Chania Town

Crete Weather in December

Average temperatures, rainfall, sunshine and the best places to visit in Crete, Greece in December.

Planning a trip to Crete, Greece this December? Here's what you need to know about the weather:

What to Expect in Crete in December

Crete, Greece is a region in Greece. December in Crete generally has mild temperatures, with precipitation levels ranging from moderate to heavy.

Temperatures

The average maximum temperatures are mild and range from 15°C (59°F) in Agia Roumeli to 18°C (64°F) in Palekastron. Nighttime temperatures generally drop to 15°C (59°F) in Palekastron and 10°C (50°F) in Agia Roumeli.

To explore the conditions in Crete, Greece in more detail, check the map below.

Precipitation

In December, precipitation varies across different areas. From moderate rainfall in Keratokampos with an average of 48 mm (1.9 in) to heavy rainfall in Daratso with 171 mm (6.7 in). Based on our climate, it is the month with the most precipitation throughout the year in Chania Town.

Average sunshine

Sunshine is moderately available across various locations. In Chania Town, you can expect around 122 hours of sunlight in December, which gives a pleasant combination of sun and shade. For those who want maximum sunshine, our weather planner can point you toward the sunniest places on Earth.

Explore Crete by month

Best Places to Visit in Crete in December

Click on a destination dot for more details. Toggle the map to compare temperatures or precipitation across Crete.

perfect weather
pleasant
tolerable
unpleasant
poor

Perfect weather is subjective. On this map perfect weather has been defined with temperatures between 20°C (68°F) and 29°C (84°F) and not too much precipitation (less than 90 mm (3.5 in) a month).

Popular Destinations in Crete

What is the weather like in December for some of the most popular destinations in Crete, Greece?

Temperature range in Crete (December)

Precipitation variation in Crete (December)

Chania Town

In December Chania Town generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 16°C (61°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 12°C (54°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are unpleasant that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
19°C (66°F)
16°C (61°F)
14°C (57°F)
Min temperature
15°C (59°F)
12°C (54°F)
11°C (52°F)
Monthly sun hours
153 hours
122 hours
117 hours
Monthly rainfall
112 mm (4.4 in)
168 mm (6.6 in)
158 mm (6.2 in)
Monthly rainy days
9 days
13 days
13 days
Weather conditions

Hersonissos

In December Hersonissos generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 17°C (63°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 11°C (52°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are tolerable that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
21°C (70°F)
17°C (63°F)
16°C (61°F)
Min temperature
14°C (57°F)
11°C (52°F)
9°C (48°F)
Monthly sun hours
147 hours
117 hours
120 hours
Monthly rainfall
44 mm (1.7 in)
68 mm (2.7 in)
70 mm (2.8 in)
Monthly rainy days
8 days
13 days
12 days
Weather conditions

Réthymno Town

In December Réthymno Town generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 16°C (61°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 11°C (52°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are unpleasant that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
19°C (66°F)
16°C (61°F)
14°C (57°F)
Min temperature
14°C (57°F)
11°C (52°F)
10°C (50°F)
Monthly sun hours
153 hours
122 hours
117 hours
Monthly rainfall
80 mm (3.1 in)
119 mm (4.7 in)
111 mm (4.4 in)
Monthly rainy days
8 days
13 days
12 days
Weather conditions

Mália

In December Mália generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 17°C (63°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 11°C (52°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are tolerable that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
21°C (70°F)
17°C (63°F)
16°C (61°F)
Min temperature
14°C (57°F)
11°C (52°F)
9°C (48°F)
Monthly sun hours
147 hours
117 hours
120 hours
Monthly rainfall
39 mm (1.5 in)
60 mm (2.4 in)
62 mm (2.4 in)
Monthly rainy days
8 days
13 days
12 days
Weather conditions

Kíssamos

In December Kíssamos generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 17°C (63°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 13°C (55°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are unpleasant that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
20°C (68°F)
17°C (63°F)
15°C (59°F)
Min temperature
16°C (61°F)
13°C (55°F)
11°C (52°F)
Monthly sun hours
153 hours
122 hours
117 hours
Monthly rainfall
85 mm (3.3 in)
135 mm (5.3 in)
125 mm (4.9 in)
Monthly rainy days
10 days
13 days
13 days
Weather conditions

Is your destination not in the list? Have a look at all destinations in Crete, in Greece.

In our records: Greece December extremes

Notable December records observed across cities in Greece in our climate database (1976 – 2026). Historic readings can vary in quality, so treat these as illustrative.

  • Based on our data, the coldest December night in Greece dropped to -20°C (-4°F) in The Metéora on December 19, 2001.
  • In our records, the coldest December daytime high in Greece was -6°C (21°F) in The Metéora on December 20, 2001.

Popular cities in December

Day & night temperatures, rainfall and average weather in Crete in December.

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Chania Town 16°C (61°F) 12°C (54°F) 168 mm (6.6 in)
Hersonissos 17°C (63°F) 11°C (52°F) 68 mm (2.7 in)
Réthymno Town 16°C (61°F) 11°C (52°F) 119 mm (4.7 in)
Mália 17°C (63°F) 11°C (52°F) 60 mm (2.4 in)
Kíssamos 17°C (63°F) 13°C (55°F) 135 mm (5.3 in)
Plakiás 16°C (61°F) 11°C (52°F) 110 mm (4.3 in)

Crete weather in December: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Crete, Greece in December?

Expect unpleasant weather across Crete, Greece in December. The popular destination of Chania Town averages 16°C (61°F) by day and 12°C (54°F) at night during this month.

What is the average temperature in Crete, Greece in December?

Chania Town averages a daytime maximum of 16°C (61°F) in December, with overnight lows close to 12°C (54°F).

Does Crete, Greece get a lot of rain in December?

Rainfall in Crete, Greece peaks during December. Chania Town averages roughly 168 mm (6.6 in), so frequent and sometimes heavy showers are the norm.

Is December a Good Time to Visit Crete, Greece?

Given the typically unpleasant weather conditions in Chania Town, December may not be the ideal time to visit Crete, Greece.

Generally speaking, May, June, July, August, September and October provide perfect weather in Chania Town. The weather in January, February and December, on the other hand, tends to be unpleasant.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in Crete.

Weather and climate has detailed information for every country in the world. Are you going to Greece? Get detailed historical weather averages for many cities in Greece.

Not sure yet where to go? We now have a tool which recommends destinations that suit your ideal travel conditions. Find out where to go with our weather planner.

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