Rome vs Athens: Weather & Climate Compared
The annual temperatures are close. Athens has more sunshine, while Rome records more rainy days, so those differences are more useful than naming one warmer city.
Rome vs Athens weather right now
At this moment, Athens is the warmer of the two by 5°F (3°C).
Where Rome and Athens actually differ
Across the year, Athens is the warmer of the two: its annual average of 64°F (18°C) beats Rome's 62°F (16°C) by roughly 2.7°F (1.5°C).
For the full seasonal context behind this comparison, see the Rome monthly climate guide and Athens monthly climate guide.
The tie-breakers
The tie-breakers: sunshine, daylight and rain
| Month | Rome sun | Athens sun | Rome daylight | Athens daylight | Rome wet-day chance | Athens wet-day chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7.0 h | 7.3 h | 9.4 h | 9.8 h | 32% | 27% |
| February | 8.3 h | 8.5 h | 10.5 h | 10.7 h | 29% | 25% |
| March | 9.3 h | 9.6 h | 11.8 h | 11.8 h | 35% | 24% |
| April | 10.9 h | 11.4 h | 13.3 h | 13.1 h | 31% | 17% |
| May | 11.8 h | 12.2 h | 14.5 h | 14.2 h | 38% | 16% |
| June | 13.3 h | 13.5 h | 15.2 h | 14.8 h | 18% | 18% |
| July | 13.8 h | 13.6 h | 14.9 h | 14.5 h | 13% | 6% |
| August | 12.7 h | 12.9 h | 13.9 h | 13.6 h | 15% | 8% |
| September | 10.9 h | 11.4 h | 12.4 h | 12.4 h | 31% | 11% |
| October | 8.8 h | 9.6 h | 11.0 h | 11.1 h | 36% | 10% |
| November | 7.0 h | 8.2 h | 9.7 h | 10.1 h | 43% | 25% |
| December | 6.9 h | 7.3 h | 9.1 h | 9.5 h | 30% | 27% |
Rome vs Athens month by month
| Month | Rome high / low | Athens high / low | Rome rain days | Athens rain days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 54° / 39° | 54° / 42° | 10 | 8 |
| February | 58° / 41° | 57° / 44° | 8 | 7 |
| March | 61° / 44° | 60° / 46° | 11 | 7 |
| April | 67° / 48° | 69° / 52° | 9 | 5 |
| May | 74° / 56° | 77° / 61° | 12 | 5 |
| June | 84° / 64° | 86° / 69° | 5 | 6 |
| July | 92° / 70° | 92° / 74° | 4 | 2 |
| August | 90° / 70° | 91° / 73° | 5 | 2 |
| September | 81° / 63° | 83° / 67° | 9 | 3 |
| October | 72° / 56° | 74° / 59° | 11 | 3 |
| November | 63° / 49° | 65° / 52° | 13 | 7 |
| December | 56° / 42° | 57° / 46° | 9 | 8 |
When the small temperature gap changes
The lead changes hands with the seasons: Rome is the warmer city for 3 months of the year (January through March broadly), while Athens takes over for the remaining 9. The starkest contrast comes in May, when Athens runs about 3°F (2°C) warmer; January is the great equalizer.
Best months for sightseeing
Counting months with average highs between 64°F and 82°F (18–28°C) and fewer than 12 wet days:
- Rome: April, May, September, October (4 months)
- Athens: April, May, October, November (4 months)
Both cities are at their most comfortable in April, May, October, the easiest window for a trip that takes in both.
Seasons compared
| Months | Rome high / low | Athens high / low | Rome rain days | Athens rain days | Rome sun | Athens sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December - February | 56° / 41° | 56° / 44° | 28 | 24 | 7.4 h | 7.7 h |
| March - May | 67° / 49° | 69° / 53° | 32 | 17 | 10.7 h | 11.1 h |
| June - August | 89° / 68° | 90° / 72° | 14 | 10 | 13.3 h | 13.3 h |
| September - November | 72° / 56° | 74° / 60° | 33 | 14 | 8.9 h | 9.7 h |
Dataset extremes, distance and time difference
- Rome 2015–2024 extremes: highest daily value 104° in July, lowest 14° in February. These are reanalysis values, not all-time station records.
- Athens 2015–2024 extremes: highest daily value 111° in June, lowest 26° in January. These are reanalysis values, not all-time station records.
- Distance: Rome and Athens are about 652 miles (1,049 km) apart as the crow flies.
- Time difference: Athens is 1 hour ahead of Rome right now.