Month guide · Crete · Greece
Crete in March
What March is really like in Crete: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Creteman, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
March is a quieter month with trade-offs. Expect average highs of 18°C (64°F), lows of 10°C (50°F), about 7 rainy days and roughly 11.9 hours of daylight. Wildflowers cover the hills; good walking weather, though the sea is cold and many resorts are still shut.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 18°C (64°F) / 10°C (50°F)
- Rainy days
- About 7
- Daylight
- About 11.9 hours
- Sea temperature
- 16°C (61°F)
- Crowds
- Very quiet
- Hotel prices
- Lowest
Weather in March
March is the 9th-warmest month in Crete: days average 18°C (64°F) against a yearly average high of 23°C (73°F), and nights fall to about 10°C (50°F). Rain falls on roughly 7 of its 31 days. Compared with February (16°C (61°F)), March is warmer; by April highs climb to around 21°C (70°F).
- Sunrise (15 March)
- About 06:32
- Sunset (15 March)
- About 18:28
- Daylight
- About 11.9 hours
- Sea
- 16°C (61°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, March rates 1 for crowds (the peak is July at 5) and 1 for hotel prices (highest in July). That makes March one of the better-value months to book.
Events in March
March has no major recurring festival in Crete, which usually means easier bookings.
What to do in March
Mild, settled days suit walking, viewpoints and time outdoors.
Nature · Sfakia
Imbros Gorge
Arrange a taxi back up to Imbros from Komitades, or walk it as part of a day trip to Chora Sfakion.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Active
- Nature
- Outdoors
- Off the beaten path
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
Historic site · Heraklion
Knossos
The largest Minoan palace, about 5 km south of Heraklion, was the centre of a Bronze Age civilisation more than 3,500 years ago.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- History
- Kids
- Architecture
What to pack
For highs near 18°C, lows near 10°C and 7 wet days: layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is March 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 March a good time to visit Crete?
It is a quieter month with trade-offs. Wildflowers cover the hills; good walking weather, though the sea is cold and many resorts are still shut.
+How warm is Crete in March?
Average highs are around 18°C (64°F) and lows around 10°C (50°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Crete in March?
Expect rain on about 7 days of the month.