Crete weather in May
Crete averages 23°C by day and 17°C at night in May, with the sea at 20°C and 6 days with at least 1 mm of rain. It warms up by about 5°C into June.
Day
23°C
Night
17°C
Sea
20°C
Rainy days
6
Flight from London
3½h
What May feels like
May is warm in Crete: T-shirt days, a light layer for evenings.
The sea is 20°C: refreshing, and chilly for most people after a few minutes.
Rain is occasional, on about 6 days.
Of the 48 sun destinations we track, Crete is the #42 warmest in May, and #19 of 23 within 5½ hours of the UK.
Want it warmer in May?
These are hotter than Crete this month for at most an hour and a half more flying:
Crete weather by month
May is highlighted. Compare with April and June, or see the full year in Crete.
Crete in May: quick answers
Is Crete hot in May?
May is warm in Crete: T-shirt days, a light layer for evenings. Average highs are 23°C and lows 17°C.
Can you swim in Crete in May?
The sea is 20°C: refreshing, and chilly for most people after a few minutes.
Does it rain in Crete in May?
Rain is occasional, on about 6 days.
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 May for every destination ranked by temperature, sea and flight time.
How we measured this
Averages of every day in May 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 May?
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