Month guide · Crete · Greece
Crete in April
What April is really like in Crete: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Unknown author, Public domain
Quick answer
April is a good-value shoulder-season month. Expect average highs of 21°C (70°F), lows of 12°C (54°F), about 4 rainy days and roughly 13 hours of daylight. Spring flowers and Easter celebrations, with most hotels opening; ideal for hiking and archaeological sites.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 21°C (70°F) / 12°C (54°F)
- Rainy days
- About 4
- Daylight
- About 13 hours
- Sea temperature
- 17°C (63°F)
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in April
April is the 7th-warmest month in Crete: days average 21°C (70°F) against a yearly average high of 23°C (73°F), and nights fall to about 12°C (54°F). Rain falls on roughly 4 of its 30 days. Compared with March (18°C (64°F)), April is warmer; by May highs climb to around 24°C (75°F).
- Sunrise (15 April)
- About 06:48
- Sunset (15 April)
- About 19:53
- Daylight
- About 13 hours
- Sea
- 17°C (63°F)
Spring (March–May). Wildflowers, Easter festivities and good hiking; the sea is cool until late May.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, April rates 2 for crowds (the peak is July at 5) and 2 for hotel prices (highest in July). That makes April one of the better-value months to book.
Events in April
- Orthodox Easter, with village processions and roast lamb (date varies)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in April
Mild, settled days suit walking, viewpoints and time outdoors.
Waterfront · Chania Old Town
Chania Old Town and Venetian Harbour
A crescent of Venetian and Ottoman buildings lines Chania's harbour, from the domed Küçük Hasan mosque to the stone lighthouse at the end of the breakwater.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Couples
- After dark
- Photo spot
Religious site · Rethymno
Arkadi Monastery
Combine it with lunch in a nearby mountain village, then return to Rethymno for sunset at the Fortezza.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
Nature · Lasithi Plateau
Lasithi Plateau and the Dikteon Cave
A fertile upland plain ringed by mountains, once dotted with thousands of white-sailed windmills used for irrigation, a few of which survive.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- Kids
- History
Aquarium · Hersonissos and Malia
Cretaquarium
Combine it with a beach afternoon nearby, or go when the midday sun is too strong for the beach.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
What to pack
For highs near 21°C, lows near 12°C and 4 wet days: light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; comfortable walking shoes.
Is April a good time to visit Crete?
A good-value shoulder-season month, with a notable event on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, May–June and September–October are better overall. Compare every month.
Crete in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is April a good time to visit Crete?
It is a good-value shoulder-season month. Spring flowers and Easter celebrations, with most hotels opening; ideal for hiking and archaeological sites.
+How warm is Crete in April?
Average highs are around 21°C (70°F) and lows around 12°C (54°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Crete in April?
Expect rain on about 4 days of the month, so it is usually dry.