Thessaloniki has a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and mild, occasionally wet winters. The best times to visit are spring (April–May) and autumn (September–October), when temperatures are comfortable for walking and the city is at its most animated without the summer heat.
Summer (July–August) is hot — 35°C is common — and humid. The seafront promenade stays busy into the small hours; the heat forces the city's social life into the evening. Many locals leave for the beaches of Halkidiki at weekends. Winter is mild by northern European standards (5–10°C) and wet but not cold enough to put anyone off exploring: the museums are quiet and the restaurants and bars are at their most local and lively.
The Thessaloniki International Film Festival in November is one of the major cultural events in the Balkans, bringing film industry people and good cinema into the city for two weeks. The International Trade Fair in September is a large industrial event that fills hotels and raises prices. The city celebrates its patron saint Aghios Dimitrios on 26 October with processions and festivities.