Best time to visit Heraklion
Re-score for me — drag the dial — every chart recolours live for your heat & sea limits 27°C · sea 29°C
Default 27 °C is the upper edge of the Holiday Climate Index "ideal comfort" band (Scott, Rutty, Amelung & Tang, 2016). Above this, most warm-tourism travellers report measurable discomfort.
Default 29 °C is the Beach Climate Index "bathtub" line (Morgan et al.) — where the sea stops being refreshing and starts feeling like a warm bath.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
How is this scored? HCI / Steadman / CCI gate — full methodology and citations below.
Compare with another destination
Add as many as you like — stacked below the main strips above. Each row is just the recent-window score strip and (for beach destinations) sea-temperature strip.
Tours in Heraklion
8 top-rated tours via Viator. Booking links earn this site a commission at no cost to you. Map locations are approximate (centred on Heraklion).
- 1
Jeep Tour: Kourtaliotiko Gorge, Preveli & Spili Village - 2
Heraklion SUV Private Guided Wine Tour with Lunch - 3
Rethymno: Sunset Catamaran Trip - Sushi & Open Bar - 4
5Hour Safari Tour in Crete(Heraklion)with Quad,Jeep,Buggy & Lunch - 5
Knossos - Zeus Cave - Old Traditional Villages-Olive Oil Factory - 6
Troy Dinner-Show - 7
Heraklion Private Olive Oil and Wine Gastronomy tour with Lunch - 8
Street food walking Heraklion tour
Last refreshed 2026-05-27.
Similar climatesAltavilla Milicia92% · Rhodes92% · Side92%
Other destinations with the most-alike year-round climate to Heraklion (apparent temperature, rain hours, sunshine — matched within the same trip-profile). The ±N chip compares each match's typical score for the current month against Heraklion's. Based on the 2020-2024 climatology, not this year's actual weather.
Month-by-month
| Month | Temp °C | Feels °C | Rain days | Rain h | Rain h/day | Humidity | Wind km/h | Sun h | UV | Interest | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 9–16 | 13 | 12 | 157 | 13.1 | 63% | 22 | 174 | 2 | Quiet | 6 |
| Feb | 9–16 | 14 | 10 | 131 | 13.1 | 62% | 21 | 191 | 3 | Quiet | 7 |
| Mar | 10–17 | 14 | 11 | 132 | 12.0 | 58% | 22 | 223 | 5 | Quiet | 7 |
| Apr | 12–21 | 19 | 4 | 59 | 14.8 | 53% | 22 | 250 | 6 | Quiet | 10 |
| May | 16–25 | 24 | 6 | 60 | 10.0 | 49% | 19 | 285 | 7 | Quiet | 10 |
| Jun | 20–29 | 29 | 2 | 25 | 12.5 | 47% | 19 | 305 | 9 | Quiet | 9 |
| Jul | 24–31 | 32 | 1 | 9 | 9.0 | 45% | 21 | 311 | 10 | Moderate | 7 |
| Aug | 23–32 | 32 | 1 | 12 | 12.0 | 47% | 20 | 301 | 9 | Peak | 7 |
| Sep | 21–29 | 29 | 5 | 49 | 9.8 | 51% | 19 | 263 | 7 | Moderate | 9 |
| Oct | 17–25 | 25 | 6 | 81 | 13.5 | 56% | 17 | 229 | 5 | Quiet | 9 |
| Nov | 14–21 | 20 | 8 | 105 | 13.1 | 59% | 19 | 202 | 3 | Moderate | 9 |
| Dec | 11–18 | 16 | 10 | 134 | 13.4 | 65% | 20 | 181 | 2 | Quiet | 7 |
UV Index in Heraklion by Month
UV index in Heraklion peaks at 10 (very high) in July, dropping to 2 (low) in January. June, July, August reach very high or extreme levels — apply SPF 50+, wear a hat and protective clothing, and limit direct sun between 11:00 and 17:00.
Best months in detail
May
10/1016–25°C (feels 24°C) · 6 rain days (60h) · 285 sun hours · 49% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 7 (high) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 9 (very high)
April
10/1012–21°C (feels 19°C) · 4 rain days (59h) · 250 sun hours · 53% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 6 (high) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 8 (very high)
October
9/1017–25°C · 6 rain days (81h) · 229 sun hours · 56% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 5 (moderate) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 6 (high)
Every month
Show the other 9 months in detail
January
6/109–16°C (feels 13°C) · 12 rain days (157h) · 174 sun hours · 63% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 2 (low)
February
7/109–16°C (feels 14°C) · 10 rain days (131h) · 191 sun hours · 62% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 3 (moderate)
March
7/1010–17°C (feels 14°C) · 11 rain days (132h) · 223 sun hours · 58% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 5 (moderate) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 6 (high)
June
9/1020–29°C · 2 rain days (25h) · 305 sun hours · 47% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 9 (very high)
July
7/1024–31°C · 1 rain days (9h) · 311 sun hours · 45% humidity · Moderate crowd · UV 10 (very high)
August
7/1023–32°C · 1 rain days (12h) · 301 sun hours · 47% humidity · Peak crowd · UV 9 (very high)
September
9/1021–29°C · 5 rain days (49h) · 263 sun hours · 51% humidity · Moderate crowd · UV 7 (high) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 8 (very high)
November
9/1014–21°C (feels 20°C) · 8 rain days (105h) · 202 sun hours · 59% humidity · Moderate crowd · UV 3 (low) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 4 (moderate)
December
7/1011–18°C (feels 16°C) · 10 rain days (134h) · 181 sun hours · 65% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 2 (low)
Frequently asked questions about visiting Heraklion
When is the best time to visit Heraklion?
May is the highest-scoring month (10/10 on the Holiday Climate Index). Typical conditions: 16–25°C (6 rainy days). The top three months by score are May, April, October.
What is the worst time to visit Heraklion?
January is the lowest-scoring month (6/10). Typical conditions: 9–16°C (12 rainy days).
Is Heraklion too hot in summer?
2 months (July, August) trip the heat deal-breaker in our scoring: apparent temperature crosses the comfort cap, so even with clear skies and low rain the score is held down. Plan around it if heat tolerance is low.
When are crowds lowest in Heraklion?
Search-interest seasonality (Google Trends 2021-2025) is lowest in February and peaks in August. Interest tracks both in-trip visitors and lead-time planners, so treat it as a "destination is on people's minds" signal rather than literal arrivals.
Which months in Heraklion have good weather but fewer tourists?
April (climate 10/10, crowd index 16) and May (climate 10/10, crowd index 25) — shoulder months with above-average climate and below-median search-interest. Often the best value-for-weather trade.
What is the UV index in Heraklion by month?
UV peaks at 10 (very high) in July and is lowest in January at 2 (low). Monthly peak values: Jan 2, Feb 3, Mar 5, Apr 6, May 7, Jun 9, Jul 10, Aug 9, Sep 7, Oct 5, Nov 3, Dec 2. June, July, August reach very high or extreme levels — apply SPF 50+, wear a hat and protective clothing, and limit direct sun between 11:00 and 17:00.
What is the UV index in Heraklion in July?
July is the peak UV month in Heraklion, with a daily-peak UV index of 10 (very high). At this level, sunburn can occur in under 20 minutes on unprotected fair skin. Apply SPF 50+, wear protective clothing and a hat, and avoid direct midday sun (11:00–17:00).
How high can UV get in Heraklion on the sunniest days?
Most days look like the monthly average, but on the sunniest ~1 in 10 days UV climbs higher than the mean suggests. May is the worst case: typical days average UV 7 (high), but the top 10% of days reach UV 9 (very high) — and even higher. Months where the sunniest days routinely exceed the typical reading: March, April, May, September, October, November. Plan sun protection for the worst case, not the average.
Is air quality in Heraklion bad for travelers?
PM2.5 (fine-particle pollution) exceeds the WHO sensitive-group guideline (15 µg/m³) in 2 months: March, May. The worst month is June with a typical-day mean of 11 µg/m³ (moderate); on the worst 10% of days PM2.5 reaches 13 µg/m³ (moderate) and higher. People with asthma, heart conditions, or sensitive children may want to avoid these months or limit outdoor activity. Source: CAMS via Open-Meteo.