When is the best time for IVF in Greece? Season, public holidays and real constraints

‘When is the best time of year to come?’ This question comes up often, and the honest answer is twofold. From a medical perspective, there is no ‘best time’ for IVF in Greece: the season does not appear to affect the chances of success. From a practical point of view, however, some weeks are easier than others.

Here’s what the studies say, what really determines your dates, and the calendar of Greek public holidays and major events in Thessaloniki for the coming months.

Does the season affect the chances of success?

This question has been studied on several occasions. A meta-analysis published in 2025 brought together 19 studies and 159,696 fresh embryo transfer cycles: it found no significant link between the season and clinical pregnancy, nor between the season and live birth. All these studies are retrospective, and the authors note some variations in certain climates, which remain to be confirmed.

Their practical conclusion is also mine: choose your dates based on your medical situation and your availability, not on the season. What primarily affects your chances is the age at which the eggs were retrieved and the quality of the embryos, not the month of the calendar.

The real constraint: your cycle and the protocol

What determines your dates is your cycle. Stimulation generally begins at the start of a cycle, and the date of the egg retrieval is only known a few days in advance, as it depends on the ovaries’ response. For a frozen embryo transfer in a hormone replacement cycle, on the other hand, the date can be set several weeks in advance. The stages are set out in the IVF timetable in Greece.

The length of your stay depends on the treatment: two to four days for a transfer using donor eggs, two to three days for a frozen embryo transfer, eight to twelve days for IVF using your own eggs, or two short stays. Full details can be found in how many days to stay in Greece. The shorter the stay, the easier it is to schedule it outside peak periods.

Summer: heat, the sea and medication

July is the hottest month in Thessaloniki, with an average maximum temperature of 32 °C at the Aristotle University weather station, and August is the driest month. This doesn’t affect the treatment itself, but it does have a significant impact on organisation: early-morning appointments, air-conditioned accommodation, and keeping medication safe from the heat. Follitropin alfa in pen form (Gonal-f), for example, must not be kept at temperatures exceeding 25 °C when out of the fridge.

Swimming, sun and heat are discussed in the sea, swimming pools and sun during IVF, and the storage of medicines in IVF medicines in Greece. 15 August, the Feast of the Dormition, is a public holiday throughout the country: if your treatment falls in July or August, ask the clinic about the team’s holiday arrangements right from the start.

Winter and the transitional seasons

Winter is cool: January is the coldest month, with an average minimum temperature of 2.5 °C, and December is the wettest month. This is not incompatible with treatment; make sure you bring something warm to wear for morning appointments. Spring and autumn avoid the summer heat, but there are two holiday periods to bear in mind: Orthodox Easter and the end of October.

Greek public holidays to be aware of

Greek law stipulates nine mandatory public holidays for all businesses that are closed on Sundays; local holidays, such as the one on 26 October in Thessaloniki, are determined by the regional authorities. A public holiday does not necessarily mean that your clinic will be closed, but staff numbers may be reduced. Fixed-date public holidays recur every year; for movable public holidays, here are the dates for 2027.

Orthodox Easter changes date every year and often differs from that of the Western Churches: always check the calendar for the year in question. In 2021, when 1 May already fell on Holy Saturday, this public holiday was moved to Tuesday 4 May by ministerial decision: check what will be decided for 2027.

Major events in Thessaloniki

Two major events take place every autumn. In 2026, the 90th Thessaloniki International Fair took place from 5 to 13 September, and the 67th edition of the International Film Festival is scheduled for 5 to 15 November. Check the dates for the year of your stay: if it coincides with one of these events, book your accommodation earlier than usual, close to the IVF clinic rather than near the event venues. Guidelines for the cost of your stay can be found in the budget for a stay in Thessaloniki.

Choosing the best time for IVF in Greece: my advice

Start by considering your cycle and the treatment protocol, then check the calendar. If you have a choice, avoid Orthodox Easter week, mid-August and late October, and let the clinic know well in advance if your treatment is scheduled for the height of summer. At other times, the best time is simply the first opportunity when everything is ready: up-to-date tests, the clinic available, and time off work arranged.

As for the city itself, see why Thessaloniki. If you’d like us to coordinate your dates with those of the clinic, do get in touch.

Frequently asked questions

Source: https://fertilitegrece.com/en/blog/best-time-ivf-greece/ — Triada Baloukoudis, IVF patient coordination in Greece. General information, not medical or legal advice. Printed on

Triada Baloukoudis
Independent IVF patient coordinator in Thessaloniki, with 24 years of experience supporting patients travelling from abroad. More · Contact · Facebook