Crete climate, weather and summer and winter temperatures on the Greek island. When to go to Crete and advice on what are the best times to visit it.
Crete climate and when to go
Due to its location Crete has a pleasant climate throughout the year. The best time to visit depends on what you are looking for from your stay on the island. The tourist season officially opens in April with the arrival of Orthodox Easter, and ends in mid-October when the island is depopulated and direct flights with the main European cities are closed.
Winter is from January to March . In these months, a stay in Crete is generally not recommended as the climate can be cold and rainy, but above all there are few hotels open and it is difficult to find suitable accommodation: the only option is to stay in cities such as Chania or Heraklio. However, sunny days offer wonderful views of the snow-capped peaks. In this period the first flowers also blossom: the almond trees blossom in January and the citrus trees are full of fruit. The winter period is ideal for visiting museums and archaeological sites, such as the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion and the palace of Knossòs, without finding the queue that is omnipresent during the high season. In general, the winter months in Crete are suitable for those seeking tranquillity.
in March and April the weather is still unstable with hot and sunny days, or very rainy days.
The nights are still cool and the sea is still too cold for swimming, except for the most daring. With spring, the island is in its greenest period and flowers cover most of the island giving beautiful landscapes. In April, the first tourists arrive and also the Greek Easter takes place, which, for the Greeks, is the most important holiday of the year and, therefore, you can discover the hospitality of traditional Crete.
May and June are the best months to visit Crete: summer is starting, the weather is wonderful, the sea is warmer, the sun is always shining and there aren't many tourists yet. The temperatures are also very pleasant, it's hot but not too much.
July and August correspond to Crete's high season. The temperatures are high (sometimes the thermometer even reaches 40 degrees) and the days are consequently very hot: the ideal climate for being at the beach and swimming! The high season brings mass tourism to Crete and accommodation prices are very high. However, it is possible to find quite peaceful villages and beaches. SEE ALSO THE MOST BEAUTIFUL BEACHES OF WEST CRETE
In September and October Crete is no longer crowded with tourists even if the sea is still warm and the temperatures are still summery. Cretans relax. September is one of the favorite periods for hikers, as temperatures drop below 30 degrees.
In October and early November there are still warm days even if the weather becomes a little more unstable and the first rains begin. At the end of October, tourism comes to an abrupt halt, with the suspension of charter flights to Europe.
November and December are months and the chances of finding good weather are still favorable and it is generally still possible to swim. Although you will have to prepare for a few days of rain, daytime temperatures along the coast remain stable between 10 and 18 degrees.
The temperatures of Crete
The table below shows the average air and water temperatures of Heraklion on the north coast of Crete. The south coast is generally two degrees Celsius warmer (although the water temperature is about the same). The east area of the island is less rainy than the north and, in particular, the north-west.
|
MONTH |
Maximum temp. ºC |
Average daytime temperature |
Water |
Days with rain |
|
January |
16 |
12°C |
16 |
14 |
|
February |
16 |
13°C |
15 |
11 |
|
March |
17 |
14°C |
16 |
8 |
|
April |
20 |
17°C |
17 |
6 |
|
May |
24 |
24°C |
19 |
3 |
|
June |
28 |
24°C |
22 |
1 |
|
July |
29 |
26°C |
24 |
0 |
|
August |
29 |
26°C |
25 |
0 |
|
September |
27 |
24°C |
24 |
2 |
|
October |
24 |
20°C |
23 |
6 |
|
November |
21 |
17°C |
20 |
8 |
|
December |
17 |
14°C |
17 |
9 |