Chania in Winter
In winter (December, January and February), Chania sees average daytime highs around 13°C and overnight lows near 11°C, with 455 mm of precipitation over about 43 wet days across the season. It is the coldest season of the year and the wettest season of the year.
Over the season highs ease from about 15°C in early December to 13°C by late February. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 32% of the time across winter, and the air most often feels dry.
Winter is Chania's weakest season of the year to visit on our travel score. For the whole year in context, see Chania's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 13°C
- coldest season of the year
- Avg overnight low
- 11°C
- Precipitation
- 455 mm
- 43 wet days
- Avg wind
- 19 km/h
- Travel score
- 3.3
- weakest season of the year
- Months
- Dec · Jan · Feb
Temperature in Chania in Winter
Over the season highs ease from about 15°C in early December to 13°C by late February.
A typical winter day in Chania reaches about 13°C and drops to 11°C overnight. The warmest of the three months is December, the coolest February.
Chania weather by month
How the three winter months (December, January and February) compare with the rest of the year — the season's months are highlighted.
| Month | High / Low (°C) | Rainfall (mm) | Wet days | Daylight (hours) | Travel score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 13° / 10° | 157 | 14.7 | 9.9 | 3.1 |
| Feb | 12° / 10° | 133 | 13.2 | 10.7 | 3.1 |
| Mar | 14° / 11° | 86 | 10.2 | 11.7 | 4.0 |
| Apr | 16° / 14° | 38 | 6 | 12.9 | 5.7 |
| May | 19° / 17° | 25 | 4.1 | 13.8 | 7.6 |
| Jun | 23° / 21° | 5 | 1.6 | 14.4 | 9.1 |
| Jul | 25° / 23° | 3 | 0.7 | 14.2 | 9.5 |
| Aug | 25° / 24° | 5 | 1.1 | 13.3 | 9.3 |
| Sep | 23° / 22° | 26 | 3.5 | 12.2 | 8.8 |
| Oct | 20° / 19° | 79 | 8.3 | 11.1 | 7.1 |
| Nov | 17° / 15° | 110 | 11 | 10.1 | 5.5 |
| Dec | 14° / 12° | 166 | 15.1 | 9.6 | 3.7 |
Cloud cover in Winter
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 32% of the time across winter.
Chance of precipitation in Winter
Chania gets around 455 mm of rain and snow over 43 wet days across winter. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.
Humidity in Winter
Most of winter feels dry — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.
Wind in Winter
Winds average 19 km/h across winter.
Sunrise & sunset in Winter
Daylight runs from about 9 h 48 min in early December to 11 h 06 min by late February. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.
Solar energy in Winter
Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day across winter, about 2.6 kWh/m².
Hazard calendar for Chania
In winter, Chania overlaps 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.
Is winter a good time to visit Chania?
Our two travel scores rate winter for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal), averaged across the three months.
winter is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in Chania.
What to pack for Chania in Winter
From winter's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In winter, Chania sees daytime highs around 13°C and nights near 11°C. Pack rain gear. Worth having: a warm layer. About 43 days see rain.
Sea temperature near Chania in Winter
The nearest coast averages about 17°C across winter — 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.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sea temperature (°C) | 16 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 19 | 22 | 25 | 26 | 25 | 23 | 20 | 18 |
| Comfort | Cool | Cool | Cool | Cool | Cool | Refreshing | Warm | Warm | Warm | Refreshing | Refreshing | Cool |
| Sea temperature (°C) | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 16 | Cool |
| Feb | 16 | Cool |
| Mar | 16 | Cool |
| Apr | 17 | Cool |
| May | 19 | Cool |
| Jun | 22 | Refreshing |
| Jul | 25 | Warm |
| Aug | 26 | Warm |
| Sep | 25 | Warm |
| Oct | 23 | Refreshing |
| Nov | 20 | Refreshing |
| Dec | 18 | Cool |
UV index in Chania in Winter
Clear-sky midday UV across winter averages around 3. 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.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UV index (midday) | 2 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 2 |
| Level | Moderate | Moderate | High | Very high | Very high | Very high | Very high | Very high | Very high | High | Moderate | Moderate |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 2 | Moderate |
| Feb | 3 | Moderate |
| Mar | 5 | High |
| Apr | 8 | Very high |
| May | 7 | Very high |
| Jun | 9 | Very high |
| Jul | 10 | Very high |
| Aug | 9 | Very high |
| Sep | 8 | Very high |
| Oct | 5 | High |
| Nov | 3 | Moderate |
| Dec | 2 | Moderate |
Air quality in Chania in Winter
Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where winter 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).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | 11 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 11 | 9 | 8 | 10 | 7 | 8 | 11 | 8 |
| Level | Good | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 11 | Good |
| Feb | 14 | Moderate |
| Mar | 15 | Moderate |
| Apr | 15 | Moderate |
| May | 11 | Good |
| Jun | 9 | Good |
| Jul | 8 | Good |
| Aug | 10 | Good |
| Sep | 7 | Good |
| Oct | 8 | Good |
| Nov | 11 | Good |
| Dec | 8 | Good |
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.
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.
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
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.