It’s no secret that Crete is one of the most popular islands to visit in Greece. However, one thing you should be prepared for is how massive it actually is! So how do you get around to all the greatest beaches, viewpoints, and delicious restaurants? If you’re up for some driving, renting a car on Crete can be the best option to explore this amazing island in Greece. Here are 6 reasons to get a rental car on your next vacation to Crete Greece!
Crete Travel Inspiration
- 20 Wild & Fun Facts About Crete Greece
- Crete Greece: The Ultimate Island Travel Guide
- Vai Beach in Crete: An Adventure to Greece’s Massive Palm Tree Forest
- Getting Lost in the Hippie Caves of Matala Crete
- Best Food in Crete Greece: Our 19 Favorite Things to Eat & Drink
Top 6 Reasons For Renting a Car on Crete Greece
1. Largest Island in Greece
The number one reason for renting a car on Crete is the actual size of the island! At 3,263 square miles, Crete is the biggest island in Greece and 5th largest in the Mediterranean Sea.
This means to get to all the best places you will have to do some traveling. Having a rental car in Crete Greece is ideal for getting from town to town, and to many of the hard-to-reach attractions.
2. The Best Beaches
Speaking of attractions… The most popular thing that draws visitors to Crete every year is its beautiful beaches! Yet, there is one small issue. Some of the most stunning and secluded beaches are the most difficult to get to.
In fact, a few of the most famous beaches you can’t utilize the public bus for. There are group tours that can take you to the unique pink sands, but if you don’t mind driving a Crete rental car is the way to go!
→ Hunting For Pink Sand At Elafonisi Beach
3. Freedom to Roam
The third reason to get a rental car in Crete Greece is simply freedom. You aren’t tied down to a bus or tour schedule which means you can set the vacation on your own terms.
We personally love having the option to stay longer at places we love or to take off whenever we’re not feeling it. Renting a car in Crete Greece gives you the freedom to hit the open road and fully dictate how you spend your time on the island.
→ Is Knossos Palace Worth Visiting on Crete? What to Know First
4. No Riding the Bus!
We just mentioned the buses on Crete, and it has to be expanded on in this Crete rental car article. Even though we did do plenty of driving on Crete, we also used the bus system plenty to get around.
The bus isn’t always our favorite method of transportation, but we were pleasantly surprised by it on Crete. The system seemed quite efficient and perfect for short day trips, particularly from the main cities of Heraklion and Chania.
The main issue with the bus is that it does not go to some of the most amazing places in Crete (especially in the Southern part of the island). Still, it can be a good money saver as opposed to renting a car in Crete Greece if you’re planning a relaxing vacation.
For more information on using the bus on Crete check out our post!
→ Pros & Cons of Traveling Crete by Bus
5. Rental Car in Crete Greece From the Airport
If you’re thinking of renting a car on Crete for multiple days then the best place to get it is from the airport. Not only does this make life easier as soon as you land at Heraklion International Airport, but it typically will save you some money!
We found some awesome deals from the airports all over Greece and on that Crete we got a great weekly discount. If you only need a rental car in Crete Greece for only a day or two, you may be better off getting one through your hotel. Nonetheless, making a reservation at the airport can often be a time and cash saver!
We use Discover Cars while traveling abroad! Doing a quick search we found a one-week rental from Heraklion Airport in late June starts at $166 for the week. That comes out to be just $23 dollars a day!
6. A Complete Itinerary
Trying to put together the perfect itinerary? Well, renting a car on Crete will help you get to all the best towns, beaches, and more! We would all love to have months and months to explore this gorgeous island, but unfortunately, that is not possible for everyone.
Our last trip to Crete was 10 days and it didn’t feel like enough. Nevertheless, we were blown away by how many places we were able to experience by having a Crete rental car. If you’re the adventurous type and ready to see it all, renting a car on Crete is a no-brainer!
→ 10 Days Circling Crete Island: Itinerary with Route & Hotels
More Essential Tips for Renting a Car in Crete Greece
Confidence: Be confident in your driving skills if you’re planning to get a rental car in Crete Greece. The tight winding roads are often unpaved and can be tricky to navigate if you’re not experienced.
Drive Safe: Go slow and yield to oncoming traffic. Let locals and faster cars pass you, and don’t make any wild moves. Safety first when driving on Crete!
Small Car: Due to the tight roads, we highly recommend renting a smaller car on Crete. While the island has its fair share of hills, the small cars are built for it!
Offline Map: Not everywhere will have cell phone service on Crete. Be sure to download an offline map app like Maps.me before you take off on your Crete rental car adventures.
Mind the Goats: Our last tip for renting a car in Crete Greece is to watch out for the mountain goats! Often you will see them climbing high up the rocks on the side of the road. They will also cross in herds and jump out when you least expect it.
Have any questions on renting a car on Crete or want to share your own tips for Greek island driving? Leave us a comment below!
Safe Travels,
Brigitte & Jake
Where in the world are we? Follow our daily adventures on Instagram @nothingfamiliar!
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Greece Travel Planning
Explore all our Greece articles to help plan your trip! We cover everything from general travel tips to amazing destinations such as Santorini, Paros, Rhodes, Karpathos, Crete, Milos & more beautiful islands!
Packing Lists: Find all the inspiration you need with our Amazon packing lists. Including electronics and camera gear, must-have medical items, and long flight essentials!
When island hopping use FerriesinGreece to compare different routes, prices, and companies.
Flights: We always check Skyscanner and Kayak to search for cheap flights. That’s how we got from Crete to Athens for under $50 USD!
Accommodation: Compare multiple sites to get to the best deal such as Booking.com and Agoda! Also, Hostelworld should be your go-to source if you’re traveling on a budget.
Rental Car: You can book a rental car for around $20 a day in Greece! We use Discover Cars to explore the larger islands with a vehicle.
Tours: Check out Get Your Guide for activities in Crete Greece. You can find everything from taking a boat cruise to Balos Lagoon, to a guided tour of Knossos Palace, and Trekking Samaria Gorge.
Travel Insurance: Never travel abroad without protection. We’ve been using SafetyWing for the last few years on the road and they are there when we need them.
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Explore Greece
Travel Planning: Planning a Trip – Cyclades Itinerary – 30 Facts – Greek Ferry Questions – Sky Express Review
Rhodes: Planning a Trip – Renting a Car – 1 Week Itinerary – 23 Things to Do – Old Town – Elli Beach – Kallithea Springs – Lindos Guide – Lindos Acropolis – Monolithos – Melenos Art Boutique Hotel – 11 Best Beaches – Anthony Quinn Bay
Karpathos: Fun Things to Do – 1 Week Itinerary – Must Try Food – 6 Best Beaches – Olympos – Saria Island Boat Tour
More Dodecanese: Halki Island – Symi Island Guide – Symi Things to Do
Cyclades: Moon Beach Milos – Adamas Milos – Ios – Naxos Beaches – Naousa Paros – Galissas Syros – Mykonos Old Town – Santorini
Corfu: Old Town Food – Greece to Albania Ferry
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We’re Brigitte and Jake! American travel bloggers currently based in Spain. If you can believe it, we started Nothing Familiar way back in 2015 on an Ipad in the Ecuadorian jungle. Ever since, we haven’t stopped traveling! We’ve now been to over 60 countries around the world, with our expertise being Europe and Southeast Asia. We love outdoor adventures, tasting local specialties, and island hopping through tropical destinations. Hopefully, our guides and authentic experiences will inspire you on your own travels!
Great thanks for the info! I was still hesitant if I should rent a car or nah, but your blog makes so much sense. Such a big help!
Author
You’re so welcome Sky! It really is a fantastic way to see Crete. Enjoy your trip!
This was so helpful – thank you! I hadn’t considered asking for a small car because of the roads. Makes so much sense. I’ll be bookmarking this for our next trip!
Author
Glad we could help! Renting a car on Crete is such a great way to see the island. Have fun (-: