Crete is a seasonal destination. The summer holiday season commences with the Easter holiday (usually in April) and ends in October. At the end of winter, much of the island is still shut-down, even if the weather is excellent. During our 1-month long visit to Crete in March, we experienced the full spectrum of off-season travel.
If you’re visiting Crete from mainland Europe, you can look forward to winter sun, stunning gorge and coastal hiking trails, significant cost savings, and a relaxed local vibe. But, visiting Crete in March also has its disadvantages: many places are completely shut down, most tavernas are closed, and ferries and buses are operating at very low frequency. A rental car is essential in getting around the island.
Early March is much quieter than late March. Around the Greek Independence Day (March 25th), we noticed a surge in activity as more restaurants, cafés, and tavernas opened.
Overall, we think Crete is a great winter sun getaway despite the limitations.
- Planning a Trip: Our Crete Road Trip Itinerary is best suited for April or October, as accommodation in Chora Sfakion can be scarce outside the holiday season. If you find a place to stay in or near Chora Sfakion, plan to stay a few nights. Even though much of the area will be quiet, it’s the ideal base for hiking Aradena Gorge, Sweet Water Beach, and Imbros Gorge.
- Restaurant Opening Times: Don’t rely on Google Maps: many tavernas don’t update their hours for the winter season, so they often appear open when they’re not.
- Hiking: Best Hikes in Crete
- Female Travel: In rural areas of Crete, outside of the high season, social spaces are dominated by men. Unlike our experience in Albania, it wasn’t uncomfortable, since no one stared at us or made us feel unwelcome. But, we definitely noticed that we were the only women in certain public spaces.
Pros and Cons of Visiting Crete in March
Pros
Winter sun
Ideal temperature for hiking
No traffic
No parking fees (even in paid car parks)
Room rates are significantly lower
No mosquitoes
The scenery is verdant, especially in the southwest
Cons
There are fewer direct flights to Chania and Heraklion from European cities. You many need to connect through Athens.
Ferries and buses are operating at very low frequency
A rental car is essential in getting around
Samaria Gorge isn’t open
Most tavernas are closed
Because it’s so quiet, some trails can feel eerie
March Weather in Crete
Overall, the weather was outstanding, with the exception of a few exceptionally windy days with up to 90 km/h gusts. During our trip, the average daytime temperature was around 20ºC, though we had both 15ºC and 27ºC days.
Though most days were sunny, visibility was impacted by south winds, which transport Sahara dust into the atmosphere (see this Sahara dust forecast map). If you’re traveling in the Mediterranean, Canary Islands, or even the Balkans, and wondering why it’s hazy, that’s usually the reason.
At the start of the month, we wore every layer we had, regretting not packing a puffer jacket. In the end, though, we only needed a warm coat for a few days.
I recommend packing:
- Outerwear: puffer jacket and rain jacket
- Mid-layer: Hiking vest and merino zip up jacket
- Base layers: Merino shirts
- Pants: Hiking pants and regular pants
- Sun Protection: sun hat, sunglasses
- Shoes: sandals, sturdy hiking boots, and comfortable walking shoes
- Miscellaneous: beanie and swimsuit (we swam on the warmer days).
Where to Stay in Crete in March
When traveling to Crete in winter, the most important decision is choosing your base, or bases.
It’s best to stay in cities like Chania and Rethymno and explore the surroundings on day trips. The benefits of staying in a city are many, including weekly markets and open accommodations, restaurants, cafés, and shops.
If you try to stay in a resort area that exclusively caters to tourists rather than locals, you will be bored out of your mind. In resort towns, many hotels don’t open up until mid/late April, or even May. Furthermore, all tavernas and cafés will be closed, with very few exceptions.
In March, most small businesses in seaside villages are prepping for the upcoming tourist season. You’ll see locals painting chairs and facades and renovating their businesses.
Staying in cities provides the most convenience. If you stay outside the cities, I recommend booking self-catering villas, or apartments.
Keep in mind that certain accommodation amenities like outdoor pools are often seasonal. Hotel breakfasts may also be offered seasonally.
Chania in March
Chania is a vibrant city along the north coast with a charming old town, many excellent restaurants and coffee shops, and lots of attractions within reach. From Chania, we visited Katholiko Gorge, Seitan Limania, Lissos Gorge in Sougia, Elafonisi Beach, and Balos Beach on various day trips. Here’s how I would plan a trip to Chania.
Of all the places we visited in March, Chania felt the most lively. We stayed in Theta Boutique Hotel (budget-midrange) in the Koum Kapi Neighborhood, just east of the Old Town.
These accommodations were all open in March:
Old Town of Chania | Hanim Boutique Hotel (midrange), Malmo Historic Hotel (midrange), Aisha Hotel (midrange-luxury), Casa Delfino Hotel & Spa (luxury), Monastery Estate Venetian Harbor (luxury).
Nea Chora | Elia Sea Suites (seafront luxury)
Tabakaria District and Halepa | The Tanneries Hotel & Spa (seafront luxury) and Domus Blanc Boutique Hotel (luxury)
To better understand Chania’s neighborhoods, read Where to Stay in Chania.
Plakias in March
We also stayed in Plakias for several weeks. Even though many establishments were closed, several tavernas, cafés, and supermarkets were open. All of these places were flooded with locals on the weekends. Additionally, we enjoyed wonderful Cretan meals in the nearby mountain villages of Sellia and Myrthios.
Plakias is an optimal base for exploring the treasures of southwest Crete. From Plakias, we visited Sfakia, Aradena Gorge, Sweet Water Beach, Imbros Gorge, Preveli Palm Beach, Rethymno, Kourtaliotiko Gorge, Matala and Red Beach. Read my Plakias Travel Guide to discover the southwest coast.
Plakias Accommodations Open in March:
- Midrange: Belvedere Luxury Apartments & Spa in Plakias
- Midrange: Aelia in Plakias
- Budget: Atlantis in Plakias
- Budget: Chrisanthi Studios & Apartments in Myrthios above Plakias
- Midrange-Luxury: Nature Villas Myrthios between Myrthios and Mariou, above Plakias
- Midrange-Luxury: Fedra Suites in Myrthios above Plakias
If your trip extends into April, also check out these top-rated accommodations: KYMĀNI Boutique Hotel & Suites (midrange), NERĒA Boutique Hotel (budget-midrange), and Nemesis Villas (3-bedroom villas).
Rethymno in March
Rethymno (also spelled Rethimno and Rethymnon) is a city along the north coast of Crete. Like Chania, Rethymno’s Old Town, a maze of narrow alleyways, was built by the Republic of Venice. The city’s main attractions are the Venetian Fortress, the Venetian Rimondi fountain in Petychaki Square, and Venetian Harbor.
Popular day trips from Rethymno include Arakadi Monastery, Melidoni Cave, Lake Kournas, Mili Gorge, wine tasting at the Kourkoulou, Metaxakis, and Klados wineries.
During our March visit, the city center was shockingly quiet in the morning. But, by the afternoon, there was much more activity, especially along the café-lined street parallel to the Rethymno marina and Rethymno beach.
Rethymno’s weekly Thursday market is a highlight and an excellent place to buy local honey, fruits and vegetables. For a homemade Cretan meal, check out Stella’s Kitchen (Google Maps).
Accommodations in the Old Town of Rethymno are located on narrow, mostly pedestrian lanes. There is no on-site parking available in the historic center. In March, finding nearby free parking will not be a problem. These accommodations were open during our March visit:
- Budget: Effie’s cozy old town studios in the Old Town of Rethymno
- Midrange: Casa di Gaga Luxury Suites in the Old Town of Rethymno
- Midrange-Luxury: 4-star Mansio Boutique Hotel in the Old Town of Rethymno
- Midrange-Luxury: 4-star La Montre Luxury Boutique Suites in the Old Town of Rethymno
More Mediterranean and Winter Sun Travel Guides
Malta:
Mallorca Travel Guides:
Canary Islands:
Calanques National Park, France:
Winter in Europe:
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