Heraklion, Crete weather in May
Temperature, sea and sunshine in May: long-term averages from 30 years of weather data, not a forecast.
Holiday weather in May
Excellent
Best time to visit: June – October
What is the weather like in Heraklion, Crete in May?
In May, Heraklion, Crete is warm: daytime highs average 26 °C, and nights cool down to about 16 °C. The sea averages 19.3 °C – bracing, so a wetsuit helps for longer swims. With around 11 hours of sunshine a day, there is plenty of sun. Rain is rare: about 4 days bring 24 mm in total. All in all, May is an excellent month for a holiday in Heraklion, Crete.
May compared
How the weather changes from April to June. Tap a month to open it.
More details for May
- Daylight
- 14 h 0 min06:16 – 20:15
- UV index
- 10 · very highclear sky, noon (estimate)
- Muggy days
- 0 daysdew point 18 °C or more
- Wind
- 13 km/haverage daily peak
- Cloud cover
- 28 %on average
- Hot days
- 5 days30 °C or more
- Time zone
- UTC+3Europe/Athens
How the score comes together
- Temperatureweight 35 %100 %
- Seaweight 25 %33 %
- Sunshineweight 20 %100 %
- Few rainy daysweight 20 %99 %
Each factor is rated from 0 to 100 % and weighted for the travel style “Sun, sea & sand”.
What to pack in May
- Wetsuit for longer swims
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses & sun hat
- Light, breathable clothes
- A jumper for the evenings
Heraklion, Crete in May: quick answers
Is Heraklion, Crete hot in May?
Warm rather than hot: in May, daytime highs in Heraklion, Crete average 26 °C and nights cool to about 16 °C. On about 5 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more.
Can you swim in Heraklion, Crete in May?
Only if you don't mind cold water: in May the sea averages just 19.3 °C. Comfortable swimming is possible from June to November.
Does it rain much in Heraklion, Crete in May?
Rain is rare: about 4 days bring 24 mm in total.
Heraklion, Crete month by month
The whole year in Heraklion, CreteAll destinations: Greece
Climate averages 1996–2025, not a forecast. Data: Copernicus ERA5 / ERA5-Land via Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0), NOAA OISST, GeoNames (CC BY 4.0)