The weather in Athens features distinct seasons that range from hot, dry summers to cold wet winters. In fact, the city has a huge variation in temperatures across the year. Summer days can be oppressive with heatwaves seeing the Athens temperature climb to 40°C. Meanwhile, winter sees the mercury drop to just 10°C with minimal sunlight in December. This means spring, early summer and autumn are generally considered the best times to travel to Athens, with the added bonus of avoiding the summer crowds and inflated peak season rates.