Destination guide
Elounda weather by month
June to August is the best time for Elounda if you want hot days and little rain; September is the better compromise if you prefer less heat without a chilly sea. June averages 29°C by day, rising to 30°C in July and August, while September's sea stays at 25°C. Spring suits travellers who put comfortable days ahead of swimming, and autumn keeps the water warmer but brings a growing chance of rain.
- Hottest month
- 30.3°CJuly
- Coolest month
- 14.8°CJanuary
- Warmest sea
- 25.8°CAugust
- Flight from London
- 4 h 6 minShort-haul (up to 4.5 h) · estimated
Elounda, month by month
Month-by-month detail pages exist for our most searched destinations; for Elounda the 12-month table below carries the full picture.
A little perspective
Elounda 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 | 14.8°C | 9.9°C | 16.3°C | 4.3 | 58 | 10 | 0% |
| February | 15.3°C | 9.7°C | 15.6°C | 5.0 | 57 | 9 | 0% |
| March | 17.4°C | 10.9°C | 15.7°C | 6.3 | 47 | 8 | 2% |
| April | 20.7°C | 13.1°C | 16.6°C | 8.0 | 28 | 5 | 11% |
| May | 24.8°C | 16.8°C | 19.3°C | 10.1 | 22 | 4 | 48% |
| Junebest | 28.7°C | 21.0°C | 22.7°C | 13.0 | 8 | 1 | 92% |
| Julybest | 30.3°C | 23.4°C | 25.0°C | 13.7 | 2 | 1 | 99% |
| Augustbest | 30.3°C | 23.7°C | 25.8°C | 12.8 | 3 | 1 | 100% |
| September | 28.1°C | 21.4°C | 25.0°C | 10.4 | 13 | 3 | 86% |
| October | 24.3°C | 18.2°C | 23.1°C | 7.0 | 26 | 5 | 41% |
| November | 20.1°C | 14.6°C | 20.5°C | 4.8 | 36 | 6 | 5% |
| December | 16.3°C | 11.5°C | 18.1°C | 3.9 | 56 | 9 | 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 Elounda
For beach weather, look at months where the daytime average clears 25°C and rainy days stay low: June, July, August, September. January is the wettest month (58 mm, about 10 rainy days) and July the driest (2 mm). The sea is warmest in August at 25.8°C and coolest in February at 15.6°C.
Getting there
A direct flight from London Gatwick to Heraklion International Nikos Kazantzakis Airport (HER, 50 km from Eloúnda) takes roughly 4 h 6 min - short-haul (up to 4.5 h) by UK standards. Time-zone: Europe/Athens.
Records and extremes, 1991-2020
The hottest day recorded in Elounda between 1991 and 2020 reached 41.1°C on 12 August 2002; the coldest fell to 0.5°C on 14 February 2004. In July one day in ten tops 33.7°C and about 53% of days pass 30°C; in January one night in ten drops to 7.2°C or below. The wettest single month of the period was February 2019 with 206 mm, against a February average of 57 mm.
Sunrise, sunset and daylight in Elounda
Local time on the 15th of each month; daylight-saving rules as of 2020.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight | Sunshine/day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 07:25 | 17:27 | 10.0 h | 4.3 h |
| February | 07:04 | 17:58 | 10.9 h | 5.0 h |
| March | 06:28 | 18:24 | 11.9 h | 6.3 h |
| April | 06:45 | 19:50 | 13.1 h | 8.0 h |
| May | 06:13 | 20:14 | 14.0 h | 10.1 h |
| June | 06:02 | 20:33 | 14.5 h | 13.0 h |
| July | 06:14 | 20:32 | 14.3 h | 13.7 h |
| August | 06:37 | 20:06 | 13.5 h | 12.8 h |
| September | 07:00 | 19:25 | 12.4 h | 10.4 h |
| October | 07:23 | 18:42 | 11.3 h | 7.0 h |
| November | 06:52 | 17:11 | 10.3 h | 4.8 h |
| December | 07:18 | 17:06 | 9.8 h | 3.9 h |
Winter into spring: mild days, cool water
December, January and February suit a break where swimming is not the priority. December averages 16°C by day, while January and February reach 15°C, with nights cool enough for a jacket. January has 10 rain days, so leave room to change outdoor plans. March improves to 17°C with 6 hours of sunshine, but the sea remains at 16°C: brighter weather does not yet mean comfortable bathing. April makes a clearer step towards warmth, averaging 21°C by day, though evenings still call for layers. May's 25°C days and 10 hours of sunshine suit spending much of the day outdoors. The catch is the sea: at 19°C, it can still feel brisk even when the air is warm.
Summer: reliable warmth, with a midday heat trade-off
June brings a useful balance for a swimming holiday: daytime temperatures average 29°C, the sea reaches 23°C and rain is infrequent. July and August are hotter, both averaging 30°C by day, so plan active time for mornings and leave the middle of the day for shade or a rest. July has 14 hours of sunshine, making sun protection a daily priority. August has the warmest sea at 26°C, but nights average 24°C, so do not expect much evening coolness. Each summer month averages 1 rain day. That makes summer the clearest choice for outdoor plans, though it is less suitable if heat disrupts your sleep.
Autumn: warmer swimming than spring, but increasing rain
September is a strong choice if swimming matters but peak summer heat does not appeal. Days average 28°C and the sea stays at 25°C, with 3 rain days leaving plenty of scope for outdoor plans. October is cooler rather than cold: daytime averages of 24°C and a 23°C sea can still suit swimming, though 5 rain days make flexibility more useful. Pack a light layer for evenings. November feels less dependable for a beach-focused holiday, with 20°C days, a 20°C sea and 6 rain days. It suits travellers content to enjoy mild spells without expecting every day to be a swimming day.
A little more detail
Elounda weather FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
What is the best time to visit Elounda?
Judged on warmth, low rainfall and sunshine, the best months in Elounda are July, August and June. July is the hottest month (average high 30.3°C) and January the coolest (14.8°C).
How many months a year is Elounda over 25°C?
4 months in Elounda average a daytime high of 25°C or more, and 8 average 20°C or more.
When is the rainy season in Elounda?
January is the wettest month in Elounda (58 mm on average) and July the driest (2 mm). Annual rainfall averages 356 mm.
What is the hottest temperature recorded in Elounda?
The hottest day recorded in Elounda between 1991 and 2020 reached 41.1°C on 12 August 2002; the coldest fell to 0.5°C on 14 February 2004. Records come from daily data for 1991-2020, not from a single station's all-time history.
Is May or September better for swimming in Elounda?
September is the better choice if you prefer warmer water. Its sea averages 25°C, compared with 19°C in May. May still offers warm daytime weather, but the contrast between the air and water can make getting into the sea feel rather brisk.
What should I pack for a winter stay?
Bring layers, a jacket and rain protection rather than relying on light holiday clothing. Winter daytime averages range from 15°C to 16°C, with cooler nights. Rain is frequent enough that clothes suitable for damp weather will be more useful than a swimming-focused packing list.
See also: Greece weather by month · where else is hot in July
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 Eloúnda. Sea temperature from the nearest 5 km sea cell, 5 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