Winter
Dec → Feb15 to 17°
nights 7 to 9°
- 11 rainy days · 68 mm
- 8.1 h of sun
- sea 18°
When is the best time to visit Crete?
In short: May to June and September to October, when the sea is fine for swimming, the Samaria Gorge is open and Knossos sees 24 to 29 °C in the afternoon. September is the best compromise: the sea at its warmest, 28 °C at Knossos and beaches less busy than in July and August.
- The Samaria Gorge: Open from May to late October, weather permitting: about 16 km and six hours of walking, more pleasant in May, June, September and October.
- Beaches and lagoons: From June to September, Balos and Elafonisi are in the full swimming season; the sea stays warm into October on the south coast.
- The hinterland in spring: In April and May, the mountain villages and the flower-filled interior can be explored on foot at 21 to 25 °C at Knossos.
- Minoan sites: Knossos and Phaistos are best visited in spring and autumn: in July and August, the afternoon 32 °C weighs on visits in full sun.
- Mild winter: From December to February, 15 to 17 °C in the afternoon at Knossos for a quiet Heraklion and Chania, but with 9 to 13 rainy days a month.
Best avoided: January, the wettest month (86 mm and 13 rainy days at Knossos), when the Samaria Gorge is closed and the sea too cool for swimming.
Sources: visitgreece.gr, diplomatie.gouv.fr
- Jan15°not recommended
- Feb16°not recommended
- Mar17°fair
- Apr21°fair
- May25°recommended
- Jun29°recommended
- Jul32°fair
- Aug32°fair
- Sep28°recommended
- Oct24°recommended
- Nov20°fair
- Dec17°not recommended
RecommendedFairNot recommended· afternoon temperature
The weather in Crete, month by month
The table of records, month by month
| Month | High | Low | Sunshine | Rainfall | Rainy days | Sea | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 15° | 7° | 7.7 h | 86 mm | 13 d | 17° | |
| February | 16° | 7° | 8.9 h | 59 mm | 9 d | 17° | |
| March | 17° | 8° | 9.8 h | 70 mm | 11 d | 17° | |
| April | 21° | 11° | 11.4 h | 26 mm | 5 d | 18° | |
| May | 25° | 15° | 12.3 h | 21 mm | 6 d | 20° | ✓ |
| June | 29° | 19° | 13.6 h | 16 mm | 3 d | 24° | ✓ |
| July | 32° | 22° | 13.4 h | 3 mm | 1 d | 27° | |
| August | 32° | 21° | 12.9 h | 7 mm | 2 d | 28° | |
| September | 28° | 19° | 11.7 h | 17 mm | 5 d | 26° | ✓ |
| October | 24° | 15° | 9.8 h | 30 mm | 5 d | 24° | ✓ |
| November | 20° | 12° | 9.1 h | 39 mm | 8 d | 21° | |
| December | 17° | 9° | 7.8 h | 59 mm | 10 d | 19° |
The four seasons in Crete, in figures
What the 2015-2024 records (Palace of Knossos) show, season by season, to compare at a glance instead of reading twelve rows of a table.
Spring
Mar → May17 to 25°
nights 8 to 15°
- 7 rainy days · 39 mm
- 11.2 h of sun
- sea 18°
Summer
Jun → Aug29 to 32°
nights 19 to 22°
- 2 rainy days · 9 mm
- 13.3 h of sun
- sea 26°
Autumn
Sep → Nov20 to 28°
nights 12 to 19°
- 6 rainy days · 29 mm
- 10.2 h of sun
- sea 24°
Book early for May to June and September to October
The timing is right, so it is right for everyone: in these months the best places to stay and the small-group tours go first. Here is where to start.
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Daylight in Crete, month by month
The time between sunrise and sunset, from shortest to longest. Not to be confused with the sunshine hours in the table above, which count clear skies. In June there are 14h31 of daylight, in December 9h47, a difference of 4h44.
10h01Jan
10h52Feb
11h52Mar
13h02Apr
14hMay
14h31Jun
14h19Jul
13h29Aug
12h21Sep
11h13Oct
10h15Nov
9h47Dec
Calculated for the latitude of the reference point "Palace of Knossos" (35.30°). Values on the 15th of each month, local solar time.
What to do in Crete, month by month
| Activity | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hiking | ||||||||||||
| Beach & swimming | ||||||||||||
| Towns & culture | ||||||||||||
| Diving & snorkelling | ||||||||||||
| Long days | ||||||||||||
| Events | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
EventsOrthodox EasterApril to MayRethymno CarnivalFebruary to MarchBattle of Crete commemorationsMayOlive harvestNovember to DecemberDetails ↓
favourablewith compromisesunfavourable
- Hiking: February, April, May, June, September, October, November
- Beach & swimming: June, July, August, September, October
- Towns & culture: February, March, April, May, June, September, October, November, December
- Diving & snorkelling: July, August, September
- Long days: May, June, July
Grid derived from the records (temperature, rainfall, sea), not from an opinion.
What's on in Crete, month by month?
What comes back every year, and when. One of these events fills the hotels and pushes prices up: something to aim for or to avoid, depending on what you want.
- April to MayOrthodox Easter big crowds
Fireworks at midnight on Holy Saturday, then spit-roast lamb in the villages: the liveliest week of the year.
- February to MarchRethymno Carnival
Floats, costumed groups and a grand parade on the Sunday before Lent through the lanes of the Venetian old town.
- MayBattle of Crete commemorations
Chania, Maleme and Galatas host ceremonies, wreath-layings and foreign delegations at the end of May.
- November to DecemberOlive harvest
Nets are spread beneath the olive trees of the Messara and Apokoronas, and the mills run day and night.
Travelling off-peak
Month by month, in detail
January
Not recommended15°7° at night
- 86 mm · 13 d
- 7.7 h
- sea 17°
Low season, lower prices
February
Not recommended16°7° at night
- 59 mm · 9 d
- 8.9 h
- sea 17°
Low season, lower prices
March
Fair17°8° at night
- 70 mm · 11 d
- 9.8 h
- sea 17°
Low season, lower prices
April
Fair21°11° at night
- 26 mm · 5 d
- 11.4 h
- sea 18°
Busy, without the crush
May
Recommended25°15° at night
- 21 mm · 6 d
- 12.3 h
- sea 20°
High season, book early
June
Recommended29°19° at night
- 16 mm · 3 d
- 13.6 h
- sea 24°
Busy, without the crush
July
Fair32°22° at night
- 3 mm · 1 d
- 13.4 h
- sea 27°
Busy, without the crush
August
Fair32°21° at night
- 7 mm · 2 d
- 12.9 h
- sea 28°
Busy, without the crush
September
Recommended28°19° at night
- 17 mm · 5 d
- 11.7 h
- sea 26°
Busy, without the crush
October
Recommended24°15° at night
- 30 mm · 5 d
- 9.8 h
- sea 24°
Busy, without the crush
November
Fair20°12° at night
- 39 mm · 8 d
- 9.1 h
- sea 21°
Low season, lower prices
December
Not recommended17°9° at night
- 59 mm · 10 d
- 7.8 h
- sea 19°
Quiet, then the holidays
Read the twelve months in detail
January. Cool: 15 °C at best, 7 °C at night. Expect 13 days of rain in the month (86 mm). Expect 7.7 h of sunshine a day. Sea at 17 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
February. Cool: 16 °C at best, 7 °C at night. Expect 9 days of rain in the month (59 mm). Expect 8.9 h of sunshine a day. Sea at 17 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
March. Cool: 17 °C at best, 8 °C at night. Expect 11 days of rain in the month (70 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 9.8 h a day on average. Sea at 17 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
April. Mild, 21 °C in the afternoon and 11 °C early in the morning. Rain stays light: 26 mm over 5 days. Plenty of sunshine: 11.4 h a day on average. Cool sea (18 °C), for the brave. Busy season, without the crush.
May. 25 °C in the afternoon and 15 °C at night. Rain stays light: 21 mm over 6 days. Plenty of sunshine: 12.3 h a day on average. Cool sea (20 °C), for the brave. High season: book early.
June. 29 °C in the afternoon and 19 °C at night. Hardly any rain (16 mm over 3 days). Plenty of sunshine: 13.6 h a day on average. The sea is at 24 °C: pleasant swimming. Busy season, without the crush.
July. Real heat: 32 °C at the warmest of the day, 22 °C at night. Hardly any rain (3 mm over 1 day). Plenty of sunshine: 13.4 h a day on average. The sea is at 27 °C, a proper swim. Busy season, without the crush.
August. Real heat: 32 °C at the warmest of the day, 21 °C at night. Hardly any rain (7 mm over 2 days). Plenty of sunshine: 12.9 h a day on average. The sea is at 28 °C, a proper swim. Busy season, without the crush.
September. 28 °C in the afternoon and 19 °C at night. Rain stays light: 17 mm over 5 days. Plenty of sunshine: 11.7 h a day on average. The sea is at 26 °C, a proper swim. Busy season, without the crush.
October. Mild, 24 °C in the afternoon and 15 °C early in the morning. Rain stays light: 30 mm over 5 days. Plenty of sunshine: 9.8 h a day on average. The sea is at 24 °C: pleasant swimming. Busy season, without the crush.
November. Mild, 20 °C in the afternoon and 12 °C early in the morning. Expect 8 days of rain in the month (39 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 9.1 h a day on average. Cool sea (21 °C), for the brave. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
December. Cool: 17 °C at best, 9 °C at night. Expect 10 days of rain in the month (59 mm). Expect 7.8 h of sunshine a day. Cool sea (19 °C), for the brave. Quiet at the start of the month, then busier as the holidays approach.
Same season, other ideas
Their best time overlaps with this one: worth comparing before you book.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Crete?
May to June and September to October, when the sea is fine for swimming, the Samaria Gorge is open and Knossos sees 24 to 29 °C in the afternoon. September is the best compromise: the sea at its warmest, 28 °C at Knossos and beaches less busy than in July and August.
Which month should you avoid in Crete?
January, the wettest month (86 mm and 13 rainy days at Knossos), when the Samaria Gorge is closed and the sea too cool for swimming.
What is the hottest month in Crete?
July, with 32 °C on average in the afternoon and 22 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Palace of Knossos).
What is the coldest month in Crete?
January, with 15 °C at best during the day and 7 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Palace of Knossos).
What is the driest month in Crete?
July: 3 mm over 1 day of rain, against 86 mm in January, the wettest month.
Which month has the most sunshine in Crete?
June, with 13.6 h of sunshine a day on average. Note that this counts clear skies, not the length of the day.
When can you swim in Crete?
The water reaches 22 °C or more in June, July, August, September, October (warmest 28 °C in August), measured in 2023-2024 on the nearest coast (Palace of Knossos).
When is the best time to hike in Crete?
February, April, May, June, September, October, November: highs between 12 and 29 °C and no more than 9 days of rain a month according to 2015-2024 records (Palace of Knossos), the safest windows for walking.
When to go diving or snorkelling in Crete?
July, August, September: the sea is above 25 °C, warm enough to stay in a long time without a thick wetsuit. 2023-2024 records on the nearest coast (Palace of Knossos).
Plan this trip
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