Crete in December
Winter in town
By Daan · Last reviewed October 2026
The short answer
December is a reasonable month in Crete — with trade-offs.
December is quiet and wet, with a local holiday feel in Chania and Heraklion.
December in detail
What December actually feels like
- Weather
- 11–17°C
- Mild and wet.
- Crowds
- Low
- Very quiet.
- Prices
- €
- The lowest rates.
+Local holiday atmosphere.
–Wet and many resorts closed.
My tip for December
Base yourself in Chania for winter walks.
- City break
- Holidays
How December compares
Against the other eleven months
7th of 12 overall in Crete, 11th for weather, 1st for space, 1st for value. The emptiest month is January; the best value is January.
See all twelve months for CretePlan around
What’s on in Crete in December
- Winter closures
- Beach resorts close, but Chania, Heraklion and Rethymno stay open.
November–March
Not set on December?
Even stronger months in Crete
Also good in December
Weather
Weather in Crete in December
In December Crete averages a high of 17°C (63°F) and a low of 11°C (52°F), with about 82 mm of rain or snow over 9 wet days. The warmest month is July (around 30°C) and the coolest is January (around 15°C); the wettest month is December.
- Average high
- 17°C
- 63°F
- Average low
- 11°C
- 52°F
- Precipitation
- 82 mm
- Wet days
- 9
Climate data: Heraklion, Nikos Kazantzakis Airport (1991–2020). Temperatures are averages of daily highs and lows.
Quick answers
Crete in December: the questions people ask
- Is December a good time to visit Crete?
- December is a reasonable month in Crete — with trade-offs. It ranks 7 of 12 months in Crete overall (11 for weather, 1 for space, 1 for value). The main upside: Local holiday atmosphere. The main downside: Wet and many resorts closed.
- What is the weather like in Crete in December?
- Average highs are around 17°C and lows around 11°C. Expect about 82 mm of rain or snow over roughly 9 wet days. Mild and wet. For comparison, the warmest month is July (around 30°C) and the coolest is January (around 15°C).
- Is Crete crowded in December?
- Crowds are low. Very quiet. The quietest month is January.
- How expensive is Crete in December?
- Prices are at level 1 of 5 (€). The lowest rates. The best-value month is January.
- When is the best time to visit Crete?
- In the CrowdFreeViews month scores, April is the best month overall (December ranks 7 of 12). The quietest month is January and the best value is January.