The best time to visit Antarctica is during the Antarctic summer, between October and March, with December to February the best months for exploring.
You can expect clear sunny days and temperatures ranging from -1°C (30°F) to 5°C (41°F).
The nights are very cold, but at this latitude, brief. No tours are offered during Antarctica’s winter.
Antarctica is the coldest, windiest and driest place on earth, with the average temperature around -36°C (-32°F). Inland temperatures are more extreme than coastal temperatures.
Ironically, with only a few inches of rain a year, Antarctica is technically the world’s largest desert. In the Dry Valley region there is no snow or ice, just a rocky, lunar-type landscape.
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | |
| Ave Temp (°C) | 3 | 0 | -6 | -10 | -13 | -13 | -15 | -14 | -13 | -9 | -3 | 2 |
| Ave Low Temp (°C) | -1 | -5 | -11 | -16 | -19 | -19 | -21 | -21 | -20 | -16 | -8 | -2 |
| Sunshine (Hrs daily) | 9 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 9 |
| Days with some Rain | 2 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 2 |
| Ave Rainfall (mm) | 2 | 6 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 3 |
| Sea Temp (°C) | 0 | 0 | -1 | -1 | -2 | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 | -2 | -1 | 0 |
| (Davis, Antarctica) | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
Source: Meteorological data is sourced from the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
Latest update: Best time to visit Antarctica: 15 August, 2025
Advertising