What will the weather be like during your stay on Crete? How busy are things in each month? Below you will find month by month what it feels like on Crete & gives you an idea as to what to expect & what sort of clothes to bring with you for your holiday.
April in Crete
April in Crete is the start of the season. Beaches are empty without sunbeds or umbrellas to enjoy long walks. The temperature of the sea is still rather chilly but not as cold as the seas in the north of Europe. The weather can be pleasant & in the high teens & maybe even early 20's. The evenings are chillly & you need a light jacket.
Accommodations usually have air conditioning so you can use them for heating. Shop owners in resorts are getting organized & alot of painting is usually done at this time of year. Easter usually falls in April & the Greek Orthodox holy week is very interesting & rather a large festive time on Crete..
The wildflowers are in full bloom. Even pink tulips on the Omalos plain. Although the Samaria Gorge is closed you can still drive up to admire the view & the tulips! Walking in the countryside at this time of year is beautiful, not too hot & the landscape is lush & green from all the winter rain. The White Mountains still have snow on the peaks & are lovely to gaze at when the sun sets upon them.
Accommodations usually have air conditioning so you can use them for heating. Shop owners in resorts are getting organized & alot of painting is usually done at this time of year. Easter usually falls in April & the Greek Orthodox holy week is very interesting & rather a large festive time on Crete..
The wildflowers are in full bloom. Even pink tulips on the Omalos plain. Although the Samaria Gorge is closed you can still drive up to admire the view & the tulips! Walking in the countryside at this time of year is beautiful, not too hot & the landscape is lush & green from all the winter rain. The White Mountains still have snow on the peaks & are lovely to gaze at when the sun sets upon them.
May in Crete
May on Crete is a bit warmer than April. The snow on the White Mountains is melting rapidly. Most shops in resorts are open & ready for business.
Temperatures are in the low to mid 20's. It is still a bit chilly in the evenings so you need to wear a light jacket or sweater at night when out. By mid-May the beaches have come alive with a few sunbeds & umbrellas ready for business. By the end of the month it is getting warmer up to high 20's and feeling very comfortable. You do not need to use air conditioners for heat or cool during the month of May.
There are mosquitoes at this time of year so come prepared if you are prone to getting bitten by using repellants & electric machines with tablets or liquid.
The Samaria gorge is open for walkers (officially from 1st May & dependent on the amount of damage the paths had from the winter rainfall) & the there is a freshness in the air as summer is about to start. Beaches are still very quiet at this time of year. The roads are also not very busy, especially inland. Some of the boat trips are starting to run as well.
The Battle of Crete Commemorations are held & details for the events will be uploaded as & when available for the current year.
Here is the link for the last time events were held in 2019: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/battle-of-crete-commemorations-2019
Temperatures are in the low to mid 20's. It is still a bit chilly in the evenings so you need to wear a light jacket or sweater at night when out. By mid-May the beaches have come alive with a few sunbeds & umbrellas ready for business. By the end of the month it is getting warmer up to high 20's and feeling very comfortable. You do not need to use air conditioners for heat or cool during the month of May.
There are mosquitoes at this time of year so come prepared if you are prone to getting bitten by using repellants & electric machines with tablets or liquid.
The Samaria gorge is open for walkers (officially from 1st May & dependent on the amount of damage the paths had from the winter rainfall) & the there is a freshness in the air as summer is about to start. Beaches are still very quiet at this time of year. The roads are also not very busy, especially inland. Some of the boat trips are starting to run as well.
The Battle of Crete Commemorations are held & details for the events will be uploaded as & when available for the current year.
Here is the link for the last time events were held in 2019: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/battle-of-crete-commemorations-2019
June - July -August
in Crete
From June, the temperatures are very warm, it is summer & everything is up & running in all resorts. All of the fruit of the summer season is ripe, cherries, apricots, peaches, nectarines, melons & watermelons to name a few.
It's all happening in the month of August. Many Greeks have holidays over the 15th of August, so the beaches are busier. Roads are busier & there is a buzz wherever you go. Many celebrations, weddings and festivals happen in the month of August, so there may be live music in the evenings up until the wee hours of the morning.
If you haven't booked accommodation, it is difficult to find something as most places are sold out for the month of August. Car hire companies struggle and there is a lack of cars for rental during the month of August with so many visitors on the island. All of the excursions are running in full swing & are quite busy. It is hot & there is the Meltemi, so the sea can get rough on some days & windy as well, which can be refreshing.
Even the quietest beaches, in remote areas will have some people on them. The more popular resorts & beaches are busy. Evenings are warm & the tsikados are buzzing away in the trees from sunrise to sunset. The smell of jazmine is in the air.
Once the holiday of 15th of August -25th of August is over, things start to slow down a bit as the Greeks are all returning home & soon the children are getting prepared for the start of the new school year. Summer sales at the shops ends at the end of August, so you can find some great bargains as they are all getting ready for their fall collections to arrive.
It's all happening in the month of August. Many Greeks have holidays over the 15th of August, so the beaches are busier. Roads are busier & there is a buzz wherever you go. Many celebrations, weddings and festivals happen in the month of August, so there may be live music in the evenings up until the wee hours of the morning.
If you haven't booked accommodation, it is difficult to find something as most places are sold out for the month of August. Car hire companies struggle and there is a lack of cars for rental during the month of August with so many visitors on the island. All of the excursions are running in full swing & are quite busy. It is hot & there is the Meltemi, so the sea can get rough on some days & windy as well, which can be refreshing.
Even the quietest beaches, in remote areas will have some people on them. The more popular resorts & beaches are busy. Evenings are warm & the tsikados are buzzing away in the trees from sunrise to sunset. The smell of jazmine is in the air.
Once the holiday of 15th of August -25th of August is over, things start to slow down a bit as the Greeks are all returning home & soon the children are getting prepared for the start of the new school year. Summer sales at the shops ends at the end of August, so you can find some great bargains as they are all getting ready for their fall collections to arrive.
September & October
in Crete
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Things are starting to wind down as most of the children are back at school around the second week in September. All beaches are quieter and the seas are calm & warm at this time of year. The evenings are getting a bit cooler but the temperatures in September are lovely during the day time. There may be an odd day of rain in September and in October the possibility of rain is higher. If it does rain, the locals are very happy as the earth & farmers need rain after a long dry summer.
The landscape on Crete is rather brown as it is so dry during the summer. The grapes will get picked & made into wine & come October the ritual Raki making process is done. Chestnuts at the end of October are out & you can enjoy the festivities in Elos.
A jacket is needed at this time of the year for the cooler evenings. Towards the end of October many of the smaller resorts are winding down for the season, so you may have to travel to the larger towns for evening meals.
It is still a beautiful time of year and the sea is very warm as it has collected all of the summer sun's rays. In October the leaves are turning colours. The tsikados have stopped buzzing & the traffic on all roads is much lighter. The museums and archaeological sites are also not as busy as they are in the height of the summer.
Walking is great in September and October as it cooler during the day.
The landscape on Crete is rather brown as it is so dry during the summer. The grapes will get picked & made into wine & come October the ritual Raki making process is done. Chestnuts at the end of October are out & you can enjoy the festivities in Elos.
A jacket is needed at this time of the year for the cooler evenings. Towards the end of October many of the smaller resorts are winding down for the season, so you may have to travel to the larger towns for evening meals.
It is still a beautiful time of year and the sea is very warm as it has collected all of the summer sun's rays. In October the leaves are turning colours. The tsikados have stopped buzzing & the traffic on all roads is much lighter. The museums and archaeological sites are also not as busy as they are in the height of the summer.
Walking is great in September and October as it cooler during the day.
November & December
in crete
Chryssi Akti Beach, Chania, Crete
Orange grove near Varipetro, Chania
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Chania Town Christmas Tree outside the Agora 2021
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The sun is still very warm in November and people still go to the beach when they aren't working. Usually all of the tourists have left and it only the locals who are the last swimmers on the beaches. Glorious warm days can be had in these two months. Although the hours of sunlight are getting less and less each day, it still is warm outside & the use of a jacket in the evenings is a necessity but only at night.
The beaches have been cleared of all sunbeds & umbrellas and the shops that are seasonal have all closed. The Cretans take advantage of any day when the sun is warm to go for a coffee in Chania harbour & a stroll around, especially if it is a Sunday. There can be a storm & if the temperature drops, the White Mountains may get their first dust of snow. A magnificent sight once the storm is over.
The month of December feels festive and is getting more & more Christmasy each year. The main Christmas tree is lit outside the Agora & shops decorate their windows.
Many shops start to sell the Christmas cookies & so you can get a taste of a kourabiera (sugar cookie with almonds & topped with powdered sugar) or melomakarona (honey soaked moist biscuit). Bags of roasted chestnuts are sold by street vendors. It's that time of year when the oranges & mandarins are at their juiciest & literally falling off the trees!
The beaches have been cleared of all sunbeds & umbrellas and the shops that are seasonal have all closed. The Cretans take advantage of any day when the sun is warm to go for a coffee in Chania harbour & a stroll around, especially if it is a Sunday. There can be a storm & if the temperature drops, the White Mountains may get their first dust of snow. A magnificent sight once the storm is over.
The month of December feels festive and is getting more & more Christmasy each year. The main Christmas tree is lit outside the Agora & shops decorate their windows.
Many shops start to sell the Christmas cookies & so you can get a taste of a kourabiera (sugar cookie with almonds & topped with powdered sugar) or melomakarona (honey soaked moist biscuit). Bags of roasted chestnuts are sold by street vendors. It's that time of year when the oranges & mandarins are at their juiciest & literally falling off the trees!
January & february
In crete
Kladisso Beach, Chania, Crete
Nea Chora Beach, Chania, Crete
March in Crete
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