Climate guide for Kos, Greece

Best Time to Visit
Kos

How to read the score (0–10)
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01 · Greece

About Kos

Kos is a Dodecanese island close to the Turkish coast, with a long sandy edge and a flat interior that suits bicycles. The Asklepion, an ancient healing sanctuary, stands on a hill above the town, the Neratzia castle guards the harbour, and a plane tree in the centre is traditionally linked to Hippocrates. Beaches run from Tigaki to Kefalos, and boats leave for Nisyros and Bodrum. May, June, September and October are warm without the peak crowds, and winter is mild.

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Did you know?

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Travel Tips

01Best time & timing
The strongest months are June, July, August: June peaks at 10.0/10, while December drops to 4.5/10.
02Weather & what to pack
25°C and 5 mm of rain shape a typical June here. Pack light clothing, swimwear and strong sun protection.
03Crowds & value
Book early for July, the busiest stretch; October is the value window at 9.1/10.

Things to do in Kos

Kos, Greece. Live activities and tours from GetYourGuide, matched to this destination.

When to visit Kos: the short answer

The best time to visit Kos is June, followed by July, August. Those months combine the most usable temperatures with the fewest lost days to rain: June averages 25°C with 5 mm of rain and about 30 days with 6+ hours of sunshine. The months to avoid unless you have a specific reason are December, January. If budget matters more than perfect weather, March is the strongest of the low-rate months at 6.1/10.

Across the year Kos swings from 13°C in February to 28°C in July, a 15-degree spread, while rainfall ranges from 0 mm in July to 136 mm in December. That is the whole planning problem in one sentence: Kos is not equally good year-round, and the difference between the best and worst month here is 5.5 points on a 10-point scale.

Warmest month: July (28°C). Coolest: February (13°C). Driest: July (0 mm). Wettest: December (136 mm).

Kos month by month

January in Kos: expect compromises

Hardest · 4.7/10

January averages 14°C (56°F), the range most people find easiest for walking a city all day without either overheating or losing daylight to weather.

Monthly rainfall reaches 120 mm — wet for this destination — but about 25 days with 6+ hours of sunshine still break through, so keep one indoor fallback in the plan.

It scores 4.7/10 here, 11th of 12 months, against 10/10 in the destination's best month.

Plan for low-season pricing, with crowds are light for this destination.

Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella.

Flexible dates? June scores 5.3 points higher here — enough to change the trip.

February in Kos — workable with trade-offs

Trade-offs · 6/10

February averages 13°C (55°F), the range most people find easiest for walking a city all day without either overheating or losing daylight to weather.

Rainfall runs 47 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 25 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 10.9 hours of daylight.

It scores 6/10 here, 10th of 12 months, against 10/10 in the destination's best month.

Plan for low-season pricing, with crowds are light for this destination.

Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, a packable rain layer.

Flexible dates? June scores 4 points higher here — enough to change the trip.

March in Kos: mixed conditions, plan around the weather

Trade-offs · 6.1/10

Temperatures hover around 14°C (57°F) — the kind of month where neither heat nor cold forces the schedule.

With around 44 mm of rain, any showers tend to pass through rather than settle in; about 30 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 12 hours of daylight fill the rest.

That is 6.1/10 on the same scale — 9th of 12 months, versus 10/10 for the best month here.

Budget for low-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.

Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening.

If your dates are flexible, June is materially better in Kos — 3.9 points higher on the same scale.

April in Kos: strong conditions, 7th of 12

Good · 7.2/10

April averages 17°C (62°F), the range most people find easiest for walking a city all day without either overheating or losing daylight to weather.

Expect 28 mm of rain — occasional showers rather than washed-out days — alongside about 29 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 13.2 daylight hours.

It scores 7.2/10 here, 7th of 12 months, against 10/10 in the destination's best month.

Figure on mid-season pricing, with crowds are moderate.

Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening.

Flexible dates? June scores 2.8 points higher here — enough to change the trip.

May in Kos — one of the year's strongest windows (6th)

Best window · 8.8/10

With 20°C (69°F) on average, May delivers classic beach weather: plenty of time in the water, with beach and boat plans rarely disrupted by cold.

With around 16 mm of rain, any showers tend to pass through rather than settle in; about 31 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 14.1 hours of daylight fill the rest.

On our climate-comfort scale this is one of the strongest months of the year for Kos at 8.8/10 (6th of 12), just behind June at 10/10.

Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.

Pack light clothing, swimwear and real sun protection.

June in Kos tops the year's climate scores

Best window · 10/10

June averages 25°C (77°F) — warm enough for beach and boat plans, still short of the heat that pushes sightseeing into early morning.

Rain is a non-issue at 5 mm for the month, with about 30 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 14.6 hours of daylight to work with.

On our climate-comfort scale this is the top-ranked month of the year for Kos at 10/10 — the reference point every other month on this page is measured against.

Figure on peak pricing, with crowds are moderate. You are paying the year's highest rates for the year's best conditions — book early or shift a few weeks either side.

Pack light clothing, swimwear and real sun protection.

July is one of the strongest months in Kos (2nd)

Best window · 10/10

July averages 28°C (82°F), so the practical pattern is early mornings, a long midday break, and evenings back outside.

Rain is a non-issue at 0 mm for the month, with about 31 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 14.4 hours of daylight to work with.

A 10/10 puts this among the year's best months in Kos (2nd of 12); only June scores higher, at 10/10.

Plan for peak pricing, with this is one of the busiest months here. You are paying the year's highest rates for the year's best conditions — book early or shift a few weeks either side.

Pack the lightest breathable clothing you own, a hat, and more water than feels necessary.

August is one of the strongest months in Kos (3rd)

Best window · 10/10

Days in August average 28°C (82°F) — front-load outdoor plans before the heat builds and treat the middle of the day as indoor time.

At just 4 mm for the month, rain will not shape your plans; you get about 31 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 13.5 hours of daylight.

On our climate-comfort scale this is one of the strongest months of the year for Kos at 10/10 (3rd of 12), just behind June at 10/10.

Expect peak pricing, and this is one of the busiest months here. You are paying the year's highest rates for the year's best conditions — book early or shift a few weeks either side.

Pack the lightest breathable clothing you own, a hat, and more water than feels necessary.

September is one of the strongest months in Kos (4th)

Best window · 10/10

With 25°C (77°F) on average, September delivers classic beach weather: plenty of time in the water, with beach and boat plans rarely disrupted by cold.

At just 6 mm for the month, rain will not shape your plans; you get about 30 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 12.4 hours of daylight.

On our climate-comfort scale this is one of the strongest months of the year for Kos at 10/10 (4th of 12), just behind June at 10/10.

Budget for peak pricing, and crowds are moderate.

Pack light clothing, swimwear and real sun protection.

October is one of the strongest months in Kos (5th)

Best window · 9.1/10

October averages 21°C (70°F) — warm enough for beach and boat plans, still short of the heat that pushes sightseeing into early morning.

Expect 27 mm of rain — occasional showers rather than washed-out days — alongside about 30 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 11.2 daylight hours.

A 9.1/10 puts this among the year's best months in Kos (5th of 12); only June scores higher, at 10/10.

Figure on mid-season pricing, with crowds are moderate.

Pack light clothing, swimwear and real sun protection.

November in Kos — workable with trade-offs

Trade-offs · 6.5/10

November averages 19°C (65°F), the range most people find easiest for walking a city all day without either overheating or losing daylight to weather.

Rainfall runs 100 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 28 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 10.2 hours of daylight.

It scores 6.5/10 here, 8th of 12 months, against 10/10 in the destination's best month.

Plan for mid-season pricing, with crowds are moderate.

Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, a packable rain layer.

Flexible dates? June scores 3.5 points higher here — enough to change the trip.

December in Kos — the hardest end of the year

Hardest · 4.5/10

Temperatures hover around 15°C (60°F) — the kind of month where neither heat nor cold forces the schedule.

136 mm of rain makes this a wet month here, though with about 27 days with 6+ hours of sunshine there is still bright weather between the fronts.

That is 4.5/10 on the same scale — 12th of 12 months, versus 10/10 for the best month here.

Budget for low-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.

Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella.

If your dates are flexible, June is materially better in Kos — 5.5 points higher on the same scale.

FAQ

Frequently asked

When is the best time to visit Kos, Greece?
In Ideal Weather mode, the best months to visit Kos are June, July, August, September, October. June is the single peak month with an Ideal Weather score of 10.0/10 based on temperature, rainfall, humidity, daylight and days with 6+ hours of sunshine.
What is the weather like in Kos year-round?
Kos has a climate profile suited to beach and coastal travel. Average monthly temperatures range from 13°C in February to 28°C in July, with Ideal Weather scores between 4.5 and 10.0 out of 10.
Which months should I avoid in Kos?
The lowest Ideal Weather-scoring months in Kos are December (4.5/10), January (4.7/10), February (6.0/10). These months typically combine less comfortable temperatures, higher rainfall or fewer days with 6+ hours of sunshine.
When is the rainy season in Kos?
December is the wettest month in Kos, averaging about 136 mm of rainfall. July is the driest, at roughly 0 mm.
Which is the sunniest month in Kos?
May sees the most sun in Kos, with about 31 days with 6+ hours of sunshine on average - ideal for outdoor plans.
Is Kos a good destination for beach and coastal travel?
Kos is well suited to beach and coastal travel. Its highest Ideal Weather window (June, July, August, September, October) aligns with the conditions travelers usually look for in this style of trip.
How is the bestime.to score for Kos calculated?
Each month receives an Ideal Weather score from 0-10 using ERA5 climate normals for Kos: temperature comfort, precipitation, humidity, daylight hours, and days with 6+ hours of sunshine - weighted for beach and coastal travel.

Climate data: Open-Meteo ERA5 historical archive, the five most recent complete years (2021–2025). Scores are monthly averages for that window, not forecasts, and short-window precipitation can differ from longer-term normals. “Sunny days” count days with at least 6 hours of measured sunshine — they are not dry days.

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