Chania weather in December

In December, Chania sees average daytime highs of 14°C and overnight lows near 12°C, with 166 mm of precipitation across 15.1 wet days and about 9.6 hours of daylight. It is the 9th-warmest and 1st-wettest month of the year here.

Highs ease over the month, from about 15°C in the first days to 13°C by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 29% of the time in December, and the air most often feels dry.

Daylight stretches from about 9 h 48 min at the start of December to 9 h 36 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is Chania's 12th-clearest and 4th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Chania's year-round climate.

Daytime high
14°
9th warmest
Overnight low
12°
4th coldest
Precipitation
166 mm
15.1 wet days
Daylight
9 h 36 min
7:32 AM – 5:08 PM
Cloud cover
58%
12th clearest
Wind
18 km/h
4th windiest
Solar energy
2.1 kWh/m²
Travel score
3.7
out of 10

Chania is city in Crete, Greece.

Density
4,292/km²
people per km²

Air quality: WHO Ambient Air Quality Database. Density & description: Wikidata (CC0), GeoNames.

Temperature in December

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Highs ease over the month, from about 15°C in the first days to 13°C by the end.

A typical December day in Chania reaches about 14°C in the afternoon and slips back to 12°C overnight — a 2°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 11°C and 17°C. Set against its neighbours, December runs about 3°C cooler than November and about 2°C warmer than January.

10°15°20°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
11614
21513
31513
41513
51513
61513
71513
81513
91513
101512
111412
121412
131412
141412
151412
161412
171412
181412
191412
201412
211412
221411
231311
241311
251311
261311
271311
281311
291311
301311
311311

Chania weather by month

How December compares with the rest of the year at a glance. December is the 9th-warmest and 1st-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan13° / 10°15714.79.93.1
Feb12° / 10°13313.210.73.1
Mar14° / 11°8610.211.74.0
Apr16° / 14°38612.95.7
May19° / 17°254.113.87.6
Jun23° / 21°51.614.49.1
Jul25° / 23°30.714.29.5
Aug25° / 24°51.113.39.3
Sep23° / 22°263.512.28.8
Oct20° / 19°798.311.17.1
Nov17° / 15°1101110.15.5
Dec14° / 12°16615.19.63.7

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 29% of the time in December, the cloudiest month of the year.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 24% of December, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 47%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
15347
25347
35347
45347
55446
65446
75446
85446
95446
105446
115446
125446
135446
145446
155446
165347
175347
185347
195347
205347
215248
225248
235149
245149
255149
265149
275149
285248
295149
305248
315248

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitation

Chania gets around 166 mm of rain and snow over 15.1 wet days in December, the wettest month. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

Day to day, the chance of measurable precipitation averages around 49% and peaks near 51% on the wettest days, and about 0 day brings snow.

0%20%40%60%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
145
245
346
447
548
649
750
850
950
1051
1151
1251
1351
1451
1550
1650
1749
1849
1948
2048
2147
2247
2347
2448
2548
2648
2749
2849
2950
3050
3150

Humidity in December

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

Most of December feels dry — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.

By dew point, December lands in the dry band about 94% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)
18317
28515
38614
48713
58812
68911
79010
8919
9928
10937
11946
12955
13955
14964
15964
16964
17973
18973
19973
20973
21973
22982
23982
24982
25982
26982
27991
28991
29991
30991
31991

Wind in December

Winds average 18 km/h in December.

Across December, daily wind ranges from about 18 km/h on the calmest days to 19 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

0510152025151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
118light breeze
218light breeze
318light breeze
418light breeze
518light breeze
618light breeze
718light breeze
818light breeze
918light breeze
1018light breeze
1119light breeze
1219light breeze
1319light breeze
1419light breeze
1519light breeze
1619light breeze
1719light breeze
1819light breeze
1919light breeze
2019light breeze
2119light breeze
2219light breeze
2319light breeze
2419light breeze
2519light breeze
2619light breeze
2719light breeze
2819light breeze
2919light breeze
3019light breeze
3119light breeze

Sunrise & sunset in December

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 9 h 48 min at the start of December to 9 h 36 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days shrink by about 12 minutes over December. Sunrise moves from 7:20 AM to 7:38 AM, and sunset from 5:07 PM to 5:16 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
19.87:205:07
29.87:215:07
39.77:225:07
49.77:235:07
59.77:245:07
69.77:255:07
79.77:255:07
89.77:265:07
99.77:275:07
109.77:285:07
119.67:285:07
129.67:295:07
139.67:305:08
149.67:305:08
159.67:315:08
169.67:325:08
179.67:325:09
189.67:335:09
199.67:335:09
209.67:345:10
219.67:345:10
229.67:355:11
239.67:355:11
249.67:365:12
259.67:365:12
269.67:375:13
279.67:375:13
289.67:375:14
299.67:385:15
309.67:385:15
319.67:385:16

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 2.1 kWh/m² — the year's lowest.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 2.1 kWh/m² to a high of 7.87 kWh/m² in June across the year — December's 2.1 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

0123151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
12.3Moderate
22.3Moderate
32.2Moderate
42.2Moderate
52.2Moderate
62.2Moderate
72.2Moderate
82.2Moderate
92.1Moderate
102.1Moderate
112.1Moderate
122.1Moderate
132.1Moderate
142.1Moderate
152.1Moderate
162.1Moderate
172.1Moderate
182.1Moderate
192.1Moderate
202.1Moderate
212.1Moderate
222.1Moderate
232.1Moderate
242.1Moderate
252.1Moderate
262.1Moderate
272.1Moderate
282.1Moderate
292.1Moderate
302.1Moderate
312.2Moderate
Planning a trip in December

Hazard calendar for Chania

In seasonPeak

In December, Chania sits inside its rainy season season. The full year is below, with each hazard's peak months called out.

Chania's rainy season runs October–March, when most of the year's rain falls.

Chania sees seasonal dust haze (April–May), heaviest in April.

Rainy season
Dust
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Is December a good time to visit Chania?

Our two travel scores rate December for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal).

3.7
Sightseeing
10th-best month of the year
0.1
Beach & pool
9th-best month of the year

December is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in Chania.

What to pack for Chania in December

From December's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.

In December, Chania sees daytime highs around 14°C and nights near 12°C. Pack rain gear. Worth having: a warm layer. About 15 days see rain.

rain geara warm layer

Sea temperature near Chania in December

The nearest coast averages about 18°C in December — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.

The sea at the nearest coast (about 15 km away) is warmest in August at about 26°C and coldest in February near 16°C.

It's comfortable for a long swim from May 26 to Nov 19 — about 5.9 months when the water holds above 20°C.

15°20°25°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecbracingcoolrefreshingwarmtropicalcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°C)Comfort
Jan16Cool
Feb16Cool
Mar16Cool
Apr17Cool
May19Cool
Jun22Refreshing
Jul25Warm
Aug26Warm
Sep25Warm
Oct23Refreshing
Nov20Refreshing
Dec18Cool

UV index in Chania in December

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in December peaks around 2. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Chania peaks around July 15 at about 10 (very high) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near January 10 at about 2 (moderate).

The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — in 10 months of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateHighVery highHighModerateJul 15UV 10Jan 10UV 2
UV index (midday)Level
Jan2Moderate
Feb3Moderate
Mar5High
Apr8Very high
May7Very high
Jun9Very high
Jul10Very high
Aug9Very high
Sep8Very high
Oct5High
Nov3Moderate
Dec2Moderate

Air quality in Chania in December

GoodModeratePoorUnhealthyVery unhealthy

Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where December falls, not just the annual average.

Air quality in Chania is worst in April — around 15 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.0× the cleanest month (September, 7 µg/m³).

Modeled monthly averages (CAMS reanalysis, 2015–2024).

01020JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodApr 1015 µg/m³Sep 208 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan11Good
Feb14Moderate
Mar15Moderate
Apr15Moderate
May11Good
Jun9Good
Jul8Good
Aug10Good
Sep7Good
Oct8Good
Nov11Good
Dec8Good
Location & terrain

Where is Chania?

Chania sits at 35.5°N, 24.0°E, 24 m above sea level, in Greece. The nearest listed city is Rethymno, 44 km away.

RethymnoHeraklionOiaFiraParosNaxosSpartaKalamata

Topography around Chania

How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Chania.

Within 3 km, the terrain around Chania has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 215 m around an average of 31 m above sea level; within 16 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,795 m; within 80 km, extreme variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 2,432 m.

The land around Chania is covered by water (31%), artificial surfaces (30%) and trees (26%) within 3 km, water (41%) and trees (33%) within 16 km, and water (76%) within 80 km.

3 km
215 m
16 km
1,795 m
80 km
2,432 m
treesshrubsgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwater
December weather nearby: Rethymno 44 km · Heraklion 103 km · Oia 161 km · Fira 162 km · Paros 202 km · Naxos 214 km · Sparta 225 km · Kalamata 242 km

Greece travel facts

Travel advisory
Level 1
Exercise Normal Precautions
Power plugs
Type C / F
230 V · 50 Hz
Prices
≈ 60% of US
price level, 2025
GDP per capita
$26,948
2025
Happiness
5.7 / 10
World Happiness, 2025
Safe drinking water
97%
of population, 2024
Homicide rate
0.8
per 100k, 2023
Road deaths
8.3
per 100k/yr, 2019
Income group
High
World Bank
English
High
EF EPI 592
Religion
other 3%Muslim 2%

Sources: World Bank, US State Department, World Happiness Report, WHO/UNICEF, EF EPI, CIA World Factbook.

Data sources

Temperature, precipitation, cloud, humidity, wind and solar figures are a 1991–2020 climatology for Chania (35.5112°, 24.0292°, elevation 24 m), computed from hourly ERA5 reanalysis — contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information. Sun figures are astronomical calculations, not observations. City data © GeoNames, CC BY 4.0. Map outlines from Natural Earth (public domain); interactive map © Google. Sea temperatures are the NOAA OISST v2.1 1991–2020 monthly climatology (public domain), sampled at the nearest ocean point. UV index is derived from CAMS (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service) clear-sky UV data — contains modified Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service information. Monthly air-quality (PM2.5) seasonality is from the CAMS EAC4 reanalysis (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service), scaled to the WHO annual mean where available. Topography is sampled from the Copernicus DEM GLO-90 elevation model (© ESA/Airbus) and ESA WorldCover 2021 land cover (CC BY 4.0).