CretePhoto: Ввласенко · CC BY-SA 3.0Greece · Europe
Best time to visit Crete
From May to October Crete offers reliably warm, dry weather and a warm sea. Midsummer gets hot; spring and early autumn are more comfortable for hiking and sightseeing.
Climate decision
Best travel months for Crete
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Historical monthly averages, not a weather forecast. Individual days and years can differ substantially.
Latest 5-year values 2021–2025
Average of the five most recent complete years compared with the 1991–2025 climate average.
January · Mean daily maximum
15.6 °C
1991–2025: 14.4 °C
+1.2 °C · higher
January · Wet days
13.2 days/month
1991–2025: 15.3 days/month
-2.1 days/month · lower
November · Monthly precipitation
42.5 mm/month
1991–2025: 60.8 mm/month
-18.3 mm/month · lower
August · Sea temperature
26.4 °C
1991–2025: 25.5 °C
+0.9 °C · higher
June: 12/150 days at or above 30 °C; highest single value 37.2 °C.
Five-year historical sample, not a weather forecast or long-term climate trend. Individual hot days can be far above the monthly mean.
Annual profile · Coast and sea
Crete: the swimming season follows two curves
Average daily highs vary by 13.6 °C through the year, while the sea varies by 9.8 °C. Air and water temperature should therefore be considered separately.
The practical difference
The month with the highest daytime temperature and the month with the warmest sea need not define the same travel window. Rain and sunshine help resolve the trade-off.
Warmest sea
August · 25.5 °C
Highest average daily high
July and August · 27.9 °C
Fewest rainy days
July · 0.9
Most sunshine
June · 9.7 h
Month by month
Overall suitability per month. Tap a month for details.
All climate figures compared
The table is the complete accessible data view; the charts below highlight selected patterns.
| Month | Avg high °C | Avg low °C | Rainy days (est.) | Rain mm | Sun h/day (est.) | Humidity % | Wind m/s | Sea °C | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 14 | 12 | 15 | 91 | 2.9 | 76 | 5.3 | 16 | 36 |
| February | 14 | 11 | 13 | 75 | 3.9 | 75 | 5.5 | 16 | 41 |
| March | 16 | 12 | 10 | 49 | 5.6 | 75 | 5.0 | 16 | 52 |
| April | 18 | 14 | 6 | 23 | 7.3 | 72 | 4.4 | 17 | 69 |
| May | 22 | 18 | 4 | 15 | 8.6 | 70 | 3.8 | 19 | 84 |
| June | 26 | 21 | 2 | 6 | 9.7 | 68 | 4.2 | 23 | 92 |
| July | 28 | 24 | 1 | 3 | 9.5 | 68 | 5.0 | 25 | 91 |
| August | 28 | 24 | 1 | 4 | 8.6 | 70 | 4.9 | 26 | 91 |
| September | 26 | 22 | 5 | 18 | 7.0 | 68 | 4.4 | 25 | 93 |
| October | 23 | 20 | 9 | 45 | 5.0 | 72 | 4.2 | 23 | 83 |
| November | 19 | 16 | 11 | 61 | 3.4 | 73 | 4.5 | 20 | 66 |
| December | 16 | 13 | 15 | 92 | 2.6 | 75 | 5.2 | 18 | 43 |
Climate through the year
Compare temperature, rainy days, sunshine and, for coastal destinations, sea temperature month by month.
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Where to stay in Crete
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Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Crete?
The strongest climate months are June, July, August, September. Values are historical averages, not a forecast.
Which month has the highest average daily maximum temperature in Crete?
Average daily maximum temperatures in Crete are practically tied in July and August at around 28 °C.
When is the sea warmest at Crete?
In August, at around 26 °C.