November is when Athens turns quiet and cheap: 19°C days, two free Sundays at the ancient sites and hotel rates falling to January levels by the end of the month. The costs are rain, short days and winter closing times.
What You Should Know
- November is mild but wet: days average about 19°C and nights 12°C, with rain on about 11 days and 71 mm in the month, nearly twice October's total.
- Prices fall fast. The same 45 hotels that priced at €163 on a mid-October Wednesday came in at €101 on Wednesday 11 November and €93 on Monday 30 November, the same as January.
- Winter hours start on 1 November. Visitor guides give 08:00 to 17:00 at the Acropolis, last entry 16:30, and Delphi closes at 15:30. Sunset is 17:28 on 1 November and 17:07 by the 30th.
- Most people don't realize the first and third Sundays from November to March are free at state sites, the Acropolis included. In November 2026 that is Sunday 1 and Sunday 15 November.
Athens in November: Is It Worth It?
⭐ Best-value November window, based on our hotel sample: 23 to 30 November. Midweek nights in the last week priced at €94 to €98, against €108 in the week of 10 November. This is a price finding, not a weather claim.
| Factor | How November affects your trip |
|---|---|
| Weather | Mixed. Mild 19°C days, but about 11 rain days |
| Crowds | Very favourable. Quiet, except on the two free Sundays |
| Prices | Very favourable. About 38% below October, near January by month's end |
| Ancient sites | Favourable. Comfortable, but winter closing times |
| Beaches and boats | Challenging. Sea around 19°C; catamaran season over |
| Day trips | Mixed. Delphi closes at 15:30; Meteora runs in the dark |
| Daylight | Challenging. Sunset 17:28 to 17:07 |
| Families | Favourable. Quiet sites and low prices, with museums for wet days |
| Couples | Favourable. Early sunsets and low hotel prices |
💰 Average November hotel prices (central Athens, 4-star, room only):
10 to 15 November: ~€104 to €120/night · 16 to 22 November: ~€97 to €118/night · 23 to 30 November: ~€94 to €112/night
Live median rates for the 80 most-reviewed four-star hotels within 2 km of Syntagma, two adults, one night, pulled 20 October 2026. Room only: the climate resilience fee for four-star hotels drops to €3 per room per night from 1 November.
Planning Athens for November 2026? The weather figures here are long-term normals; the hotel rates, tour prices and schedules, free Sundays and Marathon date are for November 2026, and the Acropolis winter hours come from visitor guides. November is the month we'd pick for the sites and museums at low prices: the Acropolis without summer queues, a free Sunday at the Agora, and a Sounion sunset for about half the October price.
The trade-off is weather and light: pack for rain, and plan sightseeing around a 17:00 sunset.
Athens Weather in November
| Metric | November |
|---|---|
| Avg High | 18.9°C (66°F) |
| Avg Low | 12.2°C (54°F) |
| Water Temp | About 19°C (66°F) |
| Rain Days | ~11 |
| Rainfall | 71 mm (2.8 in) |
| Sunshine | About 5.1 hours a day (153 hours in the month) |
| Humidity | Higher, around 72% |
| Sunset | 17:28 (1 Nov) to 17:07 (30 Nov) |
Temperatures, rainfall and humidity are the National Observatory of Athens' 1991 to 2020 downtown normals; rain days and sunshine are the Hellenic National Meteorological Service's Elliniko normals (1955 to 2010); sea temperature is the November average from seatemperature.org.
Temperature and Humidity
Days average 18.9°C, five and a half degrees below October, and nights 12.2°C. The November record downtown is 30.5°C, so a warm spell is possible. Humidity rises to about 72%.
Rain Pattern
About 11 rain days and 71 mm, against nine days and 39 mm in October. Expect at least a few wet days in a week's trip, and plan museums for them.
Daylight and Sea
Sunrise moves from 06:50 to 07:21 and sunset from 17:28 to 17:07. Daylight falls from 10 hours 38 minutes to 9 hours 46 minutes. The sea averages about 19°C, ranging from about 21°C to 17°C across the month.
Athens in November: Prices and Crowds Week by Week
1 to 9 November: the Marathon weekend
We have not priced these nights: they were under three weeks away when we pulled rates, and short-notice prices are not a fair guide. The Athens Marathon weekend, 7 and 8 November, is likely to be the busiest of the month.
10 to 15 November: the free Sunday week
Tuesday 10 and Wednesday 11 November priced at €108, Friday 13 at €119 and Saturday 14 at €120. Sunday 15 November, the month's second free Sunday, came in at €104.
16 to 22 November: 17 November and after
Tuesday 17 November priced at €97 and Wednesday 18 at €102; Saturday 21 came in at €118.
23 to 30 November: the cheapest week
Wednesday 25 November priced at €98, Saturday 28 at €112 and Monday 30 at €94.
From the same pull, 45 hotels quoted on every date: €101 on Wednesday 11 November and €94 on Wednesday 25 November, against €163 on Wednesday 13 October 2027, €181 on Wednesday 15 September 2027 and €91 on Wednesday 13 January 2027. Weekends ran about €12 to €20 above midweek all month.
Free Sundays, the Marathon and 17 November
Free entry on 1 and 15 November
Under ministerial decision ΦΕΚ Β' 1968/2024, state archaeological sites, monuments and museums are free on the first and third Sundays from 1 November to 31 March. In November 2026 that is Sunday 1 and Sunday 15 November. Greek press listed the Acropolis among the free sites on the third Sunday of January 2026; the Acropolis Museum is not included. Timed entry still applies. We'd spend a free Sunday on the Ancient Agora, the Roman Agora and Kerameikos, and see the Parthenon on a quiet weekday.
The Athens Marathon on 8 November
The Athens Marathon. The Authentic runs on Sunday 8 November 2026, with shorter races on the Saturday. Runners collect bibs at the expo from Wednesday 4 to Saturday 7 November. If you are not running, expect road closures along the route on race morning and plan the day on foot.
17 November: the Polytechnic anniversary
17 November marks the 1973 Polytechnic uprising, with a march from the Polytechnic through Syntagma to the US Embassy. In 2025 police closed roads around the Polytechnic, Exarchia and the embassy from the Saturday to the morning of the 18th, and five central metro stations, Syntagma and Omonia among them, closed from 14:00 on the 17th. The 2026 arrangements, for Tuesday 17 November, had not been announced when we checked. We'd plan that afternoon away from the centre.
Winter hours
From 1 November visitor guides give 08:00 to 17:00 at the Acropolis, with last entry at 16:30. Delphi closes at 15:30, last admission 15:10, until March. Some Peloponnese tours switch their itinerary from 1 November, starting at Mycenae rather than Epidaurus.
Best Things to Do in Athens in November
| Activity | How November suits it | Best Time of Day | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Temple of Poseidon at sunset | Very favourable | 14:30 departure | €35.50 in November; sunset 17:28 to 17:07 |
| Acropolis guided tour | Very favourable | Morning | Quiet on weekdays; free on 1 and 15 November |
| Museums | Very favourable | Any time | The obvious plan for a wet day |
| Food walking tours | Very favourable | Morning or 13:30 | Monday to Saturday |
| Ancient Corinth | Favourable | Morning pickup | Mild days; our featured private tour skips Tuesdays |
| Delphi day trip | Favourable | 08:15 departure | The site closes at 15:30 |
| Meteora day trip | Mixed | 08:00 departure | Back long after dark; overnight option €168 |
| Beach swimming | Challenging | Midday | Sea around 19°C |
What we would actually book
November rewards a city break built around the sites. We'd book the Acropolis on a weekday morning, a food walk, and Sounion at sunset, which at €35.50 is about half its October price. If you want one long day out, Delphi works as long as you accept the 15:30 closing; Meteora is better as an overnight. For wet-day museums and the free hills, our guide to the best things to do in Athens covers the whole city.
Best Athens Tours to Book in November
Five tours covering how most people spend a November trip, all confirmed active with November 2026 departures.
Getaways Greece: Cape Sounion Small-Group Tour
Five to six hours with hotel pickup, €35.50 in November against €66 in October, rated 4.7 from 3,752 reviews. The sunset tour leaves at 14:30, timed for a sunset between 17:28 and 17:07. The €20 temple ticket is extra.
Check availabilityAthens Walks: Acropolis and Parthenon Guided Walking Tour
Two hours with a licensed guide, €34 for the guide only or €72 with the ticket, rated 4.8 from 6,812 reviews. Book a weekday morning; the free Sundays, 1 and 15 November, are the busiest days.
Check availabilityAthens Walks: Greek Food Walking Tour
Three and a half hours with 12 tastings at six stops, including the fish and meat market, €72, rated 5.0 from 5,791 reviews. Monday to Saturday.
Check availabilityKeytours: Delphi Day Tour with an Arachova Stop
Ten hours from 08:15, rated 4.7 from 1,915 reviews. €56 plus the €20 site ticket, €105 with tickets or €125 with lunch. The site closes at 15:30 in winter.
Check availabilityXenon Travel Greece: Athens Full Day Private Tour
A private car and driver for eight hours, €180 each for two, rated 5.0 from 1,255 reviews. On a wet November day the car between the Acropolis, the stadium and Syntagma is the point. Site tickets extra; the driver cannot guide inside.
Check availabilityFor a four-day November trip, we'd book the Acropolis, a food walk, Sounion at sunset and either Delphi or a free Sunday at the Agora.
What Not to Do in Athens in November
- Plan a beach or boat day. The sea is around 19°C and the catamaran season is over.
- Book Meteora as a day trip if you want to see the scenery on the way home. The 14-hour day finishes long after the 17:00 sunset.
- Arrive at Delphi after lunch. The site closes at 15:30, last admission 15:10.
- Cross the centre on the afternoon of 17 November. In 2025 central metro stations closed from 14:00 for the march.
- Visit the Acropolis on 1 or 15 November if you want it quiet. The free Sundays are the busiest days of the month.
More November-Friendly Activities
- A cooking class. Our Athens cooking class guide compares them; a good plan for a wet afternoon.
- Mycenae and Epidaurus. Our Mycenae tour guide covers the winter itinerary change.
- A wine tasting. Our Athens wine tasting guide compares the tastings in central Athens.
- The Ancient Agora on a free Sunday. Free on 1 and 15 November, and far quieter than the Acropolis.
What to Pack for Athens in November
Layers for 19°C days and 12°C evenings, and something for the rain.
- A waterproof jacket. About 11 rain days in the month.
- A warm layer. For evenings and early starts on day trips.
- Shoes with grip. The marble on the Acropolis is slippery when wet.
- A compact umbrella. For the walk between museums.
Our Take
The finding we'd plan around is how fast prices fall: the same 45 hotels cost €163 on a mid-October Wednesday and €101 on Wednesday 11 November, and by the end of November they match January. Pair that with Sounion at €35.50 and November is the cheapest autumn month for the classic Athens trip.
Tips for Athens in November
- Go late in the month for value. 23 to 30 November priced at €94 to €98 midweek.
- Stay midweek. Weekends ran about €12 to €20 a night above midweek all month.
- Use the free Sundays for the lesser sites. The Agora, the Roman Agora and Kerameikos on 1 and 15 November.
- Start sightseeing early. The Acropolis closes at 17:00 in winter and the sun sets soon after.
- Visiting at a different time of year? Our Athens in October guide covers the month before, milder and still warm enough for a swim, and our Athens in December guide the month after, with Christmas closures and the cheapest nights of early winter.
How We Put This Guide Together
Weather figures are the National Observatory of Athens' 1991 to 2020 downtown normals (18.9°C high, 12.2°C low, 70.8 mm, 72% humidity in November), with rain days (10.9) and sunshine (153 hours) from the Hellenic National Meteorological Service's Elliniko normals for 1955 to 2010. The sea temperature is the November average from seatemperature.org; sunrise and sunset are calculated for central Athens. Hotel prices are live medians, not estimates: the 80 most-reviewed four-star hotels within 2 km of Syntagma, two adults, one night, queried on 20 October 2026, room only. We priced only nights from 10 November, at least three weeks out. Comparisons with other months use only the 45 hotels that returned a rate on every date in the same pull. Free Sundays follow ΦΕΚ Β' 1968/2024; the Marathon date and expo dates come from race and partner listings; the 17 November arrangements described are 2025's, from Greek press reports. Acropolis winter hours come from visitor guides; Delphi winter hours and the Peloponnese itinerary change come from our other Athens guides. Every tour named here was checked against the booking platform's partner API on 20 October 2026, including live availability on November dates. Activity ratings are editorial judgement; we have not visited Athens in November as a team.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Athens good in November?+
Yes, if you come for the sites rather than the sea. Days are mild at about 19°C, crowds are thin and hotels fall to near-January prices by the end of the month. Expect about 11 rain days and a 17:00 sunset.
What is the weather like in Athens in November?+
Mild and changeable. Highs average about 19°C (66°F) and lows about 12°C (54°F), with rain on around 11 days, 71 mm in the month and about five hours of sunshine a day.
Is the Acropolis free in November?+
Yes, on the first and third Sundays, which in November 2026 are Sunday 1 and Sunday 15 November. State sites are free on those Sundays from November to March. The Acropolis Museum is not included, and timed entry still applies.
When is the Athens Marathon in 2026?+
Sunday 8 November 2026, with shorter races on Saturday 7 November. The bib expo runs from Wednesday 4 to Saturday 7 November.
How much are hotels in Athens in November?+
Central four-star hotels in our sample ran a median €94 to €120 a night from 10 November, cheapest midweek in the last week. That is about 38% below October at the same hotels. Rates are room only; the climate fee drops to €3 a night from 1 November.
What are the Acropolis opening hours in November?+
Visitor guides give winter hours of 08:00 to 17:00 from 1 November to 31 March, with last entry at 16:30. Check the official schedule for your date.
Can you swim in Athens in November?+
Only if you like cool water. The sea averages about 19°C in November, falling from about 21°C to 17°C across the month, and the catamaran season is over.
What are the best things to do in Athens in November?+
The Acropolis on a quiet weekday, the museums on wet days, a food walking tour, a Sounion sunset at €35.50 and a free Sunday at the Ancient Agora on 1 or 15 November.
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