Map › Greece › Ierapetra & Istro East › Ierapetra
Creta · Lasithi, south coast · Lasithi Regional Unit
Ierapetra
also known as Ιεράπετρα, Crete / Ierapetra, Ierapetra / Crete
Nearby Istro East 13 km · Agios Nikolaos lagoon 21 km · straight-line distance
When it fills in
The Meltemi can run day and night for stretches at a time. The thermal push off the land builds through the middle of the day, so the afternoon is usually the strongest window and the wind often eases after dark. That is the general pattern of this wind, not a measured local onset.
The wind
locals call it Meltemi
Direction
Kite sizes
metres · typical quiver highlighted
Character
mixed
fills in: The Meltemi can run day and night for stretches at a time. The thermal push off the land builds through the middle of the day, so the afternoon is usually the strongest window and the wind often eases after dark. That is the general pattern of this wind, not a measured local onset.
Typical strength
20-30, with gusts potentially above 35
Thermal or synoptic
synoptic
The quiver, in words
Indicative, derived from the usual 20-30 knot Meltemi and not measured here: a 75-85 kg rider is on 7-9 m on a normal day and 5-6 m once the gusts pass 35. Sizes above 10 m only make sense on the rare light day, and that is the day the offshore direction gives you least margin.
Direction to shore
offshore from land toward the Libyan Sea
Dominant direction
N, NNE
Forecast
Month by month
- Jan54
- Feb49
- Mar42
- Apr32
- May, riders' month24
- Jun, riders' month27
- Jul, riders' month55
- Aug, riders' month15
- Sep, riders' month23
- Oct, riders' month30
- Nov38
- Dec30
per cent of the month at force 4 or more
Ringed months are the ones riders and schools name: May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct.
- 12Jan18°
- 11Feb17°
- 11Mar17°
- 9Apr19°
- 9May20°
- 9Jun25°
- 12Jul27°
- 8Aug28°
- 9Sep27°
- 10Oct26°
- 11Nov23°
- 9Dec19°
avg knots per month · water °C below · season highlighted
| Month | Force 4+ | Knots | From | Air | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 54% | 11.6 kt | N | 12.8°C | 18.3°C |
| Feb | 49% | 11 kt | N | 12.5°C | 17.4°C |
| Mar | 42% | 10.7 kt | N | 13.6°C | 17.4°C |
| Apr | 32% | 9.4 kt | N | 17.5°C | 18.5°C |
| May | 24% | 9.2 kt | N | 21°C | 20.4°C |
| Jun | 27% | 9 kt | N | 26.9°C | 24.9°C |
| Jul | 55% | 11.9 kt | N | 29.8°C | 27.4°C |
| Aug | 15% | 7.7 kt | N | 28.6°C | 28°C |
| Sep | 23% | 9 kt | N | 25.5°C | 27.2°C |
| Oct | 30% | 9.8 kt | N | 21.5°C | 25.5°C |
| Nov | 38% | 10.5 kt | N | 18°C | 22.5°C |
| Dec | 30% | 9.3 kt | N | 15°C | 19.3°C |
modelled
A weather model's cell over this place, not a station on it. Good for comparing places, weaker for one beach.
Modelled from weather reanalysis on a 10–25 km grid (2022-2024), not a ground station: reliable for trade and synoptic winds, understates thermal sea breezes and valley winds. The typical daily max and the direction are columns of the table above, month by month. Highlighted months are the riding season from the spot record.
ERA5 reanalysis grid point (modelled) · Open-Meteo historical weather API — ECMWF ERA5/ERA5-Land reanalysis, not a ground station · 2022-2024
The water
Type
sea
Standing depth
progressive depth
Tides
tide independent
Temperature
24-27°C summer · 15-18°C winter
Wetsuit
lycra or shorts in summer; wetsuit in spring/autumn; long wetsuit in winter
Currents
offshore current is reported
Your level
The scene
What riders come here for
Launch and rules
three ways on to the water, and what each one asks of you
With a school or a boat
1 school names this spot
On your own
Room to launch: medium
Somewhere else
Istro East, 13 km
Every spot within 40 km is on the map at the top of this page, with its distance under it.
Rescue
Launch
Launch from the Ierapetra town beaches along the seafront: a medium sandy beach with the promenade and buildings behind it.
Space
medium
Rules & access
Access rules drift faster than anything else we hold — check locally, and propose an edit if this has changed.
Rider tips
- Never go out alone in this offshore wind; take a waterproof phone or a VHF with you.
- Launch only if you can hold and regain upwind ground in gusty air.
- Ask at Ierapetra Watersports or the local riders which town beach is being used before you rig in summer.
- Stay clear of the mole and the wave breakers, and give swimmers a wide margin in July and August.
- Carry more water than you think you need and cover up; dehydration comes fast on this coast.
Getting there
Airport
Heraklion International Airport (HER)
Route
From Heraklion, run east on the E75/90 coast highway, then turn south across the Ierapetra isthmus and follow the signs into Ierapetra.
Transfer
80-95 minutes from Heraklion Airport by road depending on source and traffic
Cost level
medium
Staying
Ierapetra is a real town: hotels, restaurants, shops, parking on the seafront and more on the streets behind it.
No-wind days
Ierapetra town itself, boat trips to Chrissi island when they run, the beaches of southeast Crete, Agios Nikolaos, excursions to Spinalonga and around the Mirabello Gulf, plus Lasithi sightseeing.
Photos
FAQ
When is the best time to kite at Ierapetra?
The season runs June through September, sometimes extended May to October, with summer rated the best time.
Is Ierapetra suitable for beginners?
No; the wind is offshore toward the open Libyan Sea, so only riders with reliable upwind ability and full kite control should launch.
What is the wind like?
The Meltemi crosses Crete from the north/north-northeast and is accelerated by the isthmus, typically 20-30 knots with gusts potentially above 35, blowing offshore on the south coast.
What hazards should riders know about?
Offshore wind and current carrying riders toward the open Libyan Sea, gusty mountain accelerations, and town-beach hazards like moles, wave breakers and swimmers are all reported.
Are there kite schools nearby?
Ierapetra Watersports operates as a local supervised watersports center, though rescue coverage for independent riders was not verified.
Last updated: August 2026