Best Time to Visit Chania

Spring and early summer: the sweet spot

From April to June, Chania is green, bright and easy to walk. April is mild and can still be showery, but rain falls on only about five days. May is warm enough for the beach, and the sea is still cool. By June it's properly summer, with almost no rain.

This is the time for the Samaria Gorge, the long hike through the White Mountains. It usually opens around May, once the winter flood risk has passed, and it's far more pleasant before July. Wildflowers cover the hills in April and May. If you want Elafonisi's pink-tinged sand without the summer crush, come in late May or June.

July and August: hot and busy

July and August are the hottest months, and they tie at 30°C for the daily high. Nights stay warm at 24°C. Rain is close to zero, so you can count on beach days at Balos, Falassarna and Elafonisi.

It's also high season. Greek and European school holidays fill the Venetian harbour and the Old Town lanes, and the beach car parks fill early. Midday is too hot for sightseeing. Do the Splantzia and Topanas neighbourhoods in the evening, and spend the afternoon in the sea. Travelling with kids? This is when it's easiest, since the water is warm and everything is open.

September to November: warm sea, fewer people

September may be the best month of all. It's still 28°C, the sea has soaked up the summer heat, and the crowds thin out. Rain returns on about five days, usually in short bursts.

October is softer. You'll get pleasant days for the Old Town, the Venetian lighthouse walk and the Tuesday-style market feel of the Agora, the covered market. By November it's cooler and wetter, with only about four hours of sun a day. It's a fine month for food, museums and quiet streets, but the beaches are done for most people.

Winter: quiet and damp

December to February is the low season. Rain falls on 12 to 16 days a month, and many seaside places close. Daytime is mild at 14°C, but it feels cold in stone houses. If you want cheap, empty streets and café time, it works. For beaches or gorges, it doesn't.

Events follow the seasons. Carnival (Apokries) brings parades in February or March. Orthodox Easter, usually in April or early May, is the biggest local celebration. On 1 June, the city marks the Battle of Crete with remembrance events.