Season guide · Crete · Greece
Crete in autumn
September–November: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Olaf Tausch, CC BY 3.0
Quick answer
Warm sea into October, grape and olive harvests and raki-distilling season; quieter beaches. Expect highs up to 27°C (81°F) and lows around 13°C (55°F), with about 11 rainy days across September–November. September–October are among the best months of the year to visit.
Key facts
- Months
- September–November
- Temperatures
- 13°C (55°F) to 27°C (81°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 11
- Sea
- 20°C (68°F) to 24°C (75°F)
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in autumn
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September | 27°C (81°F) | 19°C (66°F) | 1 | 12.3 h | 4/5 |
| October | 24°C (75°F) | 16°C (61°F) | 4 | 11.2 h | 3/5 |
| November | 20°C (68°F) | 13°C (55°F) | 6 | 10.3 h | 1/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 24°C (75°F) against a yearly 23°C (73°F), and 11 of the year's roughly 55 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 3/5 and hotel prices 3/5 on average.
What's on in autumn
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- October: Kazanemata raki-distilling gatherings in villages (usually late October to November)
- October: Samaria Gorge usually closes at the end of October
- November: Arkadi Monastery anniversary commemoration (8 November)
Make the most of the weather
Castle · Rethymno
Rethymno Old Town and Fortezza
The Venetians built the Fortezza on a headland above Rethymno in the 16th century after pirate raids; inside are a domed mosque and wide views.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Views
- Architecture
- Kids
Historic site · Messara plain
Phaistos and Gortyn
Combine both sites in a morning and finish with a swim and lunch at Matala.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Views
- Off the beaten path
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
Beach · Plakias
Preveli Beach and palm forest
The path down from the car park is steep and takes about 15 minutes; boats from Plakias or Agia Galini are an alternative in summer.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Nature
- Outdoors
- Couples
- Free
Beach · Messara plain
Matala
A small south-coast bay where Roman-era tombs carved into the soft cliffs were later home to a 1960s and 70s hippie community.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Couples
- Views
Day trips in autumn
- Archanes (About 25 minutes by car from Heraklion) — A restored wine village of neoclassical houses below Mount Giouchtas, with Minoan sites nearby, wineries in the surrounding hills and village tavernas around the square.
- Lake Kournas (About 50 minutes by car from Chania) — Crete's only natural freshwater lake lies in a green bowl of hills near Georgioupoli, with pedal boats, turtles in the shallows and lakeside tavernas.
What to pack
- Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is autumn a good time to visit Crete?
Yes: September–October are among the best months. Warm sea into October, grape and olive harvests and raki-distilling season; quieter beaches.
+What is the weather like in Crete in autumn?
Highs of up to 27°C (81°F) and lows around 13°C (55°F), with about 11 rainy days over the season.