Month guide · Crete · Greece
Crete in December
What December is really like in Crete: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Michael Brys, CC BY 2.0
Quick answer
December is a quieter month with trade-offs. Expect average highs of 17°C (63°F), lows of 11°C (52°F), about 10 rainy days and roughly 9.8 hours of daylight. Rainy spells and snow on the peaks; Chania, Rethymno and Heraklion have Christmas lights and open restaurants.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 17°C (63°F) / 11°C (52°F)
- Rainy days
- About 10
- Daylight
- About 9.8 hours
- Sea temperature
- 18°C (64°F)
- Crowds
- Very quiet
- Hotel prices
- Lowest
Weather in December
December is the 10th-warmest month in Crete: days average 17°C (63°F) against a yearly average high of 23°C (73°F), and nights fall to about 11°C (52°F). Rain falls on roughly 10 of its 31 days. Compared with November (20°C (68°F)), December is cooler; by January highs stay near 16°C (61°F).
- Sunrise (15 December)
- About 07:22
- Sunset (15 December)
- About 17:10
- Daylight
- About 9.8 hours
- Sea
- 18°C (64°F)
Winter (December–February). Mild but rainy, with snow on the mountains; resorts close, but cities and villages carry on as usual.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, December rates 1 for crowds (the peak is July at 5) and 1 for hotel prices (highest in July). That makes December one of the better-value months to book.
Events in December
December has no major recurring festival in Crete, which usually means easier bookings.
What to do in December
With frequent rain, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
Castle · Heraklion
Koules Fortress and Heraklion's Venetian walls
The 16th-century Venetian sea fortress guards Heraklion's old harbour, with views from its roof terrace.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Views
- Architecture
Beach · Sitia
Vai Palm Beach
Combine it with Toplou Monastery and the Minoan site at Zakros on a day in the east.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- Outdoors
- Kids
Museum · Heraklion
Heraklion Archaeological Museum
The principal collection of Minoan art, including the original frescoes from Knossos such as the bull-leaping scene, the faience snake goddesses, the bull's-head rhyton and the mysterious Phaistos Disc with its stamped spiral of symbols.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Art
- Rainy day
- Iconic
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 17°C, lows near 11°C and 10 wet days: layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is December a good time to visit Crete?
A quieter month with trade-offs. If your dates are flexible, May–June and September–October are better overall. Compare every month.
Crete in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is December a good time to visit Crete?
It is a quieter month with trade-offs. Rainy spells and snow on the peaks; Chania, Rethymno and Heraklion have Christmas lights and open restaurants.
+How warm is Crete in December?
Average highs are around 17°C (63°F) and lows around 11°C (52°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Crete in December?
Expect rain on about 10 days of the month.