Best time to visit Patmos
Re-score for me — drag the dial — every chart recolours live for your heat & sea limits 27°C · sea 29°C
Default 27 °C is the upper edge of the Holiday Climate Index "ideal comfort" band (Scott, Rutty, Amelung & Tang, 2016). Above this, most warm-tourism travellers report measurable discomfort.
Default 29 °C is the Beach Climate Index "bathtub" line (Morgan et al.) — where the sea stops being refreshing and starts feeling like a warm bath.
How is this scored? HCI / Steadman / CCI gate — full methodology and citations below.
Compare with another destination
Add as many as you like — stacked below the main strips above. Each row is just the recent-window score strip and (for beach destinations) sea-temperature strip.
Tours in Patmos
6 top-rated tours via Viator. Booking links earn this site a commission at no cost to you. Map locations are approximate (centred on Patmos).
- 1
Kefalonia Highlights - Bus & Cruise, Assos & Lunch in Fiscardo - 2
Discover the Highlights of Kefalonia Full-Day Tour - 3
Guided Tour Patmos, Grotto of Apocalypses & Saint John Monastery - 4
Guided Shore Excursion Patmos to the most Religious Highlights - 5
Patmos Private Half Day Tour from Cruise Port - 6
Private Sightseeing: The Caves & Fiscardo village
Last refreshed 2026-06-09.
Similar climatesMykonos92% · Santorini92% · Milos92%
Other destinations with the most-alike year-round climate to Patmos (apparent temperature, rain hours, sunshine — matched within the same trip-profile). The ±N chip compares each match's typical score for the current month against Patmos's. Based on the 2020-2024 climatology, not this year's actual weather.
Month-by-month
| Month | Temp °C | Feels °C | Rain days | Rain h | Rain h/day | Humidity | Wind km/h | Sun h | UV | Interest | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 12–14 | 9 | 13 | 164 | 12.6 | 67% | 39 | 180 | 2 | Quiet | 5 |
| Feb | 12–14 | 9 | 7 | 97 | 13.9 | 69% | 39 | 199 | 3 | Quiet | 7 |
| Mar | 12–14 | 9 | 8 | 91 | 11.4 | 68% | 38 | 234 | 4 | Quiet | 7 |
| Apr | 14–16 | 13 | 3 | 38 | 12.7 | 74% | 35 | 252 | 6 | Moderate | 9 |
| May | 17–19 | 17 | 3 | 20 | 6.7 | 77% | 30 | 298 | 7 | Moderate | 9 |
| Jun | 21–23 | 22 | 2 | 13 | 6.5 | 77% | 31 | 312 | 9 | Busy | 9 |
| Jul | 23–25 | 24 | 0 | 0 | — | 73% | 38 | 320 | 10 | Peak | 9 |
| Aug | 23–25 | 26 | 0 | 1 | — | 76% | 33 | 300 | 9 | Peak | 9 |
| Sep | 22–24 | 23 | 1 | 5 | 5.0 | 74% | 33 | 266 | 7 | Moderate | 9 |
| Oct | 19–21 | 19 | 2 | 20 | 10.0 | 73% | 32 | 235 | 5 | Quiet | 9 |
| Nov | 16–18 | 15 | 9 | 89 | 9.9 | 70% | 36 | 197 | 3 | Quiet | 8 |
| Dec | 14–16 | 12 | 14 | 194 | 13.9 | 70% | 36 | 180 | 2 | Quiet | 5 |
UV Index in Patmos by Month
UV index in Patmos peaks at 10 (very high) in July, dropping to 2 (low) in December. June, July, August reach very high or extreme levels — apply SPF 50+, wear a hat and protective clothing, and limit direct sun between 11:00 and 17:00.
Best months in detail
June
9/1021–23°C · 2 rain days (13h) · 312 sun hours · 77% humidity · Busy crowd · UV 9 (very high)
August
9/1023–25°C · 0 rain days (1h) · 300 sun hours · 76% humidity · Peak crowd · UV 9 (very high)
September
9/1022–24°C · 1 rain days (5h) · 266 sun hours · 74% humidity · Moderate crowd · UV 7 (high)
Every month
Show the other 9 months in detail
January
5/1012–14°C (feels 9°C) · 13 rain days (164h) · 180 sun hours · 67% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 2 (low)
February
7/1012–14°C (feels 9°C) · 7 rain days (97h) · 199 sun hours · 69% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 3 (low) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 4 (moderate)
March
7/1012–14°C (feels 9°C) · 8 rain days (91h) · 234 sun hours · 68% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 4 (moderate)
April
9/1014–16°C (feels 13°C) · 3 rain days (38h) · 252 sun hours · 74% humidity · Moderate crowd · UV 6 (high)
May
9/1017–19°C (feels 17°C) · 3 rain days (20h) · 298 sun hours · 77% humidity · Moderate crowd · UV 7 (high) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 8 (very high)
July
9/1023–25°C · 0 rain days (0h) · 320 sun hours · 73% humidity · Peak crowd · UV 10 (very high)
October
9/1019–21°C (feels 19°C) · 2 rain days (20h) · 235 sun hours · 73% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 5 (moderate)
November
8/1016–18°C (feels 15°C) · 9 rain days (89h) · 197 sun hours · 70% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 3 (low) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 3 (moderate)
December
5/1014–16°C (feels 12°C) · 14 rain days (194h) · 180 sun hours · 70% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 2 (low)
The island's UNESCO core shuts at 13:30, every day
Patmos exists as a destination because of two places: the Monastery of St John and the Cave of the Apocalypse, inscribed together by UNESCO in 1999. They share a single visiting timetable, published by the monastery, and it closes at 13:30 every day of the week.
Afternoons open on only three: Tuesday 16:00 to 19:00, Thursday 16:00 to 18:00, and Saturday 16:00 to 19:00. Arrive on a Sunday, Monday, Wednesday or Friday lunchtime and the island's entire reason for being is closed until the next morning. In winter the schedule contracts further, to mornings only.
Patmos is also a Holy Island in law rather than in nickname — Law 1155/1981 formally recognises it as such, aimed at safeguarding its religious character, and the monastery has been here since 1088.
Sources: Holy Monastery of St John the Theologian — visiting hours for the monastery and the Sacred Cave , Greek Ministry of Culture — Chora of Patmos, UNESCO monument record
What are the opening hours of the Monastery of St John on Patmos?
The monastery and the Cave of the Apocalypse share one schedule: 08:00 to 13:30 every day, with afternoons on only three — Tuesday 16:00 to 19:00, Thursday 16:00 to 18:00, and Saturday 16:00 to 19:00. Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday afternoons are closed entirely.
Is Patmos a Holy Island?
Yes, and formally so. Law 1155/1981 recognises Patmos of the Dodecanese as a Holy Island, with the stated aim of safeguarding and elevating its particular religious character. That is an act of Parliament rather than a decree. Chora had separately been designated a traditional settlement in 1978.
What is the Niptiras ceremony?
A re-enactment of the washing of the feet, held on Orthodox Holy Thursday. After the liturgy a procession descends through Chora to the square, where the abbot washes the feet of twelve priests, taking the part of Christ to their apostles. It has been observed for roughly four centuries.
When is the best time to visit Patmos?
May, June or September, when the weather is settled and the ferries run frequently without the August crowd. Orthodox Holy Week is the most remarkable time to be here for the Niptiras, but its date moves with Orthodox Easter — it fell on 9 April in 2026 and falls on 29 April in 2027.
How many days do you need on Patmos?
Two to three. One for Chora, the monastery and the cave — bearing in mind they close at 13:30 — and one for the beaches at Grikos, Kambos or Lambi. A third day suits a boat trip to the smaller islands nearby. Ferry schedules often dictate the length more than the sights do.
What should you wear to the monastery on Patmos?
Modest dress covering shoulders and knees is the widely observed convention at both the monastery and the cave, as at Orthodox sites generally, though we could not find it published as a formal rule. Dress accordingly rather than relying on wraps being available, and remember these are active religious sites.
Is the Cave of the Apocalypse worth visiting?
Yes, and it is inseparable from the monastery in practice — the two share a UNESCO inscription and a single timetable. The cave is where St John is said to have received the Revelation, and it is small, dark and genuinely atmospheric. It sits partway between the port at Skala and Chora above.
Is there a cruise limit on Patmos?
No. Greece's cruise levy places Patmos in the general bucket rather than the higher band applied to Mykonos and Santorini, and there is no visitor cap of the kind Santorini has introduced. Cruise calls do concentrate visitors into the morning window, which matters given the 13:30 closing.
How do you get to Patmos?
By ferry — there is no airport. Connections run from Piraeus, taking roughly seven to eight hours on a conventional ferry and less on faster craft, and from neighbouring Dodecanese islands including Kos and Rhodes, which have airports. That crossing is why most visitors build Patmos into an island-hopping route.
Is Patmos quiet compared to other Greek islands?
Yes, noticeably. Its formal status and the character of its visitors keep it calmer than the party islands, and there is no large resort development. That said, we found no legal restriction on nightlife or music tied to the Holy Island designation — the quiet is a matter of character rather than statute.
Frequently asked questions about visiting Patmos
When is the best time to visit Patmos?
June is the highest-scoring month (9/10 on the Holiday Climate Index). Typical conditions: 21–23°C (2 rainy days). The top three months by score are June, August, September.
What is the worst time to visit Patmos?
December is the lowest-scoring month (5/10). Typical conditions: 14–16°C (14 rainy days).
When are crowds lowest in Patmos?
Search-interest seasonality (Google Trends 2021-2025) is lowest in December and peaks in August. Interest tracks both in-trip visitors and lead-time planners, so treat it as a "destination is on people's minds" signal rather than literal arrivals.
Which months in Patmos have good weather but fewer tourists?
April (climate 9/10, crowd index 49) and September (climate 9/10, crowd index 46) — shoulder months with above-average climate and below-median search-interest. Often the best value-for-weather trade.
What is the UV index in Patmos by month?
UV peaks at 10 (very high) in July and is lowest in December at 2 (low). Monthly peak values: Jan 2, Feb 3, Mar 4, Apr 6, May 7, Jun 9, Jul 10, Aug 9, Sep 7, Oct 5, Nov 3, Dec 2. June, July, August reach very high or extreme levels — apply SPF 50+, wear a hat and protective clothing, and limit direct sun between 11:00 and 17:00.
What is the UV index in Patmos in July?
July is the peak UV month in Patmos, with a daily-peak UV index of 10 (very high). At this level, sunburn can occur in under 20 minutes on unprotected fair skin. Apply SPF 50+, wear protective clothing and a hat, and avoid direct midday sun (11:00–17:00).
How high can UV get in Patmos on the sunniest days?
Most days look like the monthly average, but on the sunniest ~1 in 10 days UV climbs higher than the mean suggests. May is the worst case: typical days average UV 7 (high), but the top 10% of days reach UV 8 (very high) — and even higher. Months where the sunniest days routinely exceed the typical reading: February, May, November. Plan sun protection for the worst case, not the average.
Is air quality in Patmos bad for travelers?
PM2.5 (fine-particle pollution) exceeds the WHO sensitive-group guideline (15 µg/m³) in 5 months: March, April, July, August, September. The worst month is August with a typical-day mean of 12 µg/m³ (moderate); on the worst 10% of days PM2.5 reaches 16 µg/m³ (unhealthy for sensitive) and higher. People with asthma, heart conditions, or sensitive children may want to avoid these months or limit outdoor activity. Source: CAMS via Open-Meteo.