Izmir vs Samos: which is sunnier?
🇹🇷 Türkiye vs 🇬🇷 Greece · 70 km apart · long-term climate normals (NASA POWER, 2001–2020)
Samos is the sunnier overall: about 3,081 hours of sunshine a year to Izmir's 2,998. Samos has the higher Sunshine Score in 6 of 12 months, Izmir in 1 (5 within 2 points).
Scores are the 0–100 Sunshine Score — sunshine, daytime warmth and dryness in one number, per month.
At a glance
| Izmir | Samos | |
|---|---|---|
| Sunshine hours / year | 2,998 | 3,081 |
| Sunniest month | June (94/100) | July (97/100) |
| Nov–Feb average score | 39/100 | 48/100 |
| Jun–Aug average score | 86/100 | 97/100 |
| Rain / year | 649 mm | 648 mm |
| Warmest sea | 27°C / 81°F | 26°C / 79°F |
| Peak midday UV | 9 (very high) | 10 (very high) |
Izmir vs Samos month by month
| Month | Sunshine Score | Day high °C | Rain mm | Sea °C | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Izmir | Samos | Izmir | Samos | Izmir | Samos | Izmir | Samos | |
| January | 24 | 36 | 12° | 14° | 130 | 136 | 15° | 19° |
| February | 33 | 40 | 13° | 14° | 99 | 99 | 13° | 17° |
| March | 57 | 58 | 16° | 16° | 61 | 60 | 15° | 17° |
| April | 88 | 75 | 20° | 18° | 47 | 41 | 17° | 18° |
| May | 91 | 93 | 25° | 22° | 29 | 23 | 20° | 20° |
| June | 94 | 96 | 30° | 27° | 15 | 7 | 24° | 23° |
| July | 87 | 97 | 33° | 29° | 3 | 2 | 26° | 24° |
| August | 77 | 97 | 34° | 30° | 3 | 1 | 27° | 26° |
| September | 93 | 94 | 29° | 27° | 19 | 18 | 25° | 25° |
| October | 88 | 89 | 23° | 23° | 50 | 44 | 23° | 23° |
| November | 68 | 74 | 18° | 19° | 82 | 92 | 19° | 21° |
| December | 32 | 43 | 13° | 15° | 111 | 125 | 17° | 19° |
The sunnier month by month: Jan Samos · Feb Samos · Mar even · Apr Izmir · May even · Jun even · Jul Samos · Aug Samos · Sep even · Oct even · Nov Samos · Dec Samos.
When to pick which
- November–February: Samos (average score 48/100 vs 39). Samos is the warmer, around 16°C daytime highs vs 14°C. See the winter sun ranking.
- March–May: Izmir (average score 79/100 vs 75). Daytime highs are similar (20°C vs 19°C).
- June–August: Samos (average score 97/100 vs 86). Izmir is the warmer, around 32°C daytime highs vs 29°C.
- September–October: too close to call — Izmir averages 91/100, Samos 92/100. Daytime highs are similar (26°C vs 25°C).
Sea temperature
Izmir's sea gets warmer: 27°C / 81°F at its peak vs 26°C. Swimmable water (21°C+): Izmir about 5 months a year, Samos about 6 months a year. Month-by-month sea temperatures are in the table above.
Full month-by-month guides: Izmir weather by month · Samos weather by month · Best time to visit Türkiye · Best time to visit Greece.
More comparisons: Izmir vs Bodrum · Izmir vs Mytilene · Samos vs Bodrum · Samos vs Mytilene · Samos vs Kos · all head-to-heads