Season guide · Crete · Greece
Crete in spring
March–May: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: C messier, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Wildflowers, Easter festivities and good hiking; the sea is cool until late May. Expect highs up to 24°C (75°F) and lows around 10°C (50°F), with about 13 rainy days across March–May. May is among the best months of the year to visit.
Key facts
- Months
- March–May
- Temperatures
- 10°C (50°F) to 24°C (75°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 13
- Sea
- 16°C (61°F) to 19°C (66°F)
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in spring
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March | 18°C (64°F) | 10°C (50°F) | 7 | 11.9 h | 1/5 |
| April | 21°C (70°F) | 12°C (54°F) | 4 | 13 h | 2/5 |
| May | 24°C (75°F) | 15°C (59°F) | 2 | 14 h | 3/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 21°C (70°F) against a yearly 23°C (73°F), and 13 of the year's roughly 55 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 2/5 and hotel prices 2/5 on average.
What's on in spring
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- April: Orthodox Easter, with village processions and roast lamb (date varies)
- May: Battle of Crete commemorations around Chania (around 20 May)
- May: Samaria Gorge usually opens for the season (May)
Make the most of the weather
Nature · White Mountains
Samaria Gorge
One of Europe's best-known gorge hikes runs about 16 km from the Omalos plateau down to the sea at Agia Roumeli, through pine forest and the Iron Gates, where the walls close to a few metres apart.
- Time needed
- Full day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Active
- Nature
- Outdoors
- Iconic
Beach · Kissamos
Balos Lagoon and Gramvousa
Take the first boat or go by car early to see the lagoon from the viewpoint path before the crowds arrive.
- Time needed
- Full day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Views
- Outdoors
- Photo spot
Beach · Southwest Crete
Elafonisi
A protected island and lagoon in the southwest where crushed shells tint the sand pink in places.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Kids
- Nature
- Photo spot
- Outdoors
Island · Agios Nikolaos and Elounda
Spinalonga
Take the short boat from Plaka, and allow time for a swim and lunch in Plaka afterwards.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Kids
- Views
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
Day trips in spring
- Santorini (About 2 hours each way by high-speed ferry) — Seasonal fast ferries from Heraklion make a long day trip to Santorini's caldera villages possible, with time for Fira and Oia; organised tours handle the transfers on the island.
- Chrissi island (About 1 hour by boat from Ierapetra) — A protected, uninhabited island off the south-east coast with shallow turquoise water, shell-strewn beaches and an ancient juniper forest growing on sand dunes.
What to pack
- Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening
- A packable rain jacket for showers
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is spring a good time to visit Crete?
Yes: May is among the best months. Wildflowers, Easter festivities and good hiking; the sea is cool until late May.
+What is the weather like in Crete in spring?
Highs of up to 24°C (75°F) and lows around 10°C (50°F), with about 13 rainy days over the season.