Destination guide
Chania weather by month
June is the best starting point for a warm-weather trip to Chania, with daytime averages of 26°C and little rain. July and August are hotter at 28°C, while September keeps the sea at 25°C without quite as much daytime heat. Choose summer if swimming and dry weather matter most, or May for gentler conditions on land. Winter is better suited to travellers happy to pack layers and work around wet days rather than plan a beach holiday.
- Hottest month
- 28.0°CAugust
- Coolest month
- 13.3°CJanuary
- Warmest sea
- 26.0°CAugust
- Flight from London
- 4h/dayShort-haul (up to 4.5 h) · estimated
Chania, month by month
Month-by-month detail pages exist for our most searched destinations; for Chania the 12-month table below carries the full picture.
A little perspective
Chania through the year
Every month at a glance; "best" marks our three top months on warmth, dryness and sunshine.
| Month | Day | Night | Sea | Sun/day | Rain mm | Rainy days | Days 25°C+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 13.3°C | 9.9°C | 16.2°C | 4.4 | 144 | 15 | 0% |
| February | 13.4°C | 9.7°C | 15.5°C | 5.1 | 126 | 13 | 0% |
| March | 15.1°C | 10.9°C | 15.5°C | 6.4 | 85 | 10 | 0% |
| April | 17.7°C | 13.0°C | 16.4°C | 8.2 | 38 | 6 | 2% |
| May | 21.5°C | 16.6°C | 19.0°C | 10.2 | 25 | 4 | 12% |
| Junebest | 25.6°C | 20.5°C | 22.5°C | 13.0 | 5 | 2 | 58% |
| Julybest | 27.9°C | 22.7°C | 25.1°C | 13.8 | 3 | 1 | 93% |
| Augustbest | 28.0°C | 23.2°C | 26.0°C | 12.7 | 6 | 1 | 97% |
| September | 25.5°C | 21.1°C | 24.9°C | 10.3 | 24 | 4 | 60% |
| October | 22.0°C | 18.1°C | 23.0°C | 7.0 | 78 | 8 | 16% |
| November | 18.2°C | 14.7°C | 20.5°C | 4.9 | 99 | 11 | 1% |
| December | 14.8°C | 11.5°C | 18.1°C | 4.0 | 158 | 15 | 0% |
Day = average daytime high, night = average night-time low, 1991-2020.Sun is hours per day; rainy days count 1 mm or more.
Day, night and sea
Monthly average temperatures, 1991-2020
- Day
- Night
- Sea
Best months here
On warmth, low rainfall and sunshine, start with these.
When to go to Chania
For beach weather, look at months where the daytime average clears 25°C and rainy days stay low: June, July, August, September. December is the wettest month (158 mm, about 15 rainy days) and July the driest (3 mm). The sea is warmest in August at 26.0°C and coolest in February at 15.5°C.
Getting there
A direct flight from London Gatwick to Chania International Airport (CHQ, 11 km from Chaniá) takes roughly 4 h - short-haul (up to 4.5 h) by UK standards. Time-zone: Europe/Athens.
Records and extremes, 1991-2020
The hottest day recorded in Chania between 1991 and 2020 reached 36.3°C on 24 June 2007; the coldest fell to -0.9°C on 13 February 2004. In August one day in ten tops 30.3°C and about 13% of days pass 30°C; in January one night in ten drops to 6.7°C or below. The wettest single month of the period was December 2001 with 350 mm, against a December average of 158 mm.
Sunrise, sunset and daylight in Chania
Local time on the 15th of each month; daylight-saving rules as of 2020.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight | Sunshine/day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 07:33 | 17:33 | 10.0 h | 4.4 h |
| February | 07:12 | 18:05 | 10.9 h | 5.1 h |
| March | 06:35 | 18:31 | 11.9 h | 6.4 h |
| April | 06:51 | 19:57 | 13.1 h | 8.2 h |
| May | 06:19 | 20:21 | 14.0 h | 10.2 h |
| June | 06:08 | 20:41 | 14.5 h | 13.0 h |
| July | 06:20 | 20:40 | 14.3 h | 13.8 h |
| August | 06:43 | 20:14 | 13.5 h | 12.7 h |
| September | 07:07 | 19:32 | 12.4 h | 10.3 h |
| October | 07:30 | 18:49 | 11.3 h | 7.0 h |
| November | 06:59 | 17:17 | 10.3 h | 4.9 h |
| December | 07:26 | 17:12 | 9.8 h | 4.0 h |
Spring: comfortable days, but the sea takes time to warm
March is still on the cool side, averaging 15°C by day and 11°C at night, so bring layers rather than relying on light summer clothes. April offers a clearer step towards outdoor weather: daytime averages reach 18°C and rain becomes less frequent. The catch is the sea, which stays at 16°C throughout March and April. May is the stronger choice for spending long stretches outdoors without summer heat, with days averaging 22°C and just 4 rainy days. Even then, the sea averages 19°C, so swimming may feel brisk. Keep a light layer handy for evenings.
Summer: the strongest choice for swimming and dry weather
June, July and August are the strongest choices for a summer holiday. June combines 26°C days with a sea temperature of 22°C, making it a useful compromise if you want warmth without the highest daytime averages. July and August both average 28°C by day and 23°C at night, so plan active time for mornings and leave room for shade at midday. Rain is uncommon, with each averaging just 1 rainy day. August has the warmest sea at 26°C, while July offers the most sunshine. Pack light clothing and sun protection; evenings generally call for less layering than in spring.
Autumn and winter: warm seas give way to wetter, cooler days
September keeps much of summer's warmth, with 26°C days and a 25°C sea, though rain becomes more frequent. October is a reasonable compromise for milder days and swimming: air averages 22°C and the sea 23°C, but 8 rainy days make flexible plans sensible. November drops to 18°C by day, with rain more frequent again, so it suits time outdoors between showers rather than a beach-focused stay. December is the wettest month, averaging 15 rainy days. January and February both average 13°C by day and 10°C at night, making a jacket and waterproof layer more useful than summer clothes. Winter still allows time outside, but with less sunshine and a cool sea, it is a poor match for travellers whose priority is swimming.
A little more detail
Chania weather FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
What is the best time to visit Chania?
Judged on warmth, low rainfall and sunshine, the best months in Chania are July, August and June. August is the hottest month (average high 28.0°C) and January the coolest (13.3°C).
How many months a year is Chania over 25°C?
4 months in Chania average a daytime high of 25°C or more, and 6 average 20°C or more.
When is the rainy season in Chania?
December is the wettest month in Chania (158 mm on average) and July the driest (3 mm). Annual rainfall averages 791 mm.
What is the hottest temperature recorded in Chania?
The hottest day recorded in Chania between 1991 and 2020 reached 36.3°C on 24 June 2007; the coldest fell to -0.9°C on 13 February 2004. Records come from daily data for 1991-2020, not from a single station's all-time history.
When is the sea warmest in Chania?
August has the warmest sea, averaging 26°C. July and September are close at 25°C, so September is a good alternative if you want warm water with slightly lower daytime temperatures. October's sea remains relatively warm at 23°C.
Is May or October better for a holiday?
Both average 22°C by day, but they suit different priorities. May has more sunshine and fewer rainy days, making it better for time outdoors. October has the warmer sea at 23°C compared with May's 19°C, but a greater chance of wet weather.
Will I need a jacket in the evenings?
Bring a jacket for winter, when January and February nights average 10°C. Layers are also useful in spring and late autumn. July and August nights average 23°C, so light clothing is a more practical starting point then.
See also: Greece weather by month · where else is hot in August
About these averages
ERA5-Land climate reanalysis via Open-Meteo (11 km grid) and NOAA Coral Reef Watch 5 km sea temperatures, 1991-2020
Averages computed from daily values at Chaniá. Sea temperature from the nearest 5 km sea cell, 1.6 km from that point. Sunshine hours are estimated from average cloud cover.Records are the highest and lowest daily values in that 30-year period, not all-time records. These are climate averages, not a forecast for your trip. How we measure holiday weather
- Hot · 25°C+
- Warm · 20°C to below 25°C
- Mild · 15°C to below 20°C
- Cool · below 15°C