January is one of the cooler months of the year in Athens, with average highs near 10.9°C and lows around -0.2°C (mean 5.4°C). It is a relatively wet time of year, averaging 116 mm of rainfall and 83% 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 9.4°C — while the coldest was 1985 at 2°C. Typical January days reach 10.9°C with nights near -0.2°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.5°C per decade.
January is a relatively wet time of year in Athens, averaging 116 mm of rainfall. The wettest January on record was 2024 with 216 mm, while the driest was 1981 at 24 mm.
Relative humidity in Athens during January averages 83%. The most humid January was 1998 at 90%, and the least humid was 1981 at 73%.
January receives about 2.7 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Athens. The sunniest Januarys were 2003 and 2018 at 3.1 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 1991 at 2.
Average wind speed in Athens during January is 0.1 m/s. The windiest Januarys were 2022, 2023 and 2025, among others at 0.2 m/s, while the calmest were 2020, 2021 and 2024, among others at 0.1 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 3.6°C | 5.8°C | 5.8°C | 5.4°C | 6.3°C | +2.7°C |
| Avg High | 8.9°C | 11.1°C | 11.6°C | 11.0°C | 11.9°C | +3°C |
| Avg Low | -1.8°C | 0.5°C | 0.0°C | -0.2°C | 0.8°C | +2.6°C |
| Avg Rain | 100 mm | 149 mm | 91 mm | 110 mm | 140 mm | +40 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 -18.7°C (1985) to a record high of 24.5°C (2002).
Rainfall in January is a relatively wet time of year, averaging 116 mm, with a wettest year of 216 mm.
A quieter season to visit Athens
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of May and September tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Athens. That said, January — with days averaging 10.9°C and nights around -0.2°C (mean 5.4°C) and higher rainfall (116 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 | 9.3°C | 3.2°C | -2.9°C | 20.0°C | -6.7°C | 63 mm | 77% | 0.2 m/s | 3 |
| 2024 🌧️ | 11.2°C | 5.6°C | 0.0°C | 21.9°C | -7.6°C | 216 mm | 82% | 0.1 m/s | 2.9 |
| 2023 | 14.5°C | 9.0°C | 3.4°C | 21.2°C | -5.1°C | 188 mm | 85% | 0.2 m/s | 2.5 |
| 2022 | 10.8°C | 5.2°C | -0.3°C | 24.2°C | -6.0°C | 89 mm | 80% | 0.2 m/s | 2.9 |
| 2021 | 11.9°C | 6.4°C | 0.9°C | 20.5°C | -4.4°C | 108 mm | 84% | 0.1 m/s | 2.6 |
| 2020 | 13.7°C | 8.6°C | 3.6°C | 22.1°C | -5.4°C | 177 mm | 86% | 0.1 m/s | 2.6 |
| 2019 | 12.0°C | 6.6°C | 1.1°C | 18.9°C | -5.6°C | 136 mm | 84% | 0.1 m/s | 2.7 |
| 2018 | 9.7°C | 3.6°C | -2.5°C | 19.2°C | -10.0°C | 96 mm | 76% | 0.1 m/s | 3.1 |
| 2017 🔥 | 14.9°C | 9.4°C | 4.0°C | 23.3°C | -11.1°C | 154 mm | 85% | 0.1 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2016 | 9.6°C | 4.4°C | -0.7°C | 17.4°C | -6.5°C | 89 mm | 84% | 0.1 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2015 | 10.6°C | 5.0°C | -0.6°C | 18.2°C | -8.9°C | 83 mm | 80% | 0.1 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2014 | 8.0°C | 2.1°C | -3.8°C | 18.1°C | -11.3°C | 83 mm | 77% | 0.1 m/s | 3 |
| 2013 | 14.3°C | 8.7°C | 3.1°C | 23.0°C | -4.6°C | 148 mm | 86% | 0.1 m/s | 2.5 |
| 2012 | 14.0°C | 7.9°C | 1.8°C | 21.3°C | -5.2°C | 104 mm | 83% | 0.1 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2011 | 8.6°C | 3.1°C | -2.3°C | 19.6°C | -7.1°C | 68 mm | 82% | 0.1 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2010 | 8.1°C | 2.8°C | -2.5°C | 18.4°C | -10.3°C | 140 mm | 83% | 0.2 m/s | 2.9 |
| 2009 | 11.2°C | 5.4°C | -0.4°C | 20.1°C | -7.8°C | 94 mm | 82% | 0.1 m/s | 2.6 |
| 2008 | 9.9°C | 4.6°C | -0.6°C | 20.6°C | -8.7°C | 82 mm | 80% | 0.2 m/s | 2.9 |
| 2007 | 12.7°C | 7.0°C | 1.4°C | 20.7°C | -7.3°C | 99 mm | 82% | 0.1 m/s | 2.7 |
| 2006 | 14.7°C | 8.8°C | 2.8°C | 19.7°C | -4.1°C | 118 mm | 84% | 0.1 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2005 | 12.9°C | 7.4°C | 1.9°C | 21.4°C | -6.7°C | 48 mm | 83% | 0.1 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2004 | 10.8°C | 4.7°C | -1.4°C | 21.5°C | -7.1°C | 72 mm | 80% | 0.1 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2003 | 9.4°C | 3.8°C | -1.7°C | 16.8°C | -8.9°C | 52 mm | 79% | 0.1 m/s | 3.1 |
| 2002 | 13.8°C | 7.2°C | 0.6°C | 24.5°C | -7.4°C | 127 mm | 81% | 0.2 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2001 | 10.8°C | 4.8°C | -1.2°C | 19.6°C | -9.8°C | 81 mm | 81% | 0.1 m/s | 2.9 |
| 2000 | 9.8°C | 4.4°C | -1.0°C | 21.4°C | -9.2°C | 137 mm | 82% | 0.1 m/s | 2.5 |
| 1999 | 13.9°C | 7.7°C | 1.5°C | 22.0°C | -7.0°C | 153 mm | 83% | 0.2 m/s | 2.7 |
| 1998 | 12.0°C | 7.1°C | 2.2°C | 20.7°C | -6.1°C | 172 mm | 90% | 0.2 m/s | 2.7 |
| 1997 | 11.1°C | 5.8°C | 0.6°C | 20.8°C | -8.1°C | 140 mm | 82% | 0.1 m/s | 2.6 |
| 1996 | 9.9°C | 4.1°C | -1.6°C | 19.9°C | -6.6°C | 190 mm | 86% | 0.1 m/s | 2.6 |
| 1995 | 11.5°C | 5.8°C | 0.2°C | 19.1°C | -7.3°C | 111 mm | 84% | 0.1 m/s | 2.7 |
| 1994 | 7.6°C | 2.5°C | -2.6°C | 18.2°C | -13.5°C | 119 mm | 83% | 0.2 m/s | 2.5 |
| 1993 | 11.2°C | 6.6°C | 2.0°C | 17.7°C | -3.9°C | 153 mm | 89% | 0.1 m/s | 2.1 |
| 1992 | 11.1°C | 5.7°C | 0.3°C | 17.8°C | -6.8°C | 138 mm | 84% | 0.2 m/s | 2.7 |
| 1991 | 10.2°C | 5.6°C | 1.0°C | 18.4°C | -5.7°C | 153 mm | 88% | 0.2 m/s | 2 |
| 1990 | 12.6°C | 7.2°C | 1.8°C | 19.8°C | -5.1°C | 160 mm | 87% | 0.2 m/s | 2.7 |
| 1989 | 13.1°C | 7.3°C | 1.5°C | 19.8°C | -5.0°C | 72 mm | 82% | 0.2 m/s | 2.6 |
| 1988 | 7.2°C | 2.3°C | -2.6°C | 17.5°C | -9.3°C | 135 mm | 85% | 0.2 m/s | 2.4 |
| 1987 | 8.9°C | 4.0°C | -0.8°C | 18.0°C | -7.0°C | 156 mm | 87% | 0.2 m/s | 2.6 |
| 1986 | 9.5°C | 3.5°C | -2.5°C | 18.1°C | -13.1°C | 30 mm | 79% | 0.2 m/s | 2.9 |
| 1985 ❄️ | 7.3°C | 2.0°C | -3.3°C | 19.5°C | -18.7°C | 120 mm | 79% | 0.1 m/s | 2.7 |
| 1984 | 8.6°C | 3.4°C | -1.7°C | 15.6°C | -8.0°C | 115 mm | 85% | 0.1 m/s | 2.7 |
| 1983 | 8.5°C | 3.8°C | -1.0°C | 17.1°C | -6.2°C | 94 mm | 86% | 0.1 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 8.4°C | 2.8°C | -2.8°C | 19.8°C | -16.6°C | 150 mm | 83% | 0.1 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 9.0°C | 3.0°C | -3.1°C | 17.6°C | -9.7°C | 24 mm | 73% | 0.1 m/s | — |
Actual recorded January data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in January is around 10.9°C with lows near -0.2°C (mean 5.4°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
January averages 116 mm of rainfall in Athens, a relatively wet time of year. The wettest on record was 216 mm in 2024.
The hottest January reached 24.5°C in 2002. The coldest dipped to -18.7°C in 1985.
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 8.4°C to 11.5°C and overnight lows from -2.4°C to 0.2°C over the same span.
January is one of the cooler months of the year in Athens and a relatively wet time of year, so plan for around 10.9°C daytime highs and -0.2°C at night.
Yes — January is the coldest month of the year in Athens, averaging 5.4°C.
For January in Athens, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of 10.9°C and lows of -0.2°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in January averages 83% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in January is 0.1 m/s. The windiest January on record averaged 0.2 m/s (1986).
The wettest January on record was 2024 with 216 mm. On average, January sees 116 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.
