Month by month, and what each season is actually like on the ground.

In short. The best months in Crete are May, June, September and early October — warm days, warm sea, and far fewer people than high summer. July and August are reliably hot, often above 30°C, and the busiest and most expensive. April is green and mild but the sea is still cold. November to March is mild by northern European standards, and the wettest part of the year. The sea is at its warmest from late July into October.

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Crete weather, month by month

Typical figures for the Chania region in north-west Crete. Averages, not promises — a given week can sit either side of them.
Month Day high Night low Sea What it’s like
January ~16°C ~9°C ~16°C Mild, green, wettest. Snow on the mountains.
February ~16°C ~9°C ~15°C Almond blossom. Still wet, still quiet.
March ~18°C ~10°C ~16°C Wildflowers begin. Walking weather.
April ~21°C ~12°C ~17°C Green and beautiful. Sea still bracing.
May ~25°C ~16°C ~20°C Excellent. Warm, quiet, everything open.
June ~29°C ~20°C ~23°C Hot, dry, long days. Sea comfortable.
July ~31°C ~22°C ~25°C Hot and busy. The meltemi wind picks up.
August ~31°C ~23°C ~26°C Hottest, busiest, priciest. Warmest sea.
September ~28°C ~20°C ~25°C Arguably the best month. Warm sea, calmer.
October ~24°C ~17°C ~23°C Lovely early on. First rains later.
November ~20°C ~14°C ~21°C Mild, quiet, changeable. Sea still swimmable.
December ~17°C ~11°C ~18°C Mild and wet. Very quiet.

The best time to visit Crete, season by season

Crete has a long season. The weather in Crete is warm enough for the beach from May to October, and mild the rest of the year, so the best time to visit depends on whether you want heat, a warm sea, walking or quiet.
Spring — April and May

The island at its greenest, with wildflowers through April and the gorges running with water. Days are warm without being punishing, and the walking is at its best. The catch is the sea: it lags the air by weeks, so April swimming is for the hardy. By late May it is genuinely warm.

Early summer — June

Arguably the best all-round month. Hot, dry, long days, warm sea, everything open, and prices and crowds still below the peak. The landscape has begun to turn gold rather than green.

High summer — July and August

Reliably hot, frequently above 30°C, and the sea at its warmest. Also the busiest and most expensive, with the famous beaches crowded by mid-morning and Chania’s stone streets holding the heat late. A private pool matters more in these two months than in any other. The meltemi, a north wind, blows for days at a time — cooling, but it churns up the north-facing beaches.

Autumn — September and October

Our favourite. The sea is at its warmest in September, the air has come off its peak, and the crowds thin markedly after the first week. Early October is often still perfect; later in the month the first rains arrive and the island starts to green again.

Aquarelles by Danny

Crete in September

If we had to pick one month, it would be September. The sea has had a whole summer to warm up, the heat has eased from its August peak, and once the school holidays end the beaches and roads empty noticeably.

Why September works

  • The sea is at its warmest, around 25°C, and stays swimmable into November.
  • Days around 28°C, with cooler evenings for eating outside.
  • Fewer people after the first week, at Balos and Elafonissi as much as in Chania old town.
  • Walking returns as the heat comes off, and the gorges become pleasant again towards the end of the month.
  • Harvest season in the villages, with grapes coming in and raki distilling beginning in the autumn.

Is May or October the best time to visit Crete?

May is the spring equivalent: green hills, warm days and quiet beaches, with a cooler sea. Early October is often as good as September, with the first rains usually later in the month.

The best time, depending on what you want

If you want Go in
The warmest sea August, or September for the same warmth with fewer people
Walking and the gorges April, May, or October — Samaria is usually shut in winter
Wildflowers and green hills March and April
Balos and Elafonissi without the crowds May, June, or late September
The best value May, June, October
School holidays, accepting the heat July and August — book early, and want a private pool
Quiet and cheap, not swimming November to March
Planning the days themselves? See our guides to the best beaches in Crete and things to do in Crete.

When our villas are open

Bleverde’s two villas are let from March to November, with weekly rates that follow the seasons: lowest in spring and late autumn, highest in July and August. Both have private saltwater pools, which make the difference in high summer.
Weekly rates by season Availability calendars

Frequently asked questions

What is the best month to visit Crete?

May, June, September and early October are the best all-round months: warm days, warm sea, and far fewer people than July and August. September is our own favourite. Check which weeks are free on the availability calendars.

One of the best months. Days are around 28°C, the sea is close to its warmest after a whole summer of heating, and crowds drop noticeably after the first week. It is a good month for both beaches and walking.

Typically above 30°C by day and rarely below 23°C at night, with inland spells hotter. It is the warmest sea of the year and the busiest time on the island. A villa with a private pool, like Villa Elia or Villa Levanda, makes August much easier.

The sea is around 17°C in April, which is bracing, and around 20°C by May, which most people find comfortable. The air is pleasant in both, and May is one of the best months for walking.

November to March, with December and January the wettest. Even then it comes in spells rather than continuously, and days between are often bright and mild.

A dry north wind that blows across the Aegean mainly in July and August, sometimes for several days. It takes the edge off the heat but makes north-facing beaches choppy, so head for a sheltered bay or the south coast. Our beaches guide notes which beaches are sheltered.

For walking, food, villages and quiet, yes. It stays mild, and the mountains get snow while the coast does not. Not for a beach holiday, and some coastal businesses close.

Spring and late autumn. Our own weekly rates are lowest from March to May and from October to November, and highest in July and August.

Whenever you come

Two villas with private saltwater pools in the hills above Gavalochori — which matter most in July and August, and are lovely in May and October.
See the villas Check availability