Your July weather guide
HotWeather in Crete in July
July is a good time to visit Crete if you want hot, dry weather and a sea that feels comfortable for swimming. Daytime highs average 31°C, the sea is around 25°C and there is about 1 rainy day all month. The catch is the heat: this is Crete's warmest month, so it suits travellers happy to slow down at midday rather than spend the whole day being active outdoors.
Long-term climate averages for Heraklion, not a forecast · 1991-2020
Crete, month by month
Your snapshot
At a glance
The useful details for Heraklion.
- Average daytime high
- 30.9°C
- 9 in 10 days stay below 35°C
- Average night-time low
- 22.2°C
- coldest 10% of nights: 20°C or lower
- Compared with London
- +9.1°C
- London averages 21.8°C in July
- Sea temperature
- 25.1°C
- year to year: 24°C to 26°C
- Sunshine per day (est.)
- 13.7h
- 96% of 14.2 h of daylight
- Rainy days (1 mm+)
- 1
- 3 mm over the month
- Humidity
- 56%
- Days over 25°C
- 99%
- 59% over 30°C
- Record high 1991-2020
- 42.3°C
- 1998-07-04
- Record low 1991-2020
- 17.6°C
- 1992-07-01
- Flight from London
- ≈ 4 h 6 min
- 2678 km, short-haul (estimate for a direct flight)
Records are observed extremes within 1991-2020, not typical holiday conditions. Warm-day percentages are shares of days, not day counts.
How July compares
July is the 1st warmest month of the year in Crete and ranks 24th of 134 destinations we compare for July - see where else is hot in July. Within Greece it is 9th of 44 (Greece in July). Against London's average high of 21.8°C in July, Crete is 9.1°C warmer by day and 8.7°C warmer at night.
Daytime and night-time in July
The typical July day in Crete peaks at 30.9°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 35.3°C or more. About 99% of days top 25°C and 1 in 2 pass 30°C. Nights average 22.2°C; one night in ten drops to 20.3°C or lower, so pack a layer for evenings. Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest July day here reached 42.3°C (1998-07-04) and the coldest night 17.6°C (1992-07-01).
Rain in July
Dry (3 rainy days or fewer): about 1 days with 1 mm or more, 3 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest July was 1995 with 13 mm, the driest 1991 with 0 mm. Humidity averages 56%.
Sea temperature in July
The sea averages 25.1°C - warm enough to swim (22°c+). Depending on the year it ranges from 24.1°C to 26.0°C. For the warmest sea here, come in August (25.9°C).
Sunshine and daylight
Around 13.7 hours of sunshine a day (estimated from cloud cover), 14.2 hours of daylight: the sun rises about 06:16 and sets about 20:35 local time in mid-July. Average cloud cover is 3%.
Is July a good time to visit Crete?
Yes - it is one of the better months: hot days, little rain and long sunny days. The best months for Crete on our scoring are August, July, June; months averaging 25°C or more: May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep.
Expect proper summer heat, not just warm afternoons
July's heat needs to shape your plans. With 59% of days reaching 30°C, hot afternoons are a regular feature rather than an occasional bonus. The hottest days can reach 35°C or more, making shade and somewhere cool to retreat sensible priorities when choosing accommodation. Plan more active time for the morning, then keep the middle of the day flexible. Loose clothing, a hat and regular drinks will be more useful than a packed outdoor schedule. Average night lows of 22°C mean evenings stay warm too, so air conditioning is worth considering if you struggle to sleep in the heat. Travellers who prefer gentler temperatures may find July tiring.
Well suited to swimming and long days outside
The sea is a strong reason to choose July: at an average of 25°C, it is comfortably in swimming territory rather than something to brace yourself for. Rain is unlikely to dictate your holiday plans, though a dry month is not a promise that every day will stay rain-free. Around 13.7 hours of sunshine give you plenty of scope to enjoy time outdoors without concentrating everything around midday. Use that flexibility for an early swim or time by the water later in the day, keeping shade available when the heat feels strongest. This combination suits a swimming-focused holiday particularly well; it is less appealing if your ideal break involves sustained outdoor exertion.
A little perspective
Crete through the year
July is highlighted. See how it compares with the rest of the year.
| Month | Day | Night | Sea | Sun/day | Rain mm | Rainy days | Days 25°C+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 14.2°C | 8.2°C | 16.2°C | 3.8 | 73 | 12 | 0% |
| February | 14.8°C | 8.2°C | 15.5°C | 4.6 | 71 | 11 | 0% |
| March | 17.2°C | 9.3°C | 15.6°C | 6.0 | 57 | 9 | 2% |
| April | 20.8°C | 11.8°C | 16.6°C | 7.8 | 38 | 6 | 14% |
| May | 25.3°C | 15.7°C | 19.3°C | 9.9 | 29 | 4 | 51% |
| Junebest | 29.3°C | 19.8°C | 22.8°C | 12.9 | 10 | 2 | 91% |
| JulySelectedbest | 30.9°C | 22.2°C | 25.1°C | 13.7 | 3 | 1 | 99% |
| Augustbest | 30.8°C | 22.5°C | 25.9°C | 12.7 | 5 | 1 | 100% |
| September | 28.3°C | 20.0°C | 24.9°C | 10.2 | 20 | 3 | 84% |
| October | 24.2°C | 16.8°C | 23.0°C | 6.6 | 38 | 6 | 39% |
| November | 19.5°C | 13.1°C | 20.4°C | 4.3 | 50 | 8 | 5% |
| December | 15.6°C | 10.0°C | 18.0°C | 3.5 | 70 | 11 | 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.
Keep exploring
Similar in July
Closest matches on daytime temperature, sea temperature and sunshine, in other countries.
A little more detail
Crete in July FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
Is Crete hot in July?
Crete is hot in July: the average daytime high is 30.9°C and nights average 22.2°C. About 99% of July days reach 25°C or more.
Can you swim in the sea in Crete in July?
The sea around Crete averages 25.1°C in July, which is warm enough for most people to swim comfortably. Between 1991 and 2020 it ranged from 24°C to 26°C depending on the year.
How much does it rain in Crete in July?
Crete sees about 1 rainy days (1 mm or more) and 3 mm of rain in a typical July. The wettest July between 1991 and 2020 was 1995 (13 mm) and the driest was 1991 (0 mm).
How sunny is Crete in July?
Crete gets around 13.7 hours of sunshine a day in July out of 14.2 hours of daylight (estimated from average cloud cover).
How does Crete compare with the UK in July?
Crete is on average 9.1°C warmer than London by day in July (30.9°C against 21.8°C).
What is the hottest July on record in Crete?
Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest July day in Crete reached 42.3°C on 1998-07-04, and the coldest night dropped to 17.6°C on 1992-07-01.
Is Crete much hotter than London in July?
Yes. Crete's average daytime high is 31°C, compared with 22°C in London, a difference of around 9°C. Expect a noticeable step up in heat, not simply a sunnier version of a typical July day at home.
Will I need a jacket in the evenings?
A heavy jacket is unlikely to be useful, with average night lows around 22°C. Light evening clothing should usually suit the temperature, though a thin layer is sensible if you tend to feel cool when sitting outside late.
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 Irákleion (Heraklion). Sea temperature from the nearest 5 km sea cell, 1.7 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