Greece
Crete in December
🧥 WinterCool and some showers.
🎒 Pack: light layers
Why December scores 9.2What goes into the score
How it works- Weather comfort8.9
- ✓Cool (17°C highs / 11°C lows)
- ✓Comfortable humidity (dew point 10.4°C)
- ✓Mostly dry (~86 mm rain)
- Air quality9.8
- ✓Good (within WHO guideline) (PM2.5 ~6 µg/m³)
- Seasonal hazards10.0
- ·No notable seasonal hazards
- Safety baseline8.0
- ·Normal precautions
| Dec | May | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 9.2 Excellent | 9.6 Excellent |
| Season | 🧥 Winter | 🌷 Spring |
| High / low | 17° / 11° | 24° / 15° |
| Rain | 86 mm | 13 mm |
| Humidity | dew pt 10° | dew pt 14° |
| PM2.5 | 6 µg/m³ | 9 µg/m³ |
Typical-month data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2 reanalysis) 2015–2024 (modelled, not a forecast). Temperatures: Heraklion weather-station normals. Rainfall: Heraklion weather-station normals (national met service).
Holidays & crowdsDecember 2026
Long weekendThere's at least one long weekend. Domestic travel picks up and popular spots get busier over those days.
- Christmas Day 25–27 Dec · 3 days off in a row
National holidays only; regional holidays and school breaks aren't included. Source: holidays (open-source public-holiday calendar).
Explore CreteEvents, sights, food & souvenirs
Check event dates locallyGreece's largest island, with Minoan ruins, Venetian harbour towns, gorges, mountain villages and beaches.
No major events on our calendar for December.
Coming up later
Rethymno CarnivalDate variesUsually February or early March, before Orthodox Lent
Crete's largest carnival with costumed parades and street parties.
Why go: Rethymno accommodation fills on the parade weekend.
Where: Rethymno
Greek Orthodox EasterDate variesOrthodox calendar — usually April, sometimes early May
Midnight services, fireworks and lamb roasts.
Why go: Many businesses close over the Easter weekend.
Where: Across the island
Knossos
The largest Minoan palace site, near Heraklion.
Heraklion Archaeological Museum
One of Greece's great museums, with the finest Minoan collections.
Samaria Gorge
A long hike down a dramatic gorge to the south coast.
💡 The gorge is usually open only from around May to October and closes in bad weather.
Chania Old Town
A Venetian harbour with a lighthouse, narrow lanes and waterside tavernas.
Balos Lagoon
A shallow turquoise lagoon reached by boat or a rough road and walk.
Elafonisi
A beach with pinkish sand and shallow water in the southwest.
Dakos
Barley rusk topped with tomato, mizithra cheese and olive oil.
Kalitsounia
Small cheese or greens pies.
Gamopilafo
A rich rice dish traditionally served at weddings.
Snails (chochlioi boubouristi)
Snails fried with olive oil, vinegar and rosemary.
Tsikoudia (raki)
A grape spirit served after meals.
Cretan olive oil
Oil from the island's huge olive groves.
💡 Shops and cooperatives
Thyme honey
Fragrant honey from mountain herbs.
💡 Markets and food shops
Cretan knives
Handmade knives, a traditional craft.
💡 The knife-makers' street in Chania
Tsikoudia
Bottles of the local spirit.
💡 Food and drink shops