Karpathos, like many other Greek islands, is truly a seasonal island. The best climate to visit is between May 1 to about mid-October. Of course, you can also go out of season. Keep in mind that it is really a lot quieter. Many restaurants are closed. Also, in this period almost no planes fly and you will have to fly via Athens or Rhodes. But what is the weather like on Karpathos? Well that depends mainly on your personal preferences. I tell you what makes each month special.

May is when it all starts!

May is the start of the season, when Karpathos really opens again. All the restaurants are open again and the whole island is moving again. In this month the island is also the greenest, much greener than in July or August for example. However, you should expect the occasional rain shower and the water has not really warmed up yet. It is between 20 and 30 degrees on the island so you can already spend your days at the beach!

Month of June water gets warmer

Surely the month of June is the calm before the storm 😉 The month falls nicely in between two vacations and is therefore quiet. The weather is a lot better than in May and the water has warmed up a bit. June, together with September, is for me the best time to travel to Karpathos.

July is perfect for windsurfing!

The most expensive month for Karpathos is July. Not on the island itself mind you, but the flights to it. July is the first week of the summer vacations, so that is probably the reason. July is also a great month in terms of temperature and also for windsurfing on Karpathos this month – together with August – is very suitable because the wind is often a lot stronger in Afiartis. In addition, July is busier than May and June, but pleasantly busy.

August is the busiest

This month is the busiest period of all. As far as you can call it busy on Karpathos. Of course it is no Spain or Turkey, but still for many people who know Karpathos this month is too busy. Apart from all the tourists, many American Greeks come to Karpathos in August to visit their relatives and friends. Of course, the temperature is wonderful in August as is the sea water.

Slowing down September

My personal preference is September. The summer vacations are over and so it is a lot quieter on Karpathos. However, the temperature is still very nice and the seawater has warmed up nicely in the past months. During the day the temperature is around 25 to 30 degrees, but at night it cools down a bit more, so make sure you bring a sweater in your suitcase.

October, the end of the season

The month of October is similar to September in terms of calmness and temperature. You do have a chance of the first rain in October, but this is usually later in the month. Between the 2nd and 3rd week of October, many direct flights go for the last time and the island is preparing to “close. This also means that many restaurants will close during October. The last ingredients are made up and so not all dishes on the menu may be available anymore.