Kos vs Santorini: which is sunnier?
🇬🇷 Greece vs 🇬🇷 Greece · 150 km apart · long-term climate normals (NASA POWER, 2001–2020)
Kos is the sunnier overall: about 3,218 hours of sunshine a year to Santorini's 3,012. Santorini 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
| Kos | Santorini | |
|---|---|---|
| Sunshine hours / year | 3,218 | 3,012 |
| Sunniest month | July (98/100) | June (96/100) |
| Nov–Feb average score | 47/100 | 55/100 |
| Jun–Aug average score | 98/100 | 96/100 |
| Rain / year | 632 mm | 488 mm |
| Warmest sea | 26°C / 79°F | 26°C / 79°F |
| Peak midday UV | 10 (very high) | 10 (very high) |
Kos vs Santorini month by month
| Month | Sunshine Score | Day high °C | Rain mm | Sea °C | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kos | Santorini | Kos | Santorini | Kos | Santorini | Kos | Santorini | |
| January | 37 | 40 | 14° | 14° | 134 | 96 | 19° | 18° |
| February | 40 | 48 | 14° | 15° | 99 | 81 | 18° | 17° |
| March | 51 | 59 | 15° | 16° | 58 | 44 | 18° | 17° |
| April | 69 | 69 | 17° | 17° | 37 | 26 | 18° | 18° |
| May | 94 | 93 | 20° | 21° | 21 | 19 | 20° | 19° |
| June | 97 | 96 | 24° | 25° | 5 | 5 | 23° | 23° |
| July | 98 | 96 | 26° | 27° | 1 | 2 | 25° | 25° |
| August | 98 | 96 | 27° | 27° | 1 | 2 | 26° | 26° |
| September | 95 | 94 | 25° | 25° | 18 | 18 | 26° | 25° |
| October | 90 | 89 | 22° | 22° | 43 | 44 | 25° | 23° |
| November | 68 | 78 | 18° | 19° | 88 | 64 | 23° | 21° |
| December | 44 | 54 | 15° | 16° | 127 | 87 | 21° | 19° |
The sunnier month by month: Jan Santorini · Feb Santorini · Mar Santorini · Apr even · May even · Jun even · Jul even · Aug even · Sep even · Oct even · Nov Santorini · Dec Santorini.
When to pick which
- November–February: Santorini (average score 55/100 vs 47). Daytime highs are similar (15°C vs 16°C). See the winter sun ranking.
- March–May: Santorini (average score 74/100 vs 71). Daytime highs are similar (17°C vs 18°C).
- June–August: too close to call — Kos averages 98/100, Santorini 96/100. Daytime highs are similar (26°C vs 26°C).
- September–October: too close to call — Kos averages 93/100, Santorini 92/100. Daytime highs are similar (24°C vs 24°C).
Sea temperature
Both seas peak at 26°C / 79°F. Swimmable water (21°C+): Kos about 7 months a year, Santorini about 6 months a year. Month-by-month sea temperatures are in the table above.
Full month-by-month guides: Kos weather by month · Santorini weather by month · Best time to visit Greece.
More comparisons: Kos vs Rhodes · Kos vs Bodrum · Kos vs Samos · Santorini vs Heraklion · Santorini vs Chaniá · Santorini vs Mykonos · all head-to-heads