Month guide · Crete · Greece
Crete in February
What February is really like in Crete: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Z thomas, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
February is a quieter month with trade-offs. Expect average highs of 16°C (61°F), lows of 9°C (48°F), about 9 rainy days and roughly 10.9 hours of daylight. Green hills and almond blossom; carnival season brings parades to Rethymno.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 16°C (61°F) / 9°C (48°F)
- Rainy days
- About 9
- Daylight
- About 10.9 hours
- Sea temperature
- 16°C (61°F)
- Crowds
- Very quiet
- Hotel prices
- Lowest
Weather in February
February is the coolest month in Crete: days average 16°C (61°F) against a yearly average high of 23°C (73°F), and nights fall to about 9°C (48°F). Rain falls on roughly 9 of its 28 days. Compared with January (16°C (61°F)), February is about as warm; by March highs climb to around 18°C (64°F).
- Sunrise (15 February)
- About 07:07
- Sunset (15 February)
- About 18:03
- Daylight
- About 10.9 hours
- Sea
- 16°C (61°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, February rates 1 for crowds (the peak is July at 5) and 1 for hotel prices (highest in July). That makes February one of the better-value months to book.
Events in February
- Rethymno Carnival — Crete's largest carnival (usually February or early March, before Lent)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in February
Mild, settled days suit walking, viewpoints and time outdoors.
Historic site · Messara plain
Phaistos and Gortyn
The Minoan palace of Phaistos sits on a ridge with views over the Messara plain to Mount Psiloritis; it was here that the Phaistos Disc was found.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Views
- Off the beaten path
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
Neighbourhood · Sfakia
Loutro
Stay a night or two to enjoy the silence after the day-trippers leave.
- Time needed
- Full day or overnight
- Cost
- Low cost
- Couples
- Off the beaten path
- Outdoors
- Nature
What to pack
For highs near 16°C, lows near 9°C and 9 wet days: layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is February a good time to visit Crete?
A quieter month with trade-offs, 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 February a good time to visit Crete?
It is a quieter month with trade-offs. Green hills and almond blossom; carnival season brings parades to Rethymno.
+How warm is Crete in February?
Average highs are around 16°C (61°F) and lows around 9°C (48°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Crete in February?
Expect rain on about 9 days of the month.