Would you like to visit the Greek Crete but you’re not sure when’s a good time? Today, we’ll go over what you can expect in autumn! We’ll provide you with both a few reasons why it’s an ideal season for a trip and what weather you can expect throughout it.
Olive, carob and grape harvest!
Autumn is the harvesting season. Why does this matter for a trip? Because, apart from a time of delicious food and wine, you can also find local farmers offering tours of their sites with tasting! Carob, harvest of which starts in August, is also an important product from Crete.
The weather!
Autumn is also quite versatile in terms of temperatures. Do you like it very, very hot? Then late August and early autumn will suit you perfectly well. Do you prefer it colder? Late October and November will be better for you. You can find something for yourself either way and it’s all within the boundaries of very pleasant temperatures.
The later you go, the more quiet it’ll be
While early autumn may still have quite a lot of tourists, late October and November are already much more peaceful. If you were to come in August, then you’d be jamming yourself right into the main holiday month for not only tourists but also locals. October and November have no such problems on the other hand.
Autumn adventures
Autumn is also a great time for hiking around the island thanks to the milder temperatures. You can, for instance, visit the Samaria Gorge. It’s also a great time to see the main attractions of Crete, as exploring ancient ruins won’t be an experience drowned in sweat. Additionally, you won’t have to worry about overbearing amounts of crowds either.
The later you go, the cheaper it gets
Crete in summer? Quite an expensive treat. Crete in late autumn? Not so much! You can find lots of great grabs in the autumn season, both for flights and accommodation. Tours may also be cheaper. In general, the prices can go down even 50% compared to the high season.
Weather in Crete in September
Though September is formally autumn, it’s really still summer in disguise. On average, temperatures sit around 27°C throughout the day and 21°C throughout the night. The sea is still incredibly pleasant, at 24°C. You can certainly expect a few days to reach above 30°C and there’s practically no chance of rain. You’ll still need plenty of sunscreen for this month and, as you can imagine, there are still quite a few people.
Weather in Crete in October
October cools down quite a lot, though it’s still certainly on the warmer side. Average temperatures sit at 23°C during the day and 17°C at night. This didn’t stop thermometers from nearing 30°C in 2023 anyway. There’s, thankfully, a little more rain to counterbalance this, about 4 days a month. The sea is still plenty warm, so you can hit up a beach in October with a much higher chance of finding free spots. Ideal month for those of you who prefer mild heat.
Weather in Crete in November
November is for those of you who want the true out-of-season experience. It’s now cold enough for most tourists to be deterred, at an incredibly low 19°C average, and there’s quite a lot more rain, about 8 days a month. Frankly, you can still dip in the sea, though it’s only warm enough for short swims, at about 20°C. You’ll certainly find way less tourists in November and prices should be considerably lower.
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