Best time to visit Zakynthos
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.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
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 Zakynthos
6 top-rated tours via Viator. Booking links earn this site a commission at no cost to you. Map locations are approximate (centred on Zakynthos).
- 1
Zante Private Boat: Marathonisi, Caves, Myzithres, Agalas (max5) - 2
Zante Private Boat: Marathonisi, Caves, Myzithres, Pisines (max7) - 3
Zakynthos : One day small group tour to Navagio beach Blue Caves & top view - 4
Zakynthos Shipwreck Beach and Blue Caves Boat Tour - 5
Zakynthos Shipwreck Beach with Blue Caves Land and Sea Tour - 6
Zakynthos Private Boat: Marathonisi, Keri Caves, Myzithres (max5)
Last refreshed 2026-06-06.
Similar climatesAltavilla Milicia94% · Mondello93% · Chania93%
Other destinations with the most-alike year-round climate to Zakynthos (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 Zakynthos'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 | 10–14 | 12 | 11 | 148 | 13.5 | 70% | 17 | 188 | 2 | Quiet | 7 |
| Feb | 10–15 | 13 | 7 | 91 | 13.0 | 68% | 16 | 193 | 3 | Quiet | 8 |
| Mar | 10–16 | 14 | 11 | 123 | 11.2 | 65% | 16 | 229 | 4 | Quiet | 7 |
| Apr | 12–20 | 19 | 6 | 78 | 13.0 | 59% | 16 | 252 | 6 | Quiet | 9 |
| May | 16–25 | 25 | 5 | 60 | 12.0 | 51% | 14 | 279 | 7 | Moderate | 10 |
| Jun | 21–31 | 31 | 3 | 28 | 9.3 | 44% | 14 | 305 | 9 | Busy | 7 |
| Jul | 24–35 | 36 | 0 | 10 | — | 38% | 15 | 321 | 9 | Busy | 4 |
| Aug | 24–34 | 36 | 3 | 21 | 7.0 | 43% | 14 | 301 | 8 | Peak | 4 |
| Sep | 21–28 | 30 | 7 | 66 | 9.4 | 54% | 14 | 248 | 6 | Moderate | 8 |
| Oct | 18–24 | 25 | 6 | 79 | 13.2 | 62% | 14 | 233 | 4 | Quiet | 9 |
| Nov | 15–20 | 19 | 12 | 147 | 12.3 | 69% | 16 | 174 | 2 | Quiet | 7 |
| Dec | 12–16 | 15 | 14 | 189 | 13.5 | 75% | 17 | 173 | 2 | Quiet | 6 |
UV Index in Zakynthos by Month
UV index in Zakynthos peaks at 9 (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
May
10/1016–25°C · 5 rain days (60h) · 279 sun hours · 51% humidity · Moderate crowd · UV 7 (high) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 8 (very high)
April
9/1012–20°C (feels 19°C) · 6 rain days (78h) · 252 sun hours · 59% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 6 (high)
October
9/1018–24°C · 6 rain days (79h) · 233 sun hours · 62% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 4 (moderate)
Every month
Show the other 9 months in detail
January
7/1010–14°C (feels 12°C) · 11 rain days (148h) · 188 sun hours · 70% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 2 (low)
February
8/1010–15°C (feels 13°C) · 7 rain days (91h) · 193 sun hours · 68% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 3 (low) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 4 (moderate)
March
7/1010–16°C (feels 14°C) · 11 rain days (123h) · 229 sun hours · 65% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 4 (moderate)
June
7/1021–31°C · 3 rain days (28h) · 305 sun hours · 44% humidity · Busy crowd · UV 9 (very high)
July
4/1024–35°C (feels 36°C) · 0 rain days (10h) · 321 sun hours · 38% humidity · Busy crowd · UV 9 (very high)
August
4/1024–34°C (feels 36°C) · 3 rain days (21h) · 301 sun hours · 43% humidity · Peak crowd · UV 8 (very high)
September
8/1021–28°C (feels 30°C) · 7 rain days (66h) · 248 sun hours · 54% humidity · Moderate crowd · UV 6 (high)
November
7/1015–20°C · 12 rain days (147h) · 174 sun hours · 69% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 2 (low) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 3 (moderate)
December
6/1012–16°C (feels 15°C) · 14 rain days (189h) · 173 sun hours · 75% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 2 (low)
Frequently asked questions about visiting Zakynthos
When is the best time to visit Zakynthos?
May is the highest-scoring month (10/10 on the Holiday Climate Index). Typical conditions: 16–25°C (5 rainy days). The top three months by score are May, April, October.
What is the worst time to visit Zakynthos?
July is the lowest-scoring month (4/10, capped by extreme heat). Typical conditions: 24–35°C (0 rainy days).
Is Zakynthos too hot in summer?
3 months (June, July, August) trip the heat deal-breaker in our scoring: apparent temperature crosses the comfort cap, so even with clear skies and low rain the score is held down. Plan around it if heat tolerance is low.
When are crowds lowest in Zakynthos?
Search-interest seasonality (Google Trends 2021-2025) is lowest in October 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 Zakynthos have good weather but fewer tourists?
May (climate 10/10, crowd index 47) and April (climate 9/10, crowd index 26) — shoulder months with above-average climate and below-median search-interest. Often the best value-for-weather trade.
What is the UV index in Zakynthos by month?
UV peaks at 9 (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 9, Aug 8, Sep 6, Oct 4, Nov 2, 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 Zakynthos in July?
July is the peak UV month in Zakynthos, with a daily-peak UV index of 9 (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 Zakynthos 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 Zakynthos bad for travelers?
PM2.5 (fine-particle pollution) exceeds the WHO sensitive-group guideline (15 µg/m³) in 1 month: July. The worst month is June with a typical-day mean of 10 µg/m³ (moderate); on the worst 10% of days PM2.5 reaches 14 µg/m³ (moderate) 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.