Best time to go to Crete for a perfect weather and where to go?
Julie Parment and Tony Samson last update: 16/04/2024When is the best time to go to Crete?
Although pleasant all year round, the best time to visit Crete is from early April to the end of October, when the weather is warm and dry.
However, if you want to avoid the peak tourist season, we recommend not traveling to Crete in July and August. This period, which coincides with school holidays, sees a large influx of tourists eager to discover the island's splendors. If this season is the only option for you, especially if you are traveling with children, make sure to book well in advance to secure well-located accommodation at a reasonable rate.
When to visit Crete based on your interests?
- For hiking on trails, it is best to avoid the peak heat of July and August. Therefore, the months of April to June and September to October are ideal: the weather is perfect and the tourist crowds are relatively low.
- For diving, visibility is at its best from July to September. Moreover, the water temperature is around 26°C... a true paradise!
- For relaxing in a seaside resort and enjoying the sea, you can go until early November, before the chill sets in.
- For visiting ancient sites such as Knossos or the Heraklion Archaeological Museum, opt for the shoulder seasons: spring and autumn.
- For a cultural experience, visit Crete in April: Easter celebrations are held throughout the island at that time.
- For a relaxing stay, the winter is very mild and offers beautiful sunny days.
Annual weather in Crete
For information about the climate and the weather city by city in Crete for a specific month, click on the corresponding line below:
| Month | Our opinion | View Details | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 10°C to 15°C | tolerable weather | |||
| February | 11°C to 16°C | tolerable weather* | |||
| March | 12°C to 17°C | good weather* | |||
| April | 15°C to 20°C | good weather | |||
| May | 19°C to 24°C | perfect weather | |||
| June | 22°C to 27°C | perfect weather | |||
| July | 24°C to 30°C | perfect weather | |||
| August | 24°C to 30°C | perfect weather | |||
| September | 22°C to 28°C | perfect weather | |||
| October | 19°C to 24°C | perfect weather* | |||
| November | 15°C to 20°C | good weather | |||
| December | 12°C to 17°C | good weather* |
Best time to travel to Crete by cities
Climate and Weather in Crete
Like its neighbors Greece and Turkey, the climate in Crete is typically Mediterranean, with mild seasons.
However, its geography leads to some variations depending on the regions:
- The south of the island is the windiest part. The "notias," a warm wind from Africa, blows from spring to autumn and clears the clouds, resulting in fewer rains. In the region of Matala, in the southeast, the climate is even considered sub-desertic due to very low precipitation.
- The north of Crete is more humid, and rains are quite abundant in winter, especially around Sitia.
- The central region, mountainous, is often snowy during the winter period.
Like everywhere in Europe, Crete follows the rhythm of the seasons:
Summer in Crete
During the summer period, the weather in Crete is idyllic. It is hot, but the heat remains bearable thanks to the almost constant breeze.
In general, temperatures hover around 30°C in July and August along the coasts, but rise further inland.
With constant sunshine, the sea is perfect for swimming and water sports.
Occasionally, African heatwaves can occur in summer with temperatures reaching 35°C by the sea and 40°C inland.
Autumn in Crete
Autumn is a pleasant season on the island of Crete. Summer temperatures have slightly cooled down, but remain pleasant. There is little rain at this time of year, the weather stays dry, and the sky is often clear.
September and October are particularly recommended for visiting Crete in perfect conditions:
- The sea, warmed up all summer, is still warm, with temperatures around 25°C.
- The climate is still warm, but not unpleasant. You can take advantage of this to visit different sites and go hiking.
- Tourist crowds are much smaller than in July and August. If you want to avoid the crowds, this is the ideal season!
Winter in Crete
Between January and March, Cretan winters experience higher winter temperatures than in Northern Europe. The beginning of this period sees the lowest temperatures, with an average of 15°C during the day.
This season is more marked than others by geographical differences:
- The northern part of the island is often rainy, and rainfall can be abundant.
- The mountains, with peaks over 2000 m, are covered in snow and experience temperatures around 0°C. Cross-country skiing is even possible, with a breathtaking view of the Mediterranean Sea!
- Along the coasts, the weather is milder and less humid. Although the wind can make it feel cooler, the days are still pleasant and mostly sunny.
Spring in Crete
In spring, the weather in Crete is very pleasant: rain becomes increasingly rare and the sun shines brightly. Perfect conditions to enjoy the treasures of the island! Another advantage: the days get longer, allowing travelers to enjoy terraces, restaurants, and bars for longer.
Compared to other European countries, spring in Crete is relatively short and quickly gives way to summer weather. It is an ideal period to explore the island and go on sensational hikes without encountering many tourists.
However, June is the month to truly enjoy the sea. In April and May, the water temperature does not exceed 18°C, a bit chilly for the less brave!
Temperatures and rainfall in Crete
On these 3 graphs, we present the evolution of temperatures of Crete and month-by-month rainfall for the cities of Heraklion, Chania, Matala, Agia Galini and Agia Pelagia, as well as the month-by-month sea temperature for coastal cities.
Peak visitor numbers and tourist seasons in Crete
Find out when Crete has its high tourist season (the period when the influx of tourists is highest) and off-peak tourist season using our data and figures.
Tourist seasons in Crete
The months with low numbers of tourists are: January, February, March, April, May, November and December. The number of visitors to Crete is high in: June, July, August, September and October.
- Very low season in Crete: January, February, March, November and December.
- Low season in Crete: April and May.
- High season in Crete: June, July, September and October.
- Peak season in Crete: August.
Figure: Visitor index for Crete month by month
Average price for flights to Crete
A return flight between Dublin and Chania is generally cheaper if you go in october ($ 220 on average): this is the best time for travellers on a tight budget. In contrast, you may end up paying $ 129 more for your airline ticket to Chania if you go in december.
Where to go in Crete?
This table allows you to see the maximum temperature for each city and our opinion on the weather month by month (see colour legend below the table).
| Cities | jan. | feb. | mar. | apr. | may | jun. | jul. | aug. | sep. | oct. | nov. | dec. |
| Heraklion | 15°C | 16°C | 17°C | 19°C | 23°C | 26°C | 28°C | 29°C | 27°C | 23°C | 20°C | 17°C |
| Chania | 14°C | 15°C | 17°C | 20°C | 24°C | 27°C | 30°C | 30°C | 28°C | 24°C | 20°C | 16°C |
| Matala | 15°C | 15°C | 17°C | 19°C | 22°C | 25°C | 28°C | 28°C | 26°C | 23°C | 20°C | 17°C |
| Agia Galini | 15°C | 15°C | 17°C | 19°C | 22°C | 25°C | 28°C | 28°C | 26°C | 23°C | 20°C | 17°C |
| Agia Pelagia | 15°C | 16°C | 17°C | 19°C | 23°C | 26°C | 28°C | 29°C | 27°C | 23°C | 20°C | 17°C |
| Agios Nikolaos | 15°C | 15°C | 17°C | 19°C | 22°C | 26°C | 28°C | 29°C | 27°C | 23°C | 20°C | 17°C |
| Ano Rodakino | 15°C | 15°C | 17°C | 19°C | 22°C | 25°C | 28°C | 28°C | 26°C | 23°C | 20°C | 17°C |
| Anogia | 15°C | 16°C | 17°C | 19°C | 23°C | 26°C | 28°C | 29°C | 27°C | 23°C | 20°C | 17°C |
| Argyroupoli | 15°C | 15°C | 17°C | 19°C | 22°C | 25°C | 28°C | 28°C | 26°C | 23°C | 20°C | 17°C |
| Arkalochóri (Minóa Pediáda) | 14°C | 15°C | 16°C | 19°C | 23°C | 27°C | 30°C | 30°C | 28°C | 24°C | 20°C | 16°C |
| Balí (Mylopotamos) | 15°C | 15°C | 17°C | 19°C | 22°C | 25°C | 28°C | 28°C | 26°C | 23°C | 20°C | 17°C |
| Dia island | 15°C | 16°C | 17°C | 19°C | 23°C | 26°C | 28°C | 29°C | 27°C | 23°C | 20°C | 17°C |
| Elounda | 13°C | 13°C | 15°C | 17°C | 21°C | 25°C | 27°C | 27°C | 25°C | 21°C | 18°C | 15°C |
| Gavdos Island | 15°C | 15°C | 17°C | 19°C | 22°C | 25°C | 28°C | 28°C | 26°C | 23°C | 20°C | 17°C |
| Gazi | 15°C | 16°C | 17°C | 19°C | 23°C | 26°C | 28°C | 29°C | 27°C | 23°C | 20°C | 17°C |
| Georgioúpoli | 14°C | 15°C | 16°C | 19°C | 23°C | 26°C | 29°C | 29°C | 27°C | 23°C | 19°C | 16°C |
| Gouves | 15°C | 16°C | 17°C | 19°C | 22°C | 26°C | 28°C | 28°C | 27°C | 23°C | 20°C | 17°C |
| Ierapetra | 15°C | 16°C | 17°C | 19°C | 23°C | 26°C | 29°C | 30°C | 28°C | 24°C | 20°C | 17°C |
| Kolokytha | 13°C | 13°C | 15°C | 17°C | 21°C | 25°C | 27°C | 27°C | 25°C | 21°C | 18°C | 15°C |
| Kolymvari | 14°C | 15°C | 17°C | 20°C | 24°C | 27°C | 30°C | 30°C | 28°C | 24°C | 20°C | 16°C |
Legend:
perfect weather
good weather
tolerable weather
About Crete
What can I do in Crete?
Beaches / swimming
Nature and countryside
Culture and heritage
Sports
Family travel
Crafts / shopping
Gastronomy
Nightlife
Is this weather information for Crete reliable?
Climate data for Crete has been gathered every day since January 2009. The analysis of these meteorological data for Crete allows us to determine the average for each month in Heraklion, Chania, Matala, Agia Galini, Agia Pelagia, Agios Nikolaos, Ano Rodakino, Anogia, and 39 other cities.
So yes: this data is reliable except in cases of temporary climate disruption in the region.