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Best Time to Visit Greece (2021 GUIDE)
Crete island is one of the warmest places in Greece and the best time to visit the island is between May and October which is where you will get the best weather and the most sunny days. However, this is also the time where you will get the highest prices on accommodation and flights.
I honestly believe that the best time to visit Crete is between May and October which is basically what is called the “high season”.
During these months you are going to get the warmest weather, the most available hotels and resorts while all beaches will be available for swimming and full of life.
READ ALSO: Best Hotels in Crete
READ ALSO: Where To Stay in Crete
Crete has some of the warmest weathers in all of Greece but the best time to visit the island is between May and October.
If you are looking for hot weather, beach life and swimming then you should visit Crete in May, June, July, August , September or October.
June, July , August and September are the hottest months of the year on the island of Crete and you will get more than 30 degrees Celsius (more than 85F) and sushine on daily basis!
READ ALSO: Best Things to Do in Crete
The weather in May might still be slightly unstable and you may get some rain and some chilly nights with temperatures less than 20 degrees Celsius (20 F) but you will almost certainly get 90% sunny weather. Also, bear in mind that the seas might still be a bit chilly for swimming but all stores, hotels, restaurants and other businesses will be open as it is literally the beginning of the high season.
If you don’t care at all about the warm weather and you only want to do sightseeing, enjoy the cultural heritage and visit places like Knossos and Heraklion Archaeological Museum, then you can literally visit Crete anytime of the year as chances are you will definitely get some sunny weather and temperatures above 10 degrees Celsius.
However, it is important to mention that you will have a much better time if you eliminate the chance of getting any rain (quite common in western Crete during the winter months of November-March) so I would advice you to visit Crete during April, May or October.
I believe that the best month for family holidays with kids would be late June or July as August seems to be very busy as everywhere else in Greece (it’s also the month that most greeks go on holidays). During June or July, the weather is sunny and warm and the kids are going to love the sea or any of the amazing all inclusive resorts with their swimming pools and kids facilities.
If you want to get the absolute cheapest deals on Crete holidays you have to go either in April-May or mid to late October where everything will be shutting down but you would still be able to swim in the sea. Bear in mind that April is always the month of the greek easter and it’s always wise to check if your days n the island coincide with these celebrations as transportation and businesses are disrupted.
Crete in October is a relatively warm month with lots of sunny days and a small chance of rain towards the end of the month. Crete is a very big island and nothing basically shuts down as n other smaller islands such as Santorini or Mykonos. It’s a great month to visit the island as you will still be able to swim in the sea and this time is considered the end of the high season or as others call it the “shoulder season” in Greece. You will also be able to find cheaper deals on hotels and flights as it is definitely not recommended for people with kids that go to school. It’s good to know that you would need to pack a few light jackets because it can be chilly during the night 9as it is the case in all greek islands during September and October).
Crete in the winter is not that warm and you may find areas (especially up on the mountains) with heavy snow and harsh weather. Crete is a relatively big island (the same size as Hawaii ‘s big island!) and it feels like mainland Greece in many cases. You will find large lakes and high mountains on its landscape. However, Crete has a very large population f more than 700.000 people in total and especially the large cities are all functional during those months. It is an island that does not stop being alive when tourism stops like Santorini or Mykonos for example). In fact, the opposite happens. Locals in Crete are waiting the touris season to come to an end in order to get on with their other jobs!
The weather during the winter in Crete can be quite unpredictable though and you will definitely not be able to swim in the sea. You may get 20 degrees and suny but you may also get 0 degrees Celsius and snow or heavy rainfalls.
However, visiting Crete during the winter is a definitely different experience and one that will definitely save you some money as well!
READ THE COMPLETE GUIDE: Where to Stay in Crete
Unless you are staying in an all-inclusive resort in Crete then you would definitely need a car on the island and more than 5 days in total. The best area to stay in Crete is the western part of the island or the “Chania prefecture”, as it has the most picturesque villages, the gorgeous Samaria Gorge, the beautiful beaches of Balos, Falassarna, Platanias, Elafonissi and obviously the most picturesque town of Crete which is Chania old town
CONCLUSION
This is it then!
The best time to visit Crete is between the months of May to October where you will enjoy the warm weather and the beach life as you will be able to swim in the warm sea waters.
Crete is a big island and it doesn’t shut down when the tourists go. Its economy is not that reliable to tourism.
If you want to save some money you should visit Crete in April, early May or late October.
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