Rethymno weather in December

In December, Rethymno sees average daytime highs of 14°C and overnight lows near 10°C, with 101 mm of precipitation across 13.7 wet days and about 9.7 hours of daylight. It is the 10th-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 19% 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 Rethymno's 12th-clearest and 5th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Rethymno's year-round climate.

Daytime high
14°
10th warmest
Overnight low
10°
4th coldest
Precipitation
101 mm
13.7 wet days
Daylight
9 h 36 min
7:29 AM – 5:07 PM
Cloud cover
63%
12th clearest
Wind
9 km/h
5th windiest
Solar energy
2.22 kWh/m²
Travel score
3.8
out of 10

Rethymno is city in Crete, Greece.

Density
82/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 Rethymno reaches about 14°C in the afternoon and slips back to 10°C overnight — a 5°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 10°C and 17°C. Set against its neighbours, December runs about 4°C cooler than November and about 1°C warmer than January.

10°15°20°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
11611
21611
31511
41511
51510
61510
71510
81510
91510
101510
111410
121410
131410
141410
15149
16149
17149
18149
19149
20149
21139
22139
23139
24139
25139
26139
27139
28139
29139
30139
31139

Rethymno weather by month

How December compares with the rest of the year at a glance. December is the 10th-warmest and 1st-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysSnow daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan13° / 9714.10.59.93.2
Feb13° / 8712.30.610.73.3
Mar14° / 629.50.211.74.4
Apr17° / 12°346012.96.5
May22° / 15°233.7013.88.2
Jun26° / 19°61.3014.39.1
Jul27° / 22°30.6014.19.0
Aug28° / 22°30.7013.38.9
Sep26° / 20°172.8012.28.7
Oct22° / 16°486.4011.17.6
Nov18° / 13°699.6010.15.8
Dec14° / 10°10113.70.19.73.8

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 19% of the time in December, the cloudiest month of the year.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 22% of December, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 59%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
14456
24456
34456
44357
54456
64456
74456
84456
94456
104456
114357
124357
134159
144159
154159
164060
174060
184060
194060
203862
213862
223862
233862
243862
253862
263862
273862
283961
293961
303961
314060

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitation

Rethymno gets around 101 mm of rain and snow over 13.7 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 44% and peaks near 48% on the wettest days, and about 0 day brings snow. The odds climb toward the end of the month.

0%20%40%60%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
138
239
339
440
541
641
742
843
943
1043
1144
1244
1345
1445
1545
1645
1745
1845
1945
2045
2146
2246
2346
2446
2547
2647
2747
2848
2948
3048
3148

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 97% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)
1928
2937
3937
4946
5946
6955
7955
8964
9973
10973
11982
12982
13982
14982
15991
16991
17991
18991
19991
20991
21991
22991
23991
24991
25991
26991
27991
28991
29991
30991
31991

Wind in December

Winds average 9 km/h in December.

Across December, daily wind ranges from about 8 km/h on the calmest days to 9 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

051015151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
18calm
28calm
39calm
49calm
59calm
69calm
79calm
89calm
99calm
109calm
119calm
129calm
139calm
149calm
159calm
169calm
179calm
189calm
199calm
209calm
219calm
229calm
239calm
249calm
259calm
269calm
279calm
289calm
299calm
309calm
319calm

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 7:18 AM to 7:36 AM, and sunset from 5:05 PM to 5:15 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
19.87:185:05
29.87:195:05
39.87:205:05
49.77:215:05
59.77:225:05
69.77:225:05
79.77:235:05
89.77:245:05
99.77:255:05
109.77:255:06
119.77:265:06
129.77:275:06
139.67:285:06
149.67:285:06
159.67:295:07
169.67:295:07
179.67:305:07
189.67:315:08
199.67:315:08
209.67:325:08
219.67:325:09
229.67:335:09
239.67:335:10
249.67:345:10
259.67:345:11
269.67:345:11
279.67:355:12
289.67:355:13
299.67:355:13
309.67:365:14
319.67:365:15

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 2.22 kWh/m² — the year's lowest.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 2.22 kWh/m² to a high of 7.92 kWh/m² in June across the year — December's 2.22 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

0123151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
12.4Moderate
22.4Moderate
32.4Moderate
42.4Moderate
52.3Moderate
62.3Moderate
72.3Moderate
82.3Moderate
92.3Moderate
102.3Moderate
112.3Moderate
122.2Moderate
132.2Moderate
142.2Moderate
152.2Moderate
162.2Moderate
172.2Moderate
182.2Moderate
192.2Moderate
202.2Moderate
212.2Moderate
222.2Moderate
232.2Moderate
242.2Moderate
252.2Moderate
262.2Moderate
272.2Moderate
282.2Moderate
292.3Moderate
302.3Moderate
312.3Moderate
Planning a trip in December

Hazard calendar for Rethymno

In seasonPeak

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

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

Rethymno sees seasonal dust haze (May), heaviest in May.

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

Is December a good time to visit Rethymno?

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

3.8
Sightseeing
10th-best month of the year
0.1
Beach & pool
10th-best month of the year

December is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in Rethymno.

What to pack for Rethymno in December

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

In December, Rethymno sees daytime highs around 14°C and nights near 10°C. Worth packing: a warm layer and rain gear. About 14 days see rain.

a warm layerrain gear

Sea temperature near Rethymno 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 offshore is warmest in August at about 26°C and coldest in February near 16°C.

It's comfortable for a long swim from May 25 to Nov 24 — about 6 months when the water holds above 20°C.

15°20°25°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecbracingcoolrefreshingwarmcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°C)Comfort
Jan16Cool
Feb16Cool
Mar16Cool
Apr17Cool
May19Cool
Jun22Refreshing
Jul25Warm
Aug26Warm
Sep25Warm
Oct23Refreshing
Nov21Refreshing
Dec18Cool

UV index in Rethymno in December

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in December peaks around 3. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Rethymno peaks around July 13 at about 10 (very high) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near January 11 at about 3 (moderate).

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

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateVery highHighModerateJul 13UV 10Jan 11UV 3
UV index (midday)Level
Jan3Moderate
Feb3Moderate
Mar6High
Apr8Very high
May8Very high
Jun10Very high
Jul10Very high
Aug10Very high
Sep8Very high
Oct6High
Nov3Moderate
Dec3Moderate

Air quality in Rethymno 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 Rethymno is worst in April — around 15 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.0× the cleanest month (September, 8 µg/m³).

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

01020JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodApr 1215 µg/m³Sep 218 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan11Good
Feb14Moderate
Mar14Moderate
Apr15Moderate
May12Good
Jun9Good
Jul9Good
Aug10Good
Sep8Good
Oct8Good
Nov11Good
Dec8Good
Location & terrain

Where is Rethymno?

Rethymno sits at 35.4°N, 24.5°E, 14 m above sea level, in Greece. The nearest listed city is Chania, 44 km away.

ChaniaHeraklionFiraOiaParosNaxosMykonosSparta

Topography around Rethymno

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around Rethymno has significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 329 m around an average of 64 m above sea level; within 16 km, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 842 m; within 80 km, extreme variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 2,432 m.

The land around Rethymno is covered by water (44%) and trees (29%) within 3 km, water (47%), trees (25%) and grassland (21%) within 16 km, and water (66%) within 80 km.

3 km
329 m
16 km
842 m
80 km
2,432 m
treesshrubsgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwater
December weather nearby: Chania 44 km · Heraklion 60 km · Fira 145 km · Oia 146 km · Paros 200 km · Naxos 209 km · Mykonos 243 km · Sparta 265 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 Rethymno (35.3655°, 24.4823°, elevation 14 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).