Crete Travel Information

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When to Go to Crete

To get the most out of your next adventure it makes sense to consider some of the very local factors that combine to make up what you feel is the best time to travel to a destination. Many of these factors are very personal - some people prefer to travel when the weather is not too hot, or sites too crowded - others prefer to travel when a traditional local event is taking place. Taking into account the dates of public holidays can also make sense as these may have an impact on opening times of attractions, shops and restaurants, or might affect public transport or other services. Conversely public holidays can be a time of great local festivities and celebrations providing a feast of local expressionism and culture.

Climate

Crete has a temperate Mediterranean climate with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers. There are significant differences in the weather between the coastal areas and the mountainous areas, and between the west and the east part of Crete. 

The coastal areas have dry summers and mild winters. The south coast is drier and warmer than the north coast and the east part of Crete is drier and warmer than the western region.

The rainy season starts in late October and lasts to March or sometimes until April.

Winter in the mountains of Crete can be very cold with severe snowfalls and occasionally roads are closed. Up in the high summits of Mount Ida and the White Mountains the snow can sometimes stay until late June.

Seasonality

Spring time in Crete (April) is a great time to visit as temperatures are warm, there is low rainfall and the countryside is full of wildflowers.

During May the weather becomes warm and sunny and is considered the best month for outdoors activities.

The time to enjoy the beaches is during June - August when it is sunny and hot. During July and August however the temperatures can reach 30-35 C.

September is a good time for outdoors activities as the weather is still warm and sunny although it is cooler at night especially in the mountainous areas.

National Holidays

Date	Description
15 Aug 09	Assumption Day
28 Oct 09	Ochi Day
25 Dec 09	Christmas Day
26 Dec 09	Second Day of Christmas
01 Jan 10	New Year's Day
06 Jan 10	Epiphany
25 Mar 10	Independence Day
01 May 10	May Day
15 Aug 10	Assumption Day
28 Oct 10	Ochi Day

National Events

Event	Occurs	Description
Cretan Wine Festival	July 2008	Every July, the Municipal Garden hosts the Cretan Wine Festival to celebrate traditional Cretan and Greek folklore music with plenty of free performances.
Rethymno Renaissance and Wine Festival	July - Aug 2008	At Erofili Theatre, Fortezza. Within the battlements of the fortress of Rethymno lies a theatre in which a Renaissance Festival is held every year. Theatrical performances take place in the Erofili Theatre along with musical concerts, traditional and contemporary dance shows, cinema screenings and art exhibitions. The Wine Festival takes place up at the castle and around the bars of the town.
Wine Festival of Arhanes	August 2008	The little village of Arhanes celebrates its excellent grape produce with a five-day festival every summer with wine-tasting, live entertainment and partying.
Chania Summer Festival	July - Sept 2008	Chania's Summer Festival has a rich and varied programme including concerts, chess evenings, ballet performances, Shakespeare, exhibitions, traditional Cretan dancing and music.
Heraklion Summer Festival	1 July - 25 Sept 2008	Every year Heraklion holds a summer arts festival at venues throughout the city, including the open-air theatres of Nikos Kazantzakis and Manos Hatzidakis.
Tsikoudia Festival	November 2008	Tsikoudia (or "raki") is a strong distilled spirit (36% alcohol per volume), made from the must-residue of the winepress. Crete is especially well known for it, and Voukolies' annual festival makes the most of its variations, serving it with honey and other local products.
St. Nikolaos Day	6 December 2008	On 6 December every year, St Nikolaos Day is celebrated throughout Greece. The saint is the patron of the city of Agios Nikolaos as well as the patron saint of Greece. This day is the start of the holiday season, with sumptuous feasts and gift-giving throughout the country.