Best time to visit Crete
The best time to visit Crete for a beach holiday is from mid-June to mid-September.
To go on excursions around the island or explore the ruins of ancient civilizations, the best time to visit is in April and May during spring, as well as from mid-September to mid-October during autumn, thereby avoiding the heat of summer and high season crowds.
Crete weather
Crete enjoys a Mediterranean climate, with hot, sunny summers and mild, rainy winters.
Here are the average temperatures in Heraklion (or Iraklion), the largest city on Crete, which is located on the north coast.
What is the best month to visit Crete?
June through September are the best months to visit Crete – the climate is perfect with hot, sunny weather and little or no rainfall.
July and August are especially popular, since this is the peak tourist season in Crete.
To avoid the crowds, higher prices and extreme heat of summer, the months of May and October are also good for a range of outdoor activities.
Which is the hottest month in Crete?
The hottest month of the year in Crete is normally August, with an average daily high temperature of 29°C (85°F), with high heat and humidity, and a low of 23°C (73°F)
The hot summer season lasts from mid-June through September, with an average daily high temperature above 29°C (84°F).
Which is the coldest month in Crete?
The coldest month of the year in Crete is January, with an average high of 15°C (60°F) and a low of 9°C (49°F).
The cool winter season lasts from early-December tthrough March, with an average daily high temperature below 18°C (64°F).
Which is the sunniest month in Crete?
The sunniest time of year in Crete is usually July with an average of 12 hours of sunshine per day; that's on average 86% of daylight hours.
When is the sea warmest in Crete?
The sea is usually at its warmest in Crete in August when the water temperature reaches 25°C (77°F), which is very pleasant for swimming.
The time of year with warmer water lasts from July to September, with an average temperature above 23°C (73°F).
Which month has the most rain in Crete?
December is usually the wettest month in Crete with 95mm (3.7in) of rainfall on average. There are normally 10 days in December with some rain.
The rainy period of the year lasts from mid-October through March, with a greater than 17% chance of a given day being a wet day.
The drier season lasts from April through to mid-October. JUne, July and August rarely experience any rainfall.
Which is the windiest month in Crete?
The windiest month of the year in Crete is February, with an average hourly wind speed of more than 22 kilometres per hour (14 mph; 12 knots).
The windy part of the year lasts from mid-November through March, with average wind speeds of more than 19 kilometres per hour (12 mph; 10 knots).
The less-windy time of year lasts from April to mid-November. The calmest month of the year in Crete is May, with an average hourly wind speed of 16 kilometres per hour (10 mph; 8.6 knots).
The predominant average hourly wind direction varies throughout the year in Crete.
Crete Weather Averages
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| Average high temperature (°C) | |||||||||||
| 15 | 15 | 17 | 20 | 24 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 24 | 20 | 17 |
| Average low temperature (°C) | |||||||||||
| 9 | 9 | 10 | 12 | 16 | 20 | 22 | 23 | 20 | 17 | 14 | 11 |
| Average daily sunshine (hrs) | |||||||||||
| 4 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 9 | 6 | 5 | 4 |
| Average daily daylight (hrs) | |||||||||||
| 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 10 |
| Comfort level | |||||||||||
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| Average relative humidity (%) | |||||||||||
| 70 | 70 | 70 | 65 | 65 | 65 | 70 | 70 | 65 | 60 | 65 | 70 |
| UV Index (max) | |||||||||||
| 3 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 2 |
| Average days of rainfall (≥1mm) | |||||||||||
| 10 | 8 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 10 |
| Average monthly rainfall (mm) | |||||||||||
| 90 | 65 | 50 | 25 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 45 | 60 | 95 |
| Average wind speed (km/h) | |||||||||||
| 22 | 22 | 20 | 18 | 16 | 17 | 21 | 21 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 21 |
| Average sea temperature (°C) | |||||||||||
| 16 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 19 | 22 | 24 | 25 | 24 | 23 | 20 | 18 |
| Heraklion, Crete | |||||||||||
Holiday seasons
High season: July and August, when hotel and restaurant prices are at their highest. Crete is also popular in winter between November and January.
Low season: Spring and autumn – the temperature is slightly cooler, hotel prices are more reasonable and the crowds non-existent.
Source: Meteorological data for Crete is based on weather statistics gathered for the 30-year period 1991 to 2020 by the Hellenic National Meteorological Service (HNMS) from the nearest weather station: Heraklion International Airport (HER), located on the north coast of Crete, 5km (3mi) east of Heraklion.
Advice on the best time to visit a particular destination is based on average local weather statistics, when the weather conditions are generally better than at other times of the year. We consider high and low temperatures, risk of rain (and thunderstorms, etc.), amount of sunshine and sea temperature. For general outdoor activities we favour clear, rainless days with a temperature range between 18°C (64°F) and 27°C (80°F); and for hot-weather activities we favour clear, rainless days with a temperature range between 24°C (75°F) and 32°C (89°F). Often, the best times to visit correspond to high season and therefore involve higher prices.
Latest update: Best time to visit Crete: 12 May, 2024
Disclaimer: The information on this site is provided as is, without any assurances as to its accuracy or suitability for any purpose. Weather data and conditions at any given location and time are unpredictable and variable. We assume no responsibility and can not be held legally responsible for any decisions made on the basis of the information presented on this site.
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