The Peloponnese is a peninsula in southern Greece, as well as one of the 17 regions (administrative divisions) of the country. The Peloponnese Region covers most of the peninsula, but the northwestern part of the peninsula falls under the control of the West Greece region, while a very tiny portion in the east is part of the region of Attica. The Peloponnese is a popular tourist destination, both for its warm Mediterranean climate and lovely beaches, and for its immense historical importance, as the Peloponnese was one of the few places where Western Culture began to develop and flourish. This history is evident in the peninsulaâs architecture, ruins, and culture.
Climate
Most of the Peloponnese enjoys a warm, mild Mediterranean climate. The only exception is the more highly elevated cities, such as Tripoli, whose elevation alters their climate to a transitional Mediterranean/continental climate, making their winters a bit colder than the rest of the region. In general however, most of the region enjoys lovely weather, usually reaching averages of 30C in summer and about 13C in winter. The winter is also the rainiest season in the Peloponnese, with the summers being very dry. The spring and summer are the busiest seasons in terms of tourism, with many visitors coming to enjoy the beaches and seaside activities.
Spring
In April, the Peloponnese experiences 13 hours of sunlight and the sea temperature around most of the peninsula is about 16C. In Kalamata, a port city in the south-western area of the Peloponnese, the average temperature is about 14.5C, with highs and lows of 19C and 10C, respectively. In Patras, on the northern tip of the peninsula, the mean temperature is 15.8C, the high is 20C, and the low is 10.5C. Tripoli, which sits in the middle of the peninsula at an altitude of approximately 650 metres, is a bit cooler, with a mean temperature of 11.8C, highs of 17.4C, and lows of 4.8C. As a whole, the peninsula receives an average amount of 45 to 50 mm in April.
May sees a decline in precipitation and an increase in temperature. Patras sees about three days of rain, Kalamata has four, and the mountains around Tripoli capture a little more moisture, giving that city five to six days of rain in May. The average wind speed is approximately 15 kilometres per hour. The mean temperature in Patras in May is 20.3C, with highs and lows of 24.4C and 14C, respectively.
In Tripoli in June, the mean temperature is 22.2C, with a high of 28.2C and a low of 11.6C. In Kalamata, it is a bit warmer, with a mean temperature of 23.5C, a high of 29.5C, and a low of 17C. By the time of summer solstice, the Peloponnese receives 15 hours of daylight. The average sea temperature rises considerably, to 22C.
Summer
In Patras, the mean temperature for July is 26.4C, with highs of 29.5C, and lows of 19.5C. Tripoliâs more fluctuating climate brings its daily highs to a level thatâs a bit higher than most of the peninsula, largely due to its lack of a sea breeze. Tripoli has a mean temperature of 24.5C, a high of 30.4C, and a low of 14C. The sea temperature inches up to 24C. Often all of July will pass without Patras seeing a rainy day; however, Tripoli usually has one or two.
August brings with it a moderate amount of humidity. The sea temperature increases to 25C, and the average wind speed is around 18.5 kilometres per hour, which makes August the joint windiest month with July. In Kalamata, the mean temperature is 25C, with highs and lows of 31C and 19C, respectively. There are 13 to 14 hours of daily sunlight, decreasing incrementally as August progresses.
The summer drought in Patras routinely comes to an end in September, with one or two days of rain. Kalamata and Tripoli each get two to three rainy days in this month. Tripoliâs temperatures once again drop below their counterpartsâ across the board, with a mean of 19.7C, a high of 26.4C, and a low of 11C. As the autumnal equinox occurs, the Peloponnese receives about 12 hours of sunlight a day.
Autumn
In October, the modest amount of humidity that had lingered throughout the summer disappears to imperceptible levels. The mean temperature for Patras is 19C, with a low of 14C, and a high of 23.5C. The average temperatures in Kalamata are essentially the same for October.
November is often the least windy month in the Peloponnese, with an average wind speed of about 5.5 kilometres per hour. The mean temperature in Tripoli is 9.4C, with lows and highs of 4.4C and 14.8C, respectively. It can rain on as many as eleven days throughout the Peloponnese in November. Kalamata is significantly warmer, with a mean temperature of 16C, and lows and highs of 11C and 20C, respectively.
December is the rainiest month, with about 150 mm of precipitation falling over the Peloponnese, with Kalamata generally having the most rainy days, about fourteen. The mean temperature in Patras is 11.4C, the low is 7.7C, and the high is 15.6. Kalamata is the same, but Tripoli is, again, cooler, with a mean temperature of 6.2C, a low of 2.2C, and a high of 10.7C. By the winter solstice, the Peloponnese sees 10 hours of sunlight a day. The average sea temperature falls to 17C.
Winter
January is the coldest month in the Peloponnese. Patras has a mean temperature of 10C, a low of 6C, and a high of 14C, and Kalamata is essentially the same. Tripoli, on the other hand, is downright cool, with a mean temperature of 5C, with a high of 9.6C and a low of just above freezing, at 0.6C. The level of precipitation decreases a bit, but the number of rainy days is about the same for each city.
February has the coldest average sea temperature, at 15C. The mean temperature for Kalamata is 11.5C, with highs of 15C and lows of 7C, with about twelve days of rain.
March in Patras brings with it a mean temperature of 12.6C, a high of 15C, and a low of 8C. Most of the region receives eight to ten days of rain and about 12 hours of daily sunlight. The sea temperature is about 15.5C.