Crete weather in December
Crete averages 17°C by day and 12°C at night in December, with the sea at 19°C and about 111 mm of rain in the month. It cools by about 2°C into January.
Day
17°C
Night
12°C
Sea
19°C
Rain
111 mm
Flight from London
3½h
What December feels like
December is mild in Crete: good for exploring, not reliably beach weather.
The sea is 19°C: refreshing, and chilly for most people after a few minutes.
Expect some rainy spells: about 111 mm falls in the month.
That is 8°C warmer than an average December day in London.
Of the 56 sun destinations we track, Crete is the #50 warmest in December, and #17 of 23 within 5½ hours of the UK.
Comparing places? See the warmest place in Greece in winter for every winter month, place by place.
Going to Crete in December?
Share the TikToks and Instagram Reels you've saved for Crete to Dream Trip. It finds the places, pins them on a map and builds your days around them.
Want it warmer in December?
These are hotter than Crete this month for at most an hour and a half more flying:
Crete weather by month
December is highlighted. Compare with November and January, or see the full year in Crete.
Crete in December: quick answers
Is Crete hot in December?
December is mild in Crete: good for exploring, not reliably beach weather. Average highs are 17°C and lows 12°C.
Can you swim in Crete in December?
The sea is 19°C: refreshing, and chilly for most people after a few minutes.
Does it rain in Crete in December?
Expect some rainy spells: about 111 mm falls in the month.
What is the warmest month in Crete?
July, at an average high of 30°C. The coolest is January at 15°C.
How long is the flight to Crete from the UK?
About 3½h direct from London, estimated from the 2,632 km distance. Check your airline for exact times.
Still choosing? See where is hot in December for every destination ranked by temperature, sea and flight time.
How we measured this
Averages of every day in December from 2016 to 2025, from the Open-Meteo historical weather archive (ECMWF ERA5 reanalysis). Sea temperature is the 2023 to 2025 average from the Open-Meteo marine archive. Rain is the average monthly total. Reanalysis describes an area about 25 km across, so sheltered resorts can run a degree or two warmer. Flight time is a distance-based estimate from London Heathrow.
Planning Crete in December?
Save the restaurants, beaches and views you find on TikTok and Instagram for Crete straight to a map, then let Dream Trip turn them into a day-by-day plan.
