Best time to visit Rethymno
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.
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.
Similar climatesCorfu92% · Tropea91% · Sorrento91%
Other destinations with the most-alike year-round climate to Rethymno (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 Rethymno'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 | 10–15 | 12 | 15 | 232 | 15.5 | 72% | 24 | 171 | 2 | Quiet | 4 |
| Feb | 9–16 | 13 | 12 | 170 | 14.2 | 70% | 23 | 184 | 3 | Quiet | 6 |
| Mar | 10–17 | 14 | 13 | 183 | 14.1 | 66% | 22 | 224 | 5 | Quiet | 6 |
| Apr | 13–21 | 19 | 8 | 102 | 12.8 | 60% | 21 | 250 | 6 | Quiet | 8 |
| May | 16–24 | 24 | 7 | 92 | 13.1 | 58% | 16 | 282 | 7 | Quiet | 9 |
| Jun | 20–28 | 29 | 4 | 43 | 10.8 | 55% | 17 | 303 | 9 | Quiet | 9 |
| Jul | 23–30 | 32 | 1 | 25 | 25.0 | 54% | 19 | 310 | 10 | Quiet | 7 |
| Aug | 23–31 | 33 | 2 | 32 | 16.0 | 54% | 17 | 301 | 9 | Peak | 6 |
| Sep | 21–28 | 29 | 9 | 112 | 12.4 | 59% | 17 | 261 | 7 | Quiet | 7 |
| Oct | 17–24 | 24 | 10 | 135 | 13.5 | 64% | 18 | 229 | 5 | Quiet | 8 |
| Nov | 14–20 | 19 | 13 | 177 | 13.6 | 70% | 21 | 198 | 3 | Quiet | 6 |
| Dec | 12–17 | 16 | 13 | 195 | 15.0 | 75% | 21 | 177 | 2 | Quiet | 6 |
UV Index in Rethymno by Month
UV index in Rethymno peaks at 10 (very high) in July, dropping to 2 (low) in December. 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
9/1016–24°C · 7 rain days (92h) · 282 sun hours · 58% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 7 (high) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 9 (very high)
June
9/1020–28°C (feels 29°C) · 4 rain days (43h) · 303 sun hours · 55% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 9 (very high)
April
8/1013–21°C (feels 19°C) · 8 rain days (102h) · 250 sun hours · 60% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 6 (high) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 8 (very high)
Every month
Show the other 9 months in detail
January
4/1010–15°C (feels 12°C) · 15 rain days (232h) · 171 sun hours · 72% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 2 (low)
February
6/109–16°C (feels 13°C) · 12 rain days (170h) · 184 sun hours · 70% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 3 (low) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 4 (moderate)
March
6/1010–17°C (feels 14°C) · 13 rain days (183h) · 224 sun hours · 66% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 5 (moderate) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 6 (high)
July
7/1023–30°C (feels 32°C) · 1 rain days (25h) · 310 sun hours · 54% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 10 (very high)
August
6/1023–31°C (feels 33°C) · 2 rain days (32h) · 301 sun hours · 54% humidity · Peak crowd · UV 9 (very high)
September
7/1021–28°C (feels 29°C) · 9 rain days (112h) · 261 sun hours · 59% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 7 (high) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 8 (very high)
October
8/1017–24°C · 10 rain days (135h) · 229 sun hours · 64% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 5 (moderate) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 6 (high)
November
6/1014–20°C (feels 19°C) · 13 rain days (177h) · 198 sun hours · 70% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 3 (low) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 4 (moderate)
December
6/1012–17°C (feels 16°C) · 13 rain days (195h) · 177 sun hours · 75% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 2 (low)
Frequently asked questions about visiting Rethymno
When is the best time to visit Rethymno?
May is the highest-scoring month (9/10 on the Holiday Climate Index). Typical conditions: 16–24°C (7 rainy days). The top three months by score are May, June, April.
What is the worst time to visit Rethymno?
January is the lowest-scoring month (4/10). Typical conditions: 10–15°C (15 rainy days).
Is Rethymno 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 Rethymno?
Search-interest seasonality (Google Trends 2021-2025) is lowest in March 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 Rethymno have good weather but fewer tourists?
May (climate 9/10, crowd index 15) and June (climate 9/10, crowd index 31) — shoulder months with above-average climate and below-median search-interest. Often the best value-for-weather trade.
What is the UV index in Rethymno by month?
UV peaks at 10 (very high) in July and is lowest in December 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 Rethymno in July?
July is the peak UV month in Rethymno, 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 Rethymno 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: February, March, April, May, September, October, November. Plan sun protection for the worst case, not the average.
Is air quality in Rethymno bad for travelers?
PM2.5 (fine-particle pollution) exceeds the WHO sensitive-group guideline (15 µg/m³) in 1 month: May. The worst month is June with a typical-day mean of 10 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.