The sirocco blows up from the south, originating in Africa in the Sahara. This brings uncharacteristically high temperatures, aridity and sometimes sand.
As a result the sky can become hazy and the air is often laden with dust. However, the prevailing wind is from the northwest. This is the meltemi: a cool wind coveted by sailors, wind and kite surfers and also sizzling sunbathers in need of some relief.
A whopping twelve hours of sunshine per day can be expected in June and August.
Autumn, in October and November, still sees great temperatures but is often wet and overcast. Visiting the island in this season is recommended to those wanting to avoid the thick crowds of the peak season with an interest in exploring the island rather than in simply roasting on the beach.
Sea temperatures are reasonable throughout the season and the air temperature remains around 20ºC during the day, slightly warmer at the beginning of the season, dipping just below at the end. However, night time temperatures drop to around 16ºC in October and 13ºC in November: extra layers are required.
The sun diminishes drastically to around five hours per day, shared out between days of grey and those with blissfully clear skies.
The beginning of the winter rains start to fall in October and increase throughout the season.
While rainfall is limited to a few heavy storms, threatening clouds are a common sight. Another good reason to visit in this season is the landscape’s positive response to the much needed water.
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Crete offers superb holiday resorts such as Rethmnon and Chania for relaxing holidays and Hersonissos and Malia for the Club scene plus extensive historical remains such as the Palace of Knossos
The Minoan palace at Knossos, covering an area of 215,278 square feet (20,000 sq metres), is one of the world’s greatest sightseeing experiences. It consists of four wings, arranged around a rectangular central court decorated with splendid frescoes. The Knossos site is about three miles (5km) south of Heraklion.
Opening time: Daily 8am to 8pm (April to mid-October); weekdays 8am to 5pm, and weekends 8.30am to 3pm (October to March)
Agios Nikolaos, though crowded in summer and largely overrun by tourism, is in a pretty setting - especially around picturesque Voulismeni Lake. Just along the coast at scenic Elounda are a number of attractive hotels.
The north coast beach resorts of Hersonissos and Malia are very busy - for a somewhat quieter, though still popular, resort, head for Ierapetra on the south coast with its grey sand beaches.
Food: The local drink is raki but before it takes hold try the tighanite (honey pancakes).The busy rsorts of the north east coast cater for a wide variety of visitors while the south of the island have more typical tavernas.
Night on the Town: The lively resorts are Malia and Hersonissos while Chania Town has a more relaxed atmosphere concentrated around the harbour with music bars and restaurants.
Shopping: Good buys are spirits and wines, leather goods and pottery.
Choose from the following holiday resorts in Crete:
Malia:
With a lively atmosphere on the sandy beach throughout the day and into the evening, Malia is a must for young and energetic holidaymakers. Take your pick from an assortment of pubs and discos, you may need a another holiday to rest after staying here...
Rethymnon
Being Crete's third largest city might suggest a large, anonymous place but Rethymnon is a town full of history, entertainment and a vibrant, friendly atmosphere. The narrow streets of the Venetian old town offer a surprise on almost every corner. The massive fortress, which dominates the resort, only serves to give the intimate streets, lively tavernas and bars an even greater attraction.
Aghios Nikolaos
Aghios Nikolaos, sparkling on Mirabello Bay, has at different times been described as 'a romantic setting', the 'heartbeat of Crete', and the 'most chic town on the island'. Whichever, it has become one of the most popular destinations on Crete. It's a resort which is less frenetic than non-stop Malia and less historic than Knossos with its world famous ruins. Yet Aghios Nikolaos contains all the charm of real Greece wrapped in a warm, welcoming cloak of sunshine. Its bars are an eclectic mix of lakeside and roadside tavernas, modern Cretan nightspots and the odd 'Brit Bar' thrown in for good measure.
Gouves
The expanding resort of Gouves is a town with two Cretan hearts - both with their own distinctive beat. Kato (Old) Gouves is a few kilometres inland from what is becoming one of the island's most popular beach resorts but separated by the main highway and a different philosophy they could just as well be a thousand years apart.
Elounda
Once a small fishing village, the hills that overlook the Mediterranean by Elounda have been developed over the last two decades with a series of luxury hotel complexes that have attracted the rich and famous ever since. Nowadays, holiday budgets of all kinds are catered for, and wherever you stay you can't fail to be charmed by Elounda's sandy beaches, clear-blue waters, and its traditional tavernas and restaurants that help create a wonderfully relaxing atmosphere.
Stalis:
Set mid-way between Hersonissos and Malia on the northern coast, with a sandy beach and varied watersports. Stalis enjoys an excellent selection of tavernas and restaurants but never gets too lively. It's an easy bus ride to Malia, Hersonissos
Aghia Galini:
At the foot of the Amari Valley rests a sleepy former fishing village where houses, hotels and apartments cascade prettily down the hillside. This resort has a very relaxed feel, a small harbour, a shingle beach and many bars, tavernas and restaurant...
Elounda:
This small resort exudes genuine Cretan charm and offers plenty of history and places to visit. The activity centres at the harbour and the village's lively square where there are bars and restaurants. There is a small central beach with pebbly coves...
Aghios Nikolaos:
What was once built by the Venetians around an allegedly bottomless lake is now a cosmopolitan town. Offering a small pebble beach, this resort has developed into one of Crete's most popular destinations.
Day Trips: Take a Jeep safari and explore the rugged sites and scenery including the Venetian harbour at Heraklion, ancient Minoan palace at Knossos, the fortifications at Rethymnon and the dramatic Samarian Gorge.
Tourist office in Crete 82384
Main language/s Greek
To dial from Crete call 00
To call to Crete dial 30
Emergency phone number/s
British Embassy: (1) 723 6211 Police: 100 Fire: 199 Ambulance: Tourist Police: 171 Auto road assistance - ELPA: 104 Auto road assistance - Express Service: 154
Lost travellers cheques:
Thomas Cook: 00-800-4412-8366
Lost credit cards:
Mastercard freephone number: 00-800-11-887-0303 VISA: call collect 24 hours a day 410 581 9994
Electricity supply 220V, 50Hz
Crete weather by Month
January: Cold, rainy and windy. There is a one-week period during January when the weather is generally good and the winds cease. This period is called the Halcyon Days.
February: Slightly warmer and sunnier than January. The almond trees bloom in February, the first trees to bloom. The weather is unpredictable and cold days alternate with warm ones.
March: Usually cold and windy but there are many sunny days too. In March 2001 there was a heat wave with temperatures as high as 30 °C but that was an exception. The first daring swimmers appear.
April: Spring time in Crete with medium temperatures and low rainfall. Crete is full of wildflowers and it is magnificent.
May: The weather in Crete becomes warm and sunny. Rain is unlikely to occur past May 10. The "meltemi" seasonal North winds have not yet started to blow, the sea is calm and nature is at its best. May is considered the best month for outdoors activities. A jacket will prove useful for the night.
June: Sunny and hot. Time for the beach!
July and August: Windy and very hot. July and August are the months that the seasonal North winds blow. It is hard to do anything else during these months, than spend the entire day at the beach. Look for a shady place and drink plenty of water. Do not forget your hat and sunscreen. Not the best weather for people who cannot stand high temperatures (30-35 C).
September: Sunny, less windy and slightly cooler. Good for outdoors activities. Get a light jacket for the night, especially if you plan to visit any mountainous areas.
October: Sunny, very few windy days but some rain will fall, especially in the west part of Crete. The weather is very good for outdoor activities. October is the month that the traditional drink of Crete, raki, is distilled from grape skins. Warm clothes are rarely necessary.
November: The weather becomes unpredictable. It may be sunny but there are plenty of rainy and windy days too. Pack a sweater and don't forget your umbrella. The south winds start and sometimes they carry sand from the Sahara desert. This sand covers the sky of Crete and it creates very unusual weather conditions.
December: The weather conditions vary from year to year with a mixture of windy, calm, rainy, sunny, cold and warm days. Pack warm clothes together with your swimming suit. There are days when the temperature along the south coast makes swimming possible and pleasurable.
