Furthermore, we analyzed all climate data and provide a recommendation about which months are best to visit Crete for your holiday.
Climate Overview
9 °C to 29 °C
15 °C to 25 °C
0.04 – 3.62 in (0 – 10 Days of Rain)Show temperatures in degree
Geographical location
Table of Contents
Crete is with over 5000 square miles the largest of the Greek islands and home of over 620,000 inhabitants. “Capital” of the island and administrative seat is Heraklion (Iraklio), which represents with approximately 180,000 inhabitants also the largest city on Crete.
Crete has been one of Europe’s most popular holiday destinations for many years and, together with its small neighbouring islands, forms an archipelago in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Whether party holidays in cloudy Malia, romantic days in Rethymnon, relaxation in Agia Galini or bathing fun in Georgiopolis, Elafonissi or the lagoon of Balos: Crete’s variety enchants everyone!
Crete is about 63 miles from the mainland over a length of almost 160 miles (from east to west) and a width of about 37 miles.
The Carpathian Sea in the east, the Libyan Sea in the south and the Cretan Sea in the north of the island are distinguished by the names of the coasts. Crete is a very mountainous island with an extensive mountain range, which is part of the South Aegean island bridge. The highest elevations of the island are Psiloritis in the Ida Mountains (2456m) and Lefka Ori (“the white mountain”).
The climate in Crete
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License Information available under 'Proof of Image Sources'](/wp-content/uploads/reiseziele/loutro26089.jpg)
Crete benefits from its southern location in the Mediterranean Sea and has up to 305 sunny days a year, which is why Crete is also called the sunniest island in the Mediterranean. The even climate reaches peak values in the dry summer months, while the winter on Crete can be comparatively mild but quite humid.
Snowfalls do indeed occur in the mountains. The island is divided by several micro-climatic zones, so on longer trips it is not uncommon for weather changes to occur. The southern coast of Crete is influenced by the warm African winds and is usually characterized by temperatures about 4 °C to 5 °C higher than the north of the island.
Best Time to Visit Crete: Overview
JanuaryJan TemperaturesTemp. up to 15 °C many hotels closedmany hotels closed | FebruaryFeb TemperaturesTemp. up to 16 °C many hotels closedmany hotels closed | MarchMar TemperaturesTemp. up to 17 °C many hotels closedmany hotels closed | AprilApr TemperaturesTemp. up to 21 °C usually sunnymostly sunny | MayMay Best time to traveltime Start of Season, mostly perfect climate in CreteStart of Season, mostly perfect climate | JuneJun Best time to traveltime PerfectPerf. climate in Crete |
JulyJul Best time to traveltime PerfectPerf. climate in Crete | AugustAug Best time to traveltime PerfectPerf. climate in Crete | SeptemberSep Best time to traveltime PerfectPerf. climate in Crete | OctoberOct Best time to traveltime End of Season in CreteEnd of Season | NovemberNov TemperaturesTemp. up to 21 °C many hotels closedmany hotels closed | DecemberDec TemperaturesTemp. up to 17 °C many hotels closedmany hotels closed |
When to travel to Crete?
Those who do not (only) focus on bathing holidays can also spend the winter time on Crete with sweaters and light jackets quite wonderfully. In spring, temperatures begin to rise noticeably from around the beginning of March, but it is only from mid-April that the daily temperatures are constantly above 20 °C with a pleasant 8 hours of sunshine. As the best time to travel in Crete we recommend summer from the end of May to mid-October, especially July and August bring fantastic bathing weather and optimal climatic conditions.
Most rain falls in the winter months of December and January, but most tourist hotels are closed during this time anyway. The moderate transition months of May, October and November are particularly suitable for hikers and active holidaymakers. Please also note the night values (lowest temperature) according to our climate data, as it can cool down considerably outside the main season after sunset.
Climate Chart Crete
Iraklion
Show temperatures in degree
Source of Data: German Weather Service (Offenbach) and Wikipedia
Climate Table Crete
In the following, you will find the climate table for Crete, containing information about Temperatures, Precipitation, Water Temperatures, and Hours of Sunshine.Temperatures, Precipitation, Sunshine in Iraklion (Crete)
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day Temperature | 15° | 16° | 17° | 20° | 24° | 27° | 29° | 28° | 26° | 23° | 20° | 17° |
| Night Temperature | 9° | 9° | 10° | 12° | 15° | 19° | 22° | 22° | 19° | 17° | 13° | 11° |
| Water Temperature | 16° | 15° | 16° | 16° | 19° | 22° | 24° | 25° | 24° | 23° | 20° | 17° |
| Precipitation (inch) | 3.62 | 3.03 | 2.24 | 1.18 | 0.59 | 0.12 | 0.04 | 0.04 | 0.79 | 2.72 | 2.32 | 3.03 |
| Rainy days | 10 | 9 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 9 |
| Hours of Sunshine | 4 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 9 | 6 | 5 | 4 |
Show temperatures in degree
Temperatures
The annual average temperature in Iraklion is 18.7 °C.For comparison: London 11 °C, NYC 12 °C, LA 17.9 °C
Warmest month: July (26.1 °C)
Coldest month: January (12 °C)
The maximum water temperature in Iraklion is 25 °C. You can take a bath at these temperatures.
Months with water temperature of at least 17 °C (Limited bathing is possible):
all except January, February, March, and April
Months with water temperature of at least 21 °C (adequate for beach vacation):
June, July, August, September, and October
Precipitation
Overall annual precipitation: 19.72 inch on 53 rainy daysFor comparison: London 24.06 in, NYC 41.57 in, LA 12.01 in
There is no rainy season (months with more than 6.9 in of precipitation).
You cannot expect snow in any month in Iraklion.
Sunshine
As our climate table shows, July is the sunniest month with an average of 12 hours of sunshine per day. Over the year, there are 7.6 hours of sunshine per day on average. For comparison: London has 4.1, NYC has 7 and LA has 8.9 hours of sunshine per day on average.Sights and Excursions
At the top of the popularity scale are tours to the dream beaches of Elafonissi, the rock island Spinalonga and the turquoise lagoon of Balos (by boat from Kastelli). The most beautiful beaches of Crete are Falassarna, Seitan Limania (in Akrotiri) and Stalis Beach. A visit to the old Venetian harbour of Chania and the romantic old town of Rethymno in the north of Crete is not only recommended for couples.
Both places have their very special charm and lure with fantastic restaurants directly at the water. The palace of Knossós is very close by and the monastery of Arkadi is also an important attraction of the region. Families with children love the Aquaworld Aquarium with its attached reptile collection station in Chersonissos.
The exciting 4×4 day trips of Safari Club Crete through the Lasithi plateaus are highly recommended.
More information about the best things to do: Crete
Popular Activities
Heraklion: Knossos Palace Skip-the-Line Guided Walking Tour
Tours
from 54 $ »
Cruise past long lines to the Palace of Knossos and immerse in Greek history. Use the same ticket to enter the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion later.
From Heraklion: Afternoon Sailing Trip to Dia Island
Tours
from 87 $ »
Kick off your shoes and take a swim in the sea on an intimate, 4.5-hour cruise to Dia Island from Heraklion. Enjoy a full menu meal and time to snorkel, fish or take a stroll among the cedar trees.
From Heraklion: Morning Sailing Trip to Dia Island
Tours
from 87 $ »
Enjoy a 4.5-hour sailing trip to the stunning Dia island. Enjoy snorkeling, swimming, or just relax in the turquoise, crystal clear waters of the small bay of St. George.
More attractions
Heraklion: Archaeological Museum & Knossos Ticket with Audio | Heraklion Area: CRETAquarium Admission Ticket | Knossos Palace Skip-the-Line Ticket & Private Guided Tour | Crete: Palace of Knossos Archaeological Site Entrance Ticket | Agia Pelagia: Quad Safari-Family Tour | Heraklion: Private Sailing Boat Trip to Dia Island | From Heraklion: Elafonisi Beach Day Tour with Pickup |Current Weather and Forecast
Current Weather in Iraklion (Station Thérissos)
broken clouds, 3.9 °CClouds: 75 % Wind: 18 mph NNW
Air Pressure: 1026 hPa Humidity: 88 %
Air Pressure: 1026 hPa Humidity: 88 %
Last updated: 7th Feb 2023, 07:32 pm
The next days …
| 8th Feb 2023 | 9th Feb 2023 | 10th Feb 2023 | 11th Feb 2023 | 12th Feb 2023 | 13th Feb 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 6 °C to 7 °C | 7 °C to 9 °C | 7 °C to 10 °C | 8 °C to 10 °C |  7 °C to 11 °C | 7 °C to 11 °C |
| 6 °C to 7 °C | 7 °C to 9 °C | 7 °C to 10 °C | 8 °C to 10 °C | 7 °C to 11 °C | 7 °C to 11 °C |
| Clouds: 100 % | Clouds: 100 % | Clouds: 100 % | Clouds: 97 % | Clouds: 11 % | Clouds: 94 % |
| 0.06 in of rain | 0.01 in of rain | 0.03 in of rain | 0.05 in of rain | No Precipitation | 0.11 in of rain |
Weather information provided by OpenWeatherMap. (CC BY-SA)
Show temperatures in degree
Greece: Regions
Crete is part of the holiday destination Greece. We analyzed the climate for additional regions, in order to provide you with information about the best time to visit and the expected holiday weather:Hottest Month
July: 29 °C
Day Temperature in Iraklion
July: 29 °CDay Temperature in Iraklion
Coldest Month
January: 9 °C
Night Temperature in Iraklion
January: 9 °CNight Temperature in Iraklion
Rainiest Month
January: 3.62 in
Rain in Iraklion
January: 3.62 inRain in Iraklion
Driest Month
July: 0.04 in
Rain in Iraklion
July: 0.04 inRain in Iraklion
Maximum Water Temperature
August: 25 °C
Water Temperature in Iraklion
August: 25 °CWater Temperature in Iraklion
Sunniest Month
July: 12 hours/day
Sunshine in Iraklion
July: 12 hours/daySunshine in Iraklion
Activities and Attractions
Heraklion: Palace of Knossos 3D Virtual Audio Tour by Tablet
Tours
from 19 $ »
From Crete: Santorini Island Guided Tour
Tours
from 201 $ »
Heraklion: Sunset Sailing Cruise to Dia Island
Tours
from 92 $ »
Distances to Crete
| London | New York | Los Angeles | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iraklion | 1680 mi | 5100 mi | 7100 mi |
Where’s Crete?
Show Iraklion on MapContinent: Europe
All Holiday Destinations in EuropeShare your Experience and Win
We want to know: how was the weather during your Crete holiday? You can win a travel coupon of 1000 $. The price will be raffled among all submissions.
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Crete: Experiences of our Visitors
Full of summer and sun, very warm, you don’t want to get out of the water…
Weather Rating: 5 stars – Excellent
From the temperature very pleasant, yet very windy!
Weather Rating: 5 stars – Excellent
We were on Crete in June and the weather was wonderful again. Sometimes there was a rain shower, but it quickly receded. We were at the beach of Adelianos Kampos/Rethymno and the sea was wonderfully warm.
Weather Rating: 5 stars – Excellent
The temperature was very pleasant, so that one could lie well at the pool and enjoyed the cooling in the pool. Nevertheless, on some days the sky was cloudy. You never needed something with long sleeves during the day. It was also possible to swim in the sea.
Weather Rating: 4 stars – Good
We went at the end of April because of Easter was simply super temp.ca 30 degrees know for 30 years Greeks where we were always in contact at a wedding 1200 people Crete is to end missing at any season
Weather Rating: 4 stars – Good
Super pleasant, real lifeguard, although I rather ! I am sensitive….
Weather Rating: 5 stars – Excellent
It was sunny and warm all the time, there is a pleasant climate. Only to recommend. This year we travel again in June.
Weather Rating: 5 stars – Excellent
Half of the vacation the temperatures were only around 20 degrees and it was raining.
Weather Rating: 2 stars – Tricky
sunny, few short showers, occasionally windy, much warmer in the south than in the north
Weather Rating: 4 stars – Good
From 7 days 5 sunny days and 2 cloudy days in total 30 degrees to 38 degrees daily
Weather Rating: 5 stars – Excellent
Great vacation, in September we fly again, one can only recommend dreamlike
Weather Rating: 5 stars – Excellent
really hot and wonderful for bathing… in the north, of course, the mail goes off, but even here you will find small bays where you can relax, if you want to rent a car.
Weather Rating: 5 stars – Excellent