On the beach
Right now
Live conditions from Open-Meteo, refreshed hourly.
7-day outlook
7-day marine forecast from Open-Meteo.
Sea temperature
Next 7 days, °C
Wave height
Next 7 days, metres
View as table
| Day | Sea temp (°C) | Wave height (m) |
|---|---|---|
| Wed 2 | 28.4 | 0.1 |
| Thu 3 | 27.9 | 0.1 |
| Fri 4 | 27.7 | 0.1 |
| Sat 5 | 27.7 | 0.1 |
| Sun 6 | 27.9 | 0.1 |
| Mon 7 | 27.7 | 0.3 |
| Tue 8 | 27.8 | 0.4 |
Water quality history
Official EEA classification, one rating per bathing season, 2015–2025 — real data reported by national authorities.
- 2015: Excellent2015
- 2016: Excellent2016
- 2017: Excellent2017
- 2018: Excellent2018
- 2019: Excellent2019
- 2020: Excellent2020
- 2021: Excellent2021
- 2022: Excellent2022
- 2023: Excellent2023
- 2024: Excellent2024
- 2025: Excellent2025
Excellent in the most recent season, and 11 of 11 classified years rated Excellent or Good.
- Excellent
- Good
- Sufficient
- Poor
- Not classified
View as table
| Year | Classification |
|---|---|
| 2015 | Excellent |
| 2016 | Excellent |
| 2017 | Excellent |
| 2018 | Excellent |
| 2019 | Excellent |
| 2020 | Excellent |
| 2021 | Excellent |
| 2022 | Excellent |
| 2023 | Excellent |
| 2024 | Excellent |
| 2025 | Excellent |
Typical sea temperature by month
Modeled estimatePlausible seasonal climatology derived from latitude, for illustration — not a measured average.
Monthly sea temperature
Typical range across the year, °C
View as table
| Month | Typical sea temp (°C) |
|---|---|
| Jan | 16 |
| Feb | 15 |
| Mar | 16 |
| Apr | 18 |
| May | 21 |
| Jun | 24 |
| Jul | 26 |
| Aug | 27 |
| Sep | 26 |
| Oct | 24 |
| Nov | 21 |
| Dec | 18 |
Location & nearby beaches
Nearby beaches
- Litochoro3.2 kmCentre Macedonia
- Olympiaki Akti6.8 kmCentre Macedonia
- Akti Kallitheas10 kmCentre Macedonia
- Plaka Litochorou10 kmCentre Macedonia
Distances calculated as straight-line (haversine) from official coordinates.
Getting there & around
- No parking is mapped within 1.5 km of the beach — expect a walk, or arrive early once the season gets busy.
Food, stays & town
- Nearest town: Καρίτσα, about ~7.0 km away.
- 2 places to eat within 1 km Closest is Ψαροταβέρνα "Ελληνικόν", about ~640 m away.
- 7 places to stay mapped nearby Closest is Camping Stolos, about ~290 m away.
What kind of beach is this?
This beach belongs to a small coastal village. It's usually calmer than a resort or town beach, though a popular village spot can still fill up on the best summer days.
Estimated from OpenStreetMap surroundings data (ODbL).
Is the water clean at Variko?
Variko sits on a stretch of coast classed as a coastal bathing site, carrying an official EU Bathing Water rating of Excellent for the 2025 season. Under the EU Bathing Water Directive, national authorities test for intestinal enterococci and E. coli through the season and report the results the following spring — the 2025 rating was published in spring 2026, and 2026's won't follow until spring 2027. In addition to that yearly rating, some national authorities — for Croatia, the national environmental authority — publish individual water sample results during the season itself, ahead of the annual report. It sits in Centre Macedonia.
That rating has been consistent: every one of the 11 classified seasons on record has come back Excellent or Good. The most reliable swimming window here typically runs from July–September, with the sea usually at its warmest around August. Outside that window the water is cooler and often quieter. It's been a consistently reliable spot too — the rating has held at Excellent for 11 straight years. The nearest town, Καρίτσα, is about ~7.0 km away.
That “Excellent” label comes from a full season of official water sampling, not a single test — it's one step on a four-point scale (Excellent, Good, Sufficient, Poor) reassessed once a year. Today's actual conditions can differ from the seasonal average, so for a live snapshot see the “Right now” and 7-day outlook panels above. There are 2 places to eat within a kilometre — Ψαροταβέρνα "Ελληνικόν" is the closest, about ~640 m away.
Frequently asked questions
Is Variko safe to swim in?
Yes, without much reservation. Variko holds the top EU Bathing Water classification, Excellent, for 2025, and 11 of 11 classified seasons here have rated Excellent or Good. It's also held steady at Excellent for 11 straight years.
What is the sea temperature at Variko today?
Variko's sea temperature currently sits at around 28°C, based on the latest update — check the “Right now” panel above for the full live picture. That's the reading right off Centre Macedonia. On the modeled climatology here, August usually runs warmest.
When does Variko have the warmest water?
For swimming, July–September is usually the best call — that's the modeled window when the sea here runs warmest. That applies to the water around Centre Macedonia. Within that window, August is typically the single warmest month.
Where does the water quality rating come from?
It's based on official water samples: authorities test for intestinal enterococci and E. coli through the season, then report the full-season results to the European Environment Agency each spring, which assigns one of four grades — Excellent, Good, Sufficient or Poor. A few national authorities, including Croatia's IZOR, also publish individual samples during the season itself, ahead of that annual report — that isn't yet available for Variko.
What's nearby Variko — parking, buses, or a ferry?
There's no parking mapped within 1.5 km of Variko, so plan on a walk, or arrive early once it gets busy. The nearest town is Καρίτσα, about ~7.0 km away.