Month guide · Crete · Greece
Crete in January
What January is really like in Crete: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Parisdent, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
January is a quieter month with trade-offs. Expect average highs of 16°C (61°F), lows of 9°C (48°F), about 11 rainy days and roughly 10 hours of daylight. Mild and wet in the towns, with snow on the White Mountains and Psiloritis; resorts are closed but cities stay lively.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 16°C (61°F) / 9°C (48°F)
- Rainy days
- About 11
- Daylight
- About 10 hours
- Sea temperature
- 17°C (63°F)
- Crowds
- Very quiet
- Hotel prices
- Lowest
Weather in January
January is the 11th-warmest 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 11 of its 31 days. Compared with December (17°C (63°F)), January is about as warm; by February highs stay near 16°C (61°F).
- Sunrise (15 January)
- About 07:28
- Sunset (15 January)
- About 17:31
- Daylight
- About 10 hours
- Sea
- 17°C (63°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, January rates 1 for crowds (the peak is July at 5) and 1 for hotel prices (highest in July). That makes January one of the better-value months to book.
Events in January
January has no major recurring festival in Crete, which usually means easier bookings.
What to do in January
With frequent rain, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
Museum · Heraklion
Heraklion Archaeological Museum
Visit after Knossos so the frescoes and objects connect to what you have just seen.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Art
- Rainy day
- Iconic
Aquarium · Hersonissos and Malia
Cretaquarium
A large aquarium at Gournes, about 15 km east of Heraklion, with tanks of Mediterranean marine life including sharks, jellyfish and seahorses.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
Historic site · Heraklion
Knossos
Arrive at opening or in the late afternoon to avoid the heat and tour groups, and see the museum in Heraklion the same day.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- History
- Kids
- Architecture
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
What to pack
For highs near 16°C, lows near 9°C and 11 wet days: layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is January 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 January a good time to visit Crete?
It is a quieter month with trade-offs. Mild and wet in the towns, with snow on the White Mountains and Psiloritis; resorts are closed but cities stay lively.
+How warm is Crete in January?
Average highs are around 16°C (61°F) and lows around 9°C (48°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Crete in January?
Expect rain on about 11 days of the month.