Crete
Greece's largest island, with Minoan palaces, Venetian harbour towns, mountain gorges and coves along about 1,046 km of coast.
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Crete is Greece's largest and most populous island and the fifth largest in the Mediterranean. It lies at the southern edge of the Aegean, with the Sea of Crete to the north and the Libyan Sea to the south. The island is about 260 km from east to west and up to 60 km wide. Heraklion, the capital and largest city, sits on the north coast, and three mountain ranges run from west to east through the middle.
Most visitors come for the Minoan palace of Knossos near Heraklion, the Venetian old towns of Chania and Rethymno, and hiking in gorges such as Samaria, which runs through a national park. The island suits trips built around history, walking and beaches. Because it is long, choose one or two bases rather than trying to cover it in a few days. May to June and September to October are considered the best times to visit, with milder weather, lower prices and fewer crowds.
Crete in five
- Rent a carBuses link the north coast towns, but beaches, gorges and villages are far easier by car. Mountain roads are slow.
- Plan Samaria Gorge for the open seasonThe gorge usually opens from about May to October and closes on days of heavy rain or high heat. The 16 km walk ends by the sea, with a ferry out.
- Book a Knossos time slotThe Minoan palace near Heraklion is busiest mid morning. Book online and go at opening, then see the finds in Heraklion's museum.
- Split the trip in twoChania suits the west, with Balos and Elafonisi. Heraklion or Rethymno suits Knossos and the center.
Neighborhoods
Where to stay in Crete, the full guide
Hania
- Best for: First visits, old streets, museums
- Price band: $$$
- Venetian old town and harbour on foot
- Maritime Museum of Crete and Venizelos Residence Museum
- Chania ferries from Piraeus arrive at Souda port
Skip if you need to be close to Knossos or Heraklion airport.
Rethymno
- Best for: Mid-island base, castle visits
- Price band: $$
- Venetian fortress is a popular stop
- Ferry port on the north coast
- Between Chania and Heraklion by road
Skip if you want to be near Knossos, which is closer to Heraklion.
Agios Nikolaos
- Best for: Spinalonga day trips, east coast beaches
- Price band: $$$
- Boats to Spinalonga run from here
- Ferry port on the east coast
- Elounda is nearby for the same boats
Skip if you want to be near Chania's museums and harbour.
Heraklion
A working city on Crete's north coast, Heraklion suits travelers who want Minoan ruins, Venetian streets and a base for the rest of the island.
Things to do in Crete
See all attractions in Crete
Need to know
- Airport
- Heraklion (HER) and Chania (CHQ)
- Getting there
- Overnight ferries from Piraeus about 8–9 hours; flights from Athens
- Getting around
- Rental car; buses along the north coast
- Best base
- Chania for the west, Rethymno or Heraklion for the center
- Time needed
- 5–7 days
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- JanuaryPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh15°Low9°Mild, rainJanuaryPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 61 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, rain
- FebruaryPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh15°Low9°Mild, rainFebruaryPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 64 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, rain
- MarchPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh17°Low10°Mild, flowersMarchPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 17°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 69 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, flowers
- AprilClear5 rainy daysHigh20°Low13°Spring, EasterAprilClear
Best
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 26 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring, Easter
- MayClear6 rainy daysHigh24°Low16°Warm, gorges openMayClear
Best
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 32 mm
- Rainy days
- 6
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, gorges open
- JuneClear3 rainy daysHigh28°Low20°Warm, sea warmingJuneClear
Best
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 20°
- Precipitation
- 12 mm
- Rainy days
- 3
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, sea warming
- JulyClear2 rainy daysHigh30°Low23°Hot, windy, busyJulyClear
Best
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 6 mm
- Rainy days
- 2
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, windy, busy
- AugustClear1 rainy dayHigh30°Low23°Hot, busiestAugustClear
Best
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 7 mm
- Rainy days
- 1
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, busiest
- SeptemberClear4 rainy daysHigh27°Low21°Warm sea, calmerSeptemberClear
Best
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 21°
- Precipitation
- 17 mm
- Rainy days
- 4
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm sea, calmer
- OctoberClear5 rainy daysHigh24°Low18°Warm, fewer boatsOctoberClear
Best
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 18°
- Precipitation
- 29 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, fewer boats
- NovemberPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh20°Low15°Mild, rainNovemberPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 46 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, rain
- DecemberPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh16°Low11°Mild, quietDecemberPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 70 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, quiet
Average daily high and low in Heraklion, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Crete
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
16
- Feels like
- 15°
- Humidity
- 74%
- Wind
- 8 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 63%
Crete
10:46 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today12°10°63%Monday: Cloudy. High 12°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 63%.
- Tue12°10°10%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 12°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 10%.
- Wed14°8°0%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 14°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Thu10°6°3%Thursday: Cloudy. High 10°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 3%.
- Fri6°3°0%Friday: Cloudy. High 6°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sat8°3°0%Saturday: Cloudy. High 8°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sun10°4°6%Sunday: Fog. High 10°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 6%.
Updated 06:26 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Day trips by train
- Samaria Gorgea full day from Chania by bus and ferryThe 16 km walk from Xyloskalo to Agia Roumeli, open in season.Read the guide
- Balos lagoonabout 1.5 hours from Chania by car or boatA shallow lagoon under the Gramvousa peninsula.
- Elafonisiabout 1.5–2 hours from Chania by carA beach with pink-tinged sand and shallow water in the southwest.
- Spinalongaabout 15 minutes by boat from EloundaA Venetian island fortress, later a leper colony.Read the guide
Before you go to Crete
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Rules for Crete, checked
- Greece is in the Schengen Area. Check entry rules on the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs site (mfa.gr) before you fly.Source
- Non-EU visitors are registered at the border under the EU Entry/Exit System. Check the European Commission's current EES guidance before you travel.
- Firearms are strictly regulated in Greece, and carry and use laws are strict, so leave any weapon at home.
- Loggerhead turtles nest on beaches around Rethymno, Chania and the Mesara gulf. Take care on those shores.
- Ferries are the only way in to Loutro and Agia Roumeli, which have no road link. Check sailing times before you plan a walk or a day out.
Plan around Crete
Islands, ferries, entry rules and money
Read the guideChaniaThe Venetian harbor and the west coast
Read the guideHeraklionKnossos, the museum and the main airport
Read the guideRethymnoAn old town between the two
Read the guideSamaria GorgeThe long gorge walk and its season
Read the guideBest time to visit GreeceWhich months suit islands and cities
Read the guideFerries, buses and trainsGetting around Greece by sea and land
Read the guideCrete FAQ
How many days do I need in Crete?
At least five, and a week is better. Split them between the west and the center or east.
Chania or Heraklion: where should I stay?
Chania has the prettier old town and the western beaches. Heraklion has Knossos, the museum and the main airport.
When is Samaria Gorge open?
Usually from about May to October, subject to weather. It closes on days with rain or extreme heat, so check the day before.
When is the best time to visit Crete?
May, June, September and October are warm with open gorges and calm seas. July and August are hot and busy, and many places close from November to March.
Can you do Crete without a car?
Along the north coast, yes: buses link Chania, Rethymno, Heraklion and Agios Nikolaos. Gorges, the southwest beaches and mountain villages need a car or an organized tour.