Wind from the north
Every beach is fairly exposed to this wind.
Roughest
Sheltered beaches in Rethymnon today
Which side of Rethymnon is sheltered from today's wind? 11 beaches ranked live, updated every 2 hours.
From us
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Tavernas, cafés, sunbed rentals and shops: a basic listing on these pages is free.
At a glance
Rethymnon beaches at a glance
- 11
- Mapped beaches
- 5
- Sandy beaches
- 2
- Pebble beaches
- 11
- With a bar or taverna close by
- 9
- Parking close by
Most beaches face north (8). Wind from that side reaches them first; wind from the opposite side leaves them sheltered.
Shelter by wind direction
Which beaches are sheltered in each wind?
Wind direction decides everything. These are the Rethymnon beaches that stay most sheltered, and the ones that get roughest, in a strong wind (6 Bft) from each direction. It is computed from how much open sea lies upwind of each beach.
Wind from the east
- Spilies beachShelter score 96 of 100
- Thalassi beachShelter score 94 of 100
- Rethymnon BeachShelter score 86 of 100
- Episkopi beachShelter score 80 of 100
Wind from the south
- Episkopi beachShelter score 96 of 100
- Rethymnon BeachShelter score 96 of 100
- Thalassi beachShelter score 96 of 100
- Spilies beachShelter score 96 of 100
Wind from the west
- Rethymnon BeachShelter score 78 of 100
- Episkopi beachShelter score 74 of 100
Roughest
Sea temperature
Sea temperature in Rethymnon, month by month
The average temperature of the sea near the beaches of Rethymnon, from 30 years of satellite measurements (NOAA, 1991–2020).
Warm-water seasonJun – Oct≥ 22 °C
Warmest month26 °CAugust
Coldest month16 °CFebruary
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sept | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16° | 16° | 16° | 17° | 19° | 22° | 25° | 26° | 25° | 23° | 21° | 18° |
The sea is 22 °C or warmer from June to October, and warmest in August, at about 26 °C.
Sea temperature: NOAA OISST v2.1, average of 1991–2020 (public domain). Close to the shore the water can be a degree or two warmer or cooler.
Best time to go
When to go to Rethymnon
Rethymnon is busiest in August. In May and October there are about half as many visitors, or fewer. For a flat sea and fewer people, the best months are May and October.
In the swimming season (May to October) the least windy month on Rethymnon is May, with an average wind of 16 km/h. The windiest is July, at 21 km/h. The wind is usually lighter in the morning and builds up in the afternoon, so go early on windy days.
- Visitors
- Sea temperature
- Best
Rethymnon: wind and weather month by month
Average conditions for every month near Rethymnon, from 25 years of satellite-based weather data (2001–2025). Wind is the average at 10 m height; the sea close to the shore can differ.
| Month | Wind | Temp | Sea | Rain (mm/day) | Visitors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 23 km/h W | 13° | 16 °C | 2.8 | Quiet |
| February | 23 km/h NW | 13° | 16 °C | 2.6 | Quiet |
| March | 21 km/h NW | 14° | 16 °C | 1.4 | Quiet |
| April | 19 km/h NW | 16° | 17 °C | 0.8 | Quiet |
| May | 16 km/h NW | 20° | 19 °C | 0.5 | Moderate |
| June | 18 km/h NW | 24° | 22 °C | 0.2 | Busy |
| July | 21 km/h NW | 26° | 25 °C | 0.1 | Peak |
| August | 20 km/h NW | 26° | 26 °C | 0.1 | Peak |
| September | 19 km/h NW | 24° | 25 °C | 0.6 | Busy |
| October | 18 km/h NW | 21° | 23 °C | 1.4 | Moderate |
| November | 19 km/h NW | 18° | 21 °C | 1.8 | Quiet |
| December | 22 km/h NW | 15° | 18 °C | 2.8 | Quiet |
Historical data: NASA POWER, CC BY 4.0. Visitor levels are nights spent in tourist accommodation in the Crete region (Eurostat, average of 2023–2025), compared with its busiest month. They show when the area is busy, not how many people are on a given beach.
Rethymnon: November through the years
Average conditions for November near Rethymnon, from 25 years of satellite-based weather data (2001–2025).
On average 19 km/h and 18° in November. Least windy year on record: 2019 · windiest: 2005.
Show all 25 years
| Year | Wind | Temp | Rain (mm/day) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 17 km/h SW | 20° | 2.2 |
| 2024 | 21 km/h NW | 18° | 1.0 |
| 2023 | 20 km/h W | 21° | 1.1 |
| 2022 | 19 km/h NW | 18° | 1.5 |
| 2021 | 17 km/h NW | 18° | 1.3 |
| 2020 | 22 km/h N | 18° | 3.0 |
| 2019 | 16 km/h SW | 20° | 1.9 |
| 2018 | 21 km/h N | 18° | 3.2 |
| 2017 | 18 km/h W | 18° | 1.1 |
| 2016 | 18 km/h NW | 18° | 1.8 |
| 2015 | 18 km/h NW | 18° | 1.0 |
| 2014 | 19 km/h NW | 18° | 1.0 |
| 2013 | 19 km/h W | 19° | 1.2 |
| 2012 | 22 km/h N | 19° | 1.8 |
| 2011 | 21 km/h N | 15° | 1.1 |
| 2010 | 18 km/h S | 20° | 1.2 |
| 2009 | 20 km/h NW | 18° | 1.6 |
| 2008 | 17 km/h NW | 18° | 1.1 |
| 2007 | 20 km/h W | 18° | 2.3 |
| 2006 | 17 km/h NW | 16° | 1.7 |
| 2005 | 22 km/h NW | 17° | 2.8 |
| 2004 | 22 km/h NW | 18° | 3.1 |
| 2003 | 16 km/h N | 18° | 3.0 |
| 2002 | 16 km/h SW | 19° | 2.0 |
| 2001 | 21 km/h W | 17° | 3.3 |
Every beach
Beaches on Rethymnon
11 beaches mapped. The most sheltered first, then every other beach with a name; each one opens its own page.
Which side of Rethymnon is sheltered in a north wind?
In a strong north wind no side of Rethymnon is fully sheltered, so choose the beaches with the most land upwind: Beach near Rethymno (2).
How do you know which beaches are sheltered?
For every beach we measured how much open sea lies in each of 16 compass directions, using OpenStreetMap coastlines. Waves build over open water, so a beach with land close by in the direction the wind comes from is sheltered. Today's wind forecast from MET Norway is then applied, and the result is refreshed every 2 hours.
Are the forecasts reliable?
They are estimates. The model does not include swell from distant storms, and local gusts can be stronger than forecast. Always follow lifeguard flags and local warnings.
Which wind direction matters on Rethymnon?
The direction more than the strength. A beach is rough when the wind blows from the open sea towards it and flat when land lies upwind, so on a windy day one side of Rethymnon can be flat while the other has waves. That is why this page lists the most sheltered and the roughest beaches for each wind direction, and the live ranking above applies today's forecast.
When is the sea flattest on Rethymnon?
In the swimming season (May to October) the least windy month on Rethymnon is May, with an average wind of 16 km/h. The windiest is July, at 21 km/h. The wind is usually lighter in the morning and builds up in the afternoon, so go early on windy days.
When is Rethymnon least crowded?
Rethymnon is busiest in August. In May and October there are about half as many visitors, or fewer. For a flat sea and fewer people, the best months are May and October.
How warm is the sea in Rethymnon?
The sea is 22 °C or warmer from June to October, and warmest in August, at about 26 °C.
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