Crete in May
Warm hiking season
By Daan · Last reviewed October 2026
The short answer
May is the best month to visit Crete.
May is warm and dry, great for hiking, with the Samaria Gorge usually open.
May in detail
What May actually feels like
- Weather
- 16–24°C
- Warm, sunny and dry.
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Prices
- €€
- Good value.
+The gorge usually opens.
–Sea still fresh.
My tip for May
Start the Samaria Gorge early; it is a long day.
- Hiking
- Beach
How May compares
Against the other eleven months
1st of 12 overall in Crete, 2nd for weather, 8th for space, 8th 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 May
- Samaria Gorge season
- The gorge opens and closes with the weather; check the park before you go.
About May–October
Weather
Weather in Crete in May
In May Crete averages a high of 24°C (75°F) and a low of 16°C (61°F), with about 13 mm of rain or snow over 2 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
- 24°C
- 75°F
- Average low
- 16°C
- 61°F
- Precipitation
- 13 mm
- Wet days
- 2
Climate data: Heraklion, Nikos Kazantzakis Airport (1991–2020). Temperatures are averages of daily highs and lows.
Quick answers
Crete in May: the questions people ask
- Is May a good time to visit Crete?
- May is the best month to visit Crete. It ranks 1 of 12 months in Crete overall (2 for weather, 8 for space, 8 for value). The main upside: The gorge usually opens. The main downside: Sea still fresh.
- What is the weather like in Crete in May?
- Average highs are around 24°C and lows around 16°C. Expect about 13 mm of rain or snow over roughly 2 wet days. Warm, sunny and dry. For comparison, the warmest month is July (around 30°C) and the coolest is January (around 15°C).
- Is Crete crowded in May?
- Crowds are moderate. Moderate. The quietest month is January.
- How expensive is Crete in May?
- Prices are at level 2 of 5 (€€). Good value. 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 (this month). The quietest month is January and the best value is January.