Heraklion vs Santorini: which is sunnier?
🇬🇷 Greece vs 🇬🇷 Greece · 121 km apart · long-term climate normals (NASA POWER, 2001–2020)
Santorini is the sunnier overall: about 3,012 hours of sunshine a year to Heraklion's 2,929. Heraklion has the higher Sunshine Score in 5 of 12 months; the other 7 are within 2 points.
Scores are the 0–100 Sunshine Score — sunshine, daytime warmth and dryness in one number, per month.
At a glance
| Heraklion | Santorini | |
|---|---|---|
| Sunshine hours / year | 2,929 | 3,012 |
| Sunniest month | July (96/100) | June (96/100) |
| Nov–Feb average score | 60/100 | 55/100 |
| Jun–Aug average score | 96/100 | 96/100 |
| Rain / year | 463 mm | 488 mm |
| Warmest sea | 28°C / 82°F | 26°C / 79°F |
| Peak midday UV | 9 (very high) | 10 (very high) |
Heraklion vs Santorini month by month
| Month | Sunshine Score | Day high °C | Rain mm | Sea °C | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heraklion | Santorini | Heraklion | Santorini | Heraklion | Santorini | Heraklion | Santorini | |
| January | 47 | 40 | 15° | 14° | 88 | 96 | 17° | 18° |
| February | 48 | 48 | 15° | 15° | 75 | 81 | 17° | 17° |
| March | 66 | 59 | 17° | 16° | 42 | 44 | 17° | 17° |
| April | 84 | 69 | 19° | 17° | 23 | 26 | 18° | 18° |
| May | 94 | 93 | 23° | 21° | 15 | 19 | 20° | 19° |
| June | 95 | 96 | 26° | 25° | 5 | 5 | 24° | 23° |
| July | 96 | 96 | 28° | 27° | 2 | 2 | 27° | 25° |
| August | 96 | 96 | 29° | 27° | 4 | 2 | 28° | 26° |
| September | 93 | 94 | 27° | 25° | 18 | 18 | 26° | 25° |
| October | 88 | 89 | 23° | 22° | 46 | 44 | 24° | 23° |
| November | 86 | 78 | 20° | 19° | 59 | 64 | 21° | 21° |
| December | 60 | 54 | 17° | 16° | 86 | 87 | 19° | 19° |
The sunnier month by month: Jan Heraklion · Feb even · Mar Heraklion · Apr Heraklion · May even · Jun even · Jul even · Aug even · Sep even · Oct even · Nov Heraklion · Dec Heraklion.
When to pick which
- November–February: Heraklion (average score 60/100 vs 55). Daytime highs are similar (17°C vs 16°C). See the winter sun ranking.
- March–May: Heraklion (average score 81/100 vs 74). Heraklion is the warmer, around 20°C daytime highs vs 18°C.
- June–August: too close to call — Heraklion averages 96/100, Santorini 96/100. Heraklion is the warmer, around 28°C daytime highs vs 26°C.
- September–October: too close to call — Heraklion averages 91/100, Santorini 92/100. Daytime highs are similar (25°C vs 24°C).
Sea temperature
Heraklion's sea gets warmer: 28°C / 82°F at its peak vs 26°C. Swimmable water (21°C+): Heraklion about 6 months a year, Santorini about 6 months a year. Month-by-month sea temperatures are in the table above.
Full month-by-month guides: Heraklion weather by month · Santorini weather by month · Best time to visit Greece.
More comparisons: Heraklion vs Palma de Mallorca · Heraklion vs Chaniá · Heraklion vs Paphos · Santorini vs Chaniá · Santorini vs Kos · Santorini vs Mykonos · all head-to-heads