in the south of Crete and around Rhodes, and only at the end of the month. In other regions, April is more about walks and sightseeing than the beach. For guaranteed warm sea, plan for late May.

What weather awaits you in Greece in April?

In Athens, daytime temperatures are around 20 °C, nighttime around 10 °C, and it rains about six days a month (as of 09/2026, Holiday-Weather service). Crete and Rhodes are warmer, the north of the country is cooler. In the evening you will want a light jacket, and on the ferry deck, sunscreen.

Should you book a hotel in advance?

If Easter falls in April, accommodation on Santorini and Mykonos fills up several months ahead, and mid-range options go first. In other weeks of April, there is plenty of choice and prices are lower than in summer. Book in advance only for dates around Holy Week.

In short: what is worth booking

If this is your first trip, start with Athens: the Acropolis at opening time, Plaka in the evening. If you want the beach, look at the south of Crete and Rhodes for late April. If you are traveling for the holiday, check the Easter date and book accommodation several months ahead. If you want quiet, choose the middle of the month.

What to book in advance: an Acropolis time slot, accommodation for Holy Week, and a flight, which is cheaper in April than in summer. You can compare dates conveniently on Kiwi.com.