Crete weather in January
Crete averages 15°C by day and 10°C at night in January, with the sea at 17°C and 11 days with at least 1 mm of rain. That is about 2°C cooler than December.
Day
15°C
Night
10°C
Sea
17°C
Rainy days
11
Flight from London
3½h
What January feels like
January is mild in Crete: good for exploring, not reliably beach weather.
The sea is 17°C: cold for swimming, so plan on a heated pool.
Expect some rain: about 11 days with at least 1 mm.
Of the 48 sun destinations we track, Crete is the #42 warmest in January, and #17 of 23 within 5½ hours of the UK.
Want it warmer in January?
These are hotter than Crete this month for at most an hour and a half more flying:
Crete weather by month
January is highlighted. Compare with December and February, or see the full year in Crete.
Crete in January: quick answers
Is Crete hot in January?
January is mild in Crete: good for exploring, not reliably beach weather. Average highs are 15°C and lows 10°C.
Can you swim in Crete in January?
The sea is 17°C: cold for swimming, so plan on a heated pool.
Does it rain in Crete in January?
Expect some rain: about 11 days with at least 1 mm.
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 January for every destination ranked by temperature, sea and flight time.
How we measured this
Averages of every day in January 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. A rainy day has at least 1 mm of rain. 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 January?
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.
