January is one of the cooler months of the year in Athens, with average highs near 8.1°C and lows around -1.6°C (mean 3.3°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 122 mm of rainfall and 85% relative humidity across the period.
January is one of the cooler months of the year in Athens. Across 45 years of records, the warmest January in Athens was 2017 — when the month averaged 8°C — while the coldest was 1985 at -1.5°C. Typical January days reach 8.1°C with nights near -1.6°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.4°C per decade.
January is about average for rainfall in Athens, averaging 122 mm of rainfall. The wettest January on record was 1999 with 246 mm, while the driest was 1986 at 20 mm.
Relative humidity in Athens during January averages 85%. The most humid January was 1991 at 90%, and the least humid was 1981 at 78%.
January receives about 2.5 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Athens. The sunniest January was 2014 at 3.1 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 1991 at 2.
Average wind speed in Athens during January is 1.6 m/s. The windiest January was 1982 at 2 m/s, while the calmest were 1991, 2001 and 2011, among others at 1.3 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 1.5°C | 3.9°C | 3.8°C | 3.1°C | 4.0°C | +2.5°C |
| Avg High | 6.5°C | 8.5°C | 8.8°C | 8.0°C | 9.0°C | +2.5°C |
| Avg Low | -3.4°C | -0.8°C | -1.2°C | -1.7°C | -1.1°C | +2.3°C |
| Avg Rain | 106 mm | 148 mm | 101 mm | 116 mm | 150 mm | +44 mm |
January temperatures in Athens have risen by about 2.9°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
January has ranged from a record low of -22.2°C (1994) to a record high of 23.4°C (2022).
Rainfall in January is about average for rainfall, averaging 122 mm, with a wettest year of 246 mm.
A quieter season to visit Athens
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of September and June tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Athens. That said, January — with days averaging 8.1°C and nights around -1.6°C (mean 3.3°C) and higher rainfall (122 mm) — can still be rewarding for travellers who don't mind the cooler conditions, and often means fewer crowds.
| Year | Avg High | Avg Temp | Avg Low | Hottest Day | Coldest Day | Rainfall | Humidity | Wind | Solar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 7.1°C | 1.6°C | -3.9°C | 16.1°C | -13.7°C | 92 mm | 79% | 1.4 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2024 | 7.3°C | 2.1°C | -3.2°C | 18.2°C | -15.2°C | 179 mm | 84% | 1.7 m/s | 2.3 |
| 2023 | 12.5°C | 7.5°C | 2.5°C | 20.7°C | -4.4°C | 165 mm | 87% | 1.6 m/s | 2.4 |
| 2022 | 6.7°C | 1.5°C | -3.6°C | 23.4°C | -9.5°C | 174 mm | 86% | 1.7 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2021 | 9.5°C | 4.5°C | -0.4°C | 21.1°C | -4.9°C | 76 mm | 85% | 1.5 m/s | 2.5 |
| 2020 | 10.8°C | 6.5°C | 2.2°C | 20.6°C | -7.3°C | 215 mm | 90% | 1.5 m/s | 2.2 |
| 2019 | 8.7°C | 4.2°C | -0.3°C | 17.9°C | -6.8°C | 145 mm | 86% | 1.5 m/s | 2.5 |
| 2018 | 6.5°C | 1.0°C | -4.4°C | 18.3°C | -14.8°C | 41 mm | 81% | 1.6 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2017 🔥 | 12.4°C | 8.0°C | 3.6°C | 20.7°C | -13.1°C | 121 mm | 86% | 1.6 m/s | 2.4 |
| 2016 | 6.8°C | 2.3°C | -2.3°C | 16.1°C | -8.0°C | 88 mm | 86% | 1.5 m/s | 2.6 |
| 2015 | 7.7°C | 2.7°C | -2.2°C | 18.4°C | -15.7°C | 97 mm | 84% | 1.5 m/s | 2.6 |
| 2014 | 4.9°C | -0.6°C | -6.0°C | 14.2°C | -15.0°C | 59 mm | 78% | 1.7 m/s | 3.1 |
| 2013 | 10.1°C | 5.3°C | 0.6°C | 21.4°C | -6.1°C | 212 mm | 87% | 1.6 m/s | 2.2 |
| 2012 | 11.6°C | 6.1°C | 0.7°C | 18.0°C | -6.7°C | 174 mm | 86% | 1.6 m/s | 2.5 |
| 2011 | 6.7°C | 1.9°C | -2.8°C | 17.8°C | -9.7°C | 92 mm | 83% | 1.3 m/s | 2.4 |
| 2010 | 4.6°C | 0.4°C | -3.9°C | 17.1°C | -13.0°C | 134 mm | 86% | 1.5 m/s | 2.5 |
| 2009 | 7.9°C | 2.6°C | -2.7°C | 19.0°C | -15.1°C | 99 mm | 86% | 1.5 m/s | 2.5 |
| 2008 | 7.8°C | 2.7°C | -2.5°C | 19.6°C | -10.0°C | 78 mm | 78% | 1.6 m/s | 2.5 |
| 2007 | 9.4°C | 4.7°C | -0.1°C | 19.0°C | -8.0°C | 74 mm | 83% | 1.5 m/s | 2.4 |
| 2006 | 12.6°C | 7.0°C | 1.5°C | 20.9°C | -4.1°C | 163 mm | 84% | 1.7 m/s | 2.6 |
| 2005 | 10.3°C | 5.7°C | 1.1°C | 19.0°C | -9.3°C | 79 mm | 89% | 1.7 m/s | 2.3 |
| 2004 | 9.2°C | 3.9°C | -1.4°C | 20.5°C | -7.9°C | 74 mm | 81% | 1.6 m/s | 2.6 |
| 2003 | 5.3°C | 0.5°C | -4.3°C | 15.9°C | -15.2°C | 48 mm | 84% | 1.5 m/s | 2.6 |
| 2002 | 10.4°C | 5.3°C | 0.2°C | 21.5°C | -8.7°C | 175 mm | 87% | 1.5 m/s | 2.6 |
| 2001 | 6.3°C | 1.7°C | -2.9°C | 17.2°C | -10.2°C | 117 mm | 86% | 1.3 m/s | 2.5 |
| 2000 | 9.0°C | 3.9°C | -1.1°C | 20.7°C | -9.4°C | 105 mm | 80% | 1.7 m/s | 2.4 |
| 1999 🌧️ | 10.7°C | 5.7°C | 0.7°C | 20.4°C | -12.1°C | 246 mm | 88% | 1.8 m/s | 2.2 |
| 1998 | 10.3°C | 6.0°C | 1.7°C | 19.4°C | -6.2°C | 171 mm | 90% | 1.4 m/s | 2.1 |
| 1997 | 7.7°C | 2.8°C | -2.2°C | 19.9°C | -14.9°C | 141 mm | 87% | 1.8 m/s | 2.5 |
| 1996 | 6.2°C | 1.7°C | -2.8°C | 17.5°C | -10.6°C | 169 mm | 90% | 1.7 m/s | 2.3 |
| 1995 | 8.5°C | 3.9°C | -0.7°C | 18.3°C | -8.8°C | 123 mm | 86% | 1.6 m/s | 2.4 |
| 1994 | 4.8°C | 0.0°C | -4.8°C | 15.6°C | -22.2°C | 174 mm | 87% | 1.6 m/s | 2.1 |
| 1993 | 9.9°C | 5.2°C | 0.5°C | 17.2°C | -5.5°C | 108 mm | 86% | 1.6 m/s | 2.3 |
| 1992 | 7.9°C | 3.5°C | -0.8°C | 14.8°C | -9.1°C | 102 mm | 90% | 1.4 m/s | 2.5 |
| 1991 | 8.5°C | 4.4°C | 0.3°C | 15.5°C | -5.8°C | 75 mm | 90% | 1.3 m/s | 2 |
| 1990 | 10.7°C | 5.7°C | 0.6°C | 17.7°C | -5.5°C | 167 mm | 89% | 1.5 m/s | 2.5 |
| 1989 | 10.9°C | 5.9°C | 0.9°C | 18.7°C | -4.5°C | 187 mm | 86% | 1.5 m/s | 2.5 |
| 1988 | 5.1°C | 0.4°C | -4.4°C | 18.8°C | -12.9°C | 114 mm | 87% | 1.6 m/s | 2.4 |
| 1987 | 6.5°C | 2.3°C | -1.9°C | 12.9°C | -11.4°C | 115 mm | 90% | 1.4 m/s | 2.5 |
| 1986 | 8.0°C | 2.4°C | -3.2°C | 18.0°C | -13.7°C | 20 mm | 78% | 1.5 m/s | 2.9 |
| 1985 ❄️ | 3.1°C | -1.5°C | -6.0°C | 17.7°C | -19.9°C | 89 mm | 86% | 1.7 m/s | 2.5 |
| 1984 | 4.7°C | 0.2°C | -4.3°C | 14.4°C | -17.9°C | 70 mm | 89% | 1.3 m/s | 2.5 |
| 1983 | 6.8°C | 2.4°C | -1.9°C | 13.1°C | -8.0°C | 70 mm | 88% | 1.5 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 6.9°C | 0.9°C | -5.1°C | 19.1°C | -21.1°C | 237 mm | 85% | 2 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 6.2°C | 0.7°C | -4.7°C | 15.8°C | -14.2°C | 51 mm | 78% | 1.4 m/s | — |
Actual recorded January data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in January is around 8.1°C with lows near -1.6°C (mean 3.3°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
January averages 122 mm of rainfall in Athens, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 246 mm in 1999.
The hottest January reached 23.4°C in 2022. The coldest dipped to -22.2°C in 1994.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average January temperatures have risen by about 2.9°C. Daytime highs moved from 5.5°C to 8.6°C and overnight lows from -4.4°C to -1.7°C over the same span.
January is one of the cooler months of the year in Athens and about average for rainfall, so plan for around 8.1°C daytime highs and -1.6°C at night.
Yes — January is the coldest month of the year in Athens, averaging 3.3°C.
For January in Athens, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of 8.1°C and lows of -1.6°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in January averages 85% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in January is 1.6 m/s. The windiest January on record averaged 2 m/s (1982).
The wettest January on record was 1999 with 246 mm. On average, January sees 122 mm.
All figures are derived from NASA POWER (Prediction Of Worldwide Energy Resources), based on MERRA-2 satellite reanalysis, covering 1981–2025.
Explore how the weather in Athens behaves each January, based on 45 years of NASA POWER climate data from 1981 to 2025. This page breaks down average temperatures, rainfall, humidity, wind and solar radiation for January specifically, along with year-by-year records and how the month has changed over the decades.
