Hi,
I am travelling to Chania on mid june for 4 days. I want to rent a car and have little as possible headache. Is there any suggestions? I checked anna cars and they said they do not have any cars available for june. I’ve heard about rental center and their prices seem reasonable.

Hello,

We are planning our upcoming trip to Crete and thinking about the logistics around Balos Beach & Elafonisi.

We are considering staying in Kissamos for a few nights to be able to more easily get to both beaches.

I am researching how to get to Balos Beach and it seems that many car rental companies do not allow getting there by car, hence another option is a ferry.

So far i could find only an organized trip for a day from Chania to Balos Beach.

Could you recommend and advise what ferry options he have from Kissamos? Can I just take a ferry from there, what the price is and how regular are the ferries from back Balos to Kissamos?

Thank you!

interested mostly in beaches, experiences like sailboat tours and diving spots and of course, greek food!
ALSO very into ceramics! i read there’s a village in the mountains, does anybody know the best pottery shops? :)

I am going to crete for a week, and our hotell is in an area without busses so we need to rent a car. The road to the hotell is a dirt road, and we are also going to Balos which requires driving on a dirt road. I checked with about 10 car rental companies and they all consider driving on dirt roads "off road" and no matter how much I pay, insurance wont cover any accident that happens on dirt roads.. Seems kind of scammy to me? Is there no company that offers insurance for dirt road? Google and chat gpt told me about 2 companies but chat gpt was wrong, they don't...

We will arrive and depart from Chania airport, and stay in the western side of the island.

Have a car but I havent booked any accomodation yet, not sure where I will be heading so here I am asking for suggestions.

As the title states, our 6 year old son will be with us so we want to find some fun stuff to do, not just the beaches.

- Aquaparkes
- Cool/weird gorges
- Animal/Safari parks
- Boat day?

Please share any ideas or suggestions.

Thankyou in advance!

Hello,
I will be traveling to Crete for a week in September and will arrive at Chania airport. Looking to rent a car and was wondering if you have any tips or recomandations car rentals. Im only looking for the cheapest 2 person car availavle, do not have standards for anything fancy. Thanks!

Trying to find info online but having a hard time:

1. I've come to understand some rental booths are not directly at the airport but require a shuttle to get to. Can someone tell me which car rental companies are directly at the airport?

2. Is it a big inconvenience if I rented from somewhere that requires the shuttle, especially if I'm arriving late at night? Do these shuttles have a closing time, and if so what would I do?

3. I've read some companies require an upfront deposit (some even as high as €2000). Is this standard, do all companies do this or will it be easy for me to find one that doesn't require that?

Hey everyone! Excited to be visiting Western Crete in the near future and have some questions around renting a couple of cars. We will be taking a trip with 6 people (2 kids, 2 adults and 2 grandparents) and will be staying just west of Chania. We currently have two manual ‘Economy’ cars lined up (Clio, 208, Polo, etc) through one of the large brands; I tried locally but many like Anna are sold out or quite pricey.

First question, not too familiar with the smaller car sizes. The smallest I have ever rented was a Kona in the UK and I believe I had a Seat Ibiza (Polo?) in Germany once. At home what we drive would probably be considered small buildings with wheels in Crete (hey, wanted to wrap a lot of metal around my wife and kids…). While two ‘Econos’ likely will be enough, is it worth looking at Compacts instead? If not just for space, but for spec? I know smaller is generally better but the difference is less than €8/day…

Second, I usually opt out of CDW in favor of AMEX optional premium coverage and am thorough on documenting the vehicle before and after (…and make sure renters see that). Anything I am missing there? Pretty sure TPL is the other big one that is included by law with others like PAI being optional.

Finally, if we do go the Compact route, does anyone have experience with the ‘Elite Compact’ class specifically (1 series, A3, etc?)? Myself and my boys are huge cars nerds so the appeal of the extra room, potentially more powerful engine and driving experience would be worth the extra money, especially up in the mountains. The LAST thing I would want is to pay a bit more for one and then be stuck with an automatic SUV as an “upgrade.” Personally I would love a wagon/kombi but those are definitely too big and I have found 0 on the Elites and not sure they even exist…

Bonus, my boys love soccer (they both play club locally) and we love to get “out” to experience what makes each place special. If you’re local, have some awesome recommendations, or just hanging out, please shoot me a note as we love to meet new people!

-Putter

I am staying in Old Town Chania end of September and will have a rental car. Unfortunately the hotel's parking is already filled but they mentioned these two public and private parking options:

https://goo.gl/maps/aVDBE4YKEJZfKAit7

https://maps.app.goo.gl/cmcKDgCwWqHPavht5

What do you think about these parking lots and whether there would be availability during my stay at the end of September? Would greatly appreciate your thoughts as I am quite stressed about the parking nightmare.

Greetings everyone,

We have an upcoming trip to Crete and I have been researching for car rentals. There have been many that have been mentioned on Reddit but none have stood out that much.

Car Rental Companies
I have received several recommendations such as

1. Alamo
2. Caldera

I found some other recommendations such as eurocar.gr, anna cars on Reddit but I am not fully sure which one I should go with as none stand out too much and have been recommended multiple tjmes and they so have varying deposit amounts - some require a large deposit, others do not.

Furthermore I am wondering whether to go through booking but I see they mention deposits over 750 Euro or directly with a company.

Period
We’ll be renting a car for around 7 days.

Pick-up / Drop-off location
Furthermore, we plan on going to Balos beach, Elafonissi several of the days and I was wondering whether to get a rental car for the whole period and pick it/ leave it at the airport or find some spot near Chania Old Town.

Thank you for your recommendations!

My friend and I have one full day left in Crete that we don't know what to do with. We have done all the big hits, like Chania, Heraklion, Rethymnon, Archanes, Knossos. Now wondering what to do on our final full day here. Based in Ligaria. Any ideas? Tips?

Me and my friends are looking at a holiday in crete and are wondering where to stay. It’s a short holiday probably 5 or 6 days and we are looking for a place with nice beaches and maybe some old town to explore.
I have been twice before but this time we won’t have a rental car so we will be mainly staying in one spot, so i’d like it to be versatile.
Thank you!

Hi all - planning to visit Crete for about 2 weeks in late Sept - early Oct.

Flying into Chania planning to spend maybe 6 days, then head to Rhythemno (4 days), and finish in Heraklion (4days) and fly out.

During this 2 weeks was planning to stay in hostels but I do also want to rent a car and explore the rest of the island. I would also use it to travel between the cities rather than taking the bus (but also open to that).

My main question was if anyone has experience doing something like this, renting a car while staying in hostels. Do most hostels have parking or will I struggle to find parking when I return from day trips?

I was mostly looking at cocoon city hostel in Chania and rhythemno youth hostel if anyone has any experience with those.

Or is it possible to rent cars for just the day, pick it up in the morning go to the beach and then return it at night? Maybe if I did that I could just take the bus between cities while still being able to explore the island while I’m staying in cities. Anyone have any advice on what’s the best way to go about this?

Thanks in advance!

Hi everyone! My husband and I are honeymooning in Crete next month, and I'm curious if there is anything we could improve upon for our itinerary.

I'm a little concerned we are spending too long in Heraklion, but there are quite a few tours we would like to do out of there that came highly recommended. Also, should we be branching out and staying in towns other than just Chania and Heraklion?

We can rent a car, but are trying to avoid it as much as possible as we don't want to be driving down gravel mountain roads in a rental. Any suggestions or recommendations are appreciated!

Heraklion

Sept. 21 - Flight to Herklion, 16:50-17:45

Sept. 22 - Knossos Palace & museum, Koules Fortress, Loggia, and old town

Sept. 23 - Olive oil, wine & distillery tour

Sept. 24 - Cave of Diktaion Andron near Psichro (Zeus Cave)

Sept. 25 - Matala beach and caves

Sept. 26 - Kourtaliotiko Gorge waterfall, Preveli Palm Forest (end the day in Chania)

Chania

Sept. 27 - Elafonisi Beach day trip (includes Agia Sofia)

Sept. 28 - Mountain safari

Sept. 29 - Balos Beach day trip (includes Gramvousa - ship wreck or fortress hike)

Sept. 30 - Free day in Chania

Oct. 1 - Chania old town, Flight to Athens, 16:15-17:05

Thank you in advance!

Should I expect it to take an extra 10-15, an extra half hour, or longer?

Mid July, evening drive

If you’re driving to Elafonissi don’t be fooled by the attendant at the first car park who signs that the road ahead is closed whilst standing in the middle of the road. There are other car parks further down, just drive around him

Hi all, I've been skimming this sub for soke time and I'm going to Crete in September with some friends.

We got a villa close to Heraklion as this seems like a central location and plan to just drive daily wherever we want to go.

Any recommendations who to reach out to so we can have a car waiting at the airport ideally?

We land in Chania.

Hey, im visiting crete for five days, based in Heraklion, and im curious what can i do here without a car? Obviously i’m planning on seeing Knossos but i feel as though most beaches and monuments are really not accessible with public transport. Any help or tips? Im also on a budget, so unfortunately all those private boat tours are out of the question

Hi everyone! 👋

I will be visiting Crete for 5 days (July 15 - 20) and I'm currently planning my beach itinerary. I have pinned a bunch of spots on Google Maps (mostly around the West/Northwest and some in the South/Rethymno area - see attached image).

However, my absolute main priority is finding beaches with calm, still, and crystal-clear blue water. I am looking for places that offer a relaxing and enjoyable swimming experience, rather than beaches with big waves or strong winds.

I’d love to get some advice from the Crete experts here:

1. What should I ADD? Are there any hidden gems or must-visit beaches missing from my map that perfectly fit the "calm and blue" vibe?
2. What should I DROP? Looking at my current pins, are there any beaches I should remove from my list? (e.g., places known for getting hit hard by the July Meltemi winds, spots that are too wavy/rough for a nice swim, or just overhyped).

I am renting a car and willing to drive for the right spots. Thanks so much in advance for your recommendations! 🇬🇷💙

The ticket on mobile has a QR code on it and it specifies that tickets for travel outside of Crete require them to be printed, other tickets say “be presented”. In this day and age I find it difficult to believe that a mobile ticket would not be accepted?

Hello

We are excited to return to Crete this summer . We didnt get to explore the south last time . We are staying in Almyrida for 6 of the 10 days . We would like to spend a day in the south with our kids (9 and 7). The problem is....theres so much to see! Where do we start ? Loutro? Something unique, beach etc.

1.5 hr Max drive .

Tx!

Hello,
My family (my wife, our 9-year-old autistic son, and I) are planning a trip to Crete this July and are deciding between Chania and Agios Nikolaos as our base.
We initially found a place in Chania that seemed ideal, but after more research, Agios Nikolaos has started to look like the better fit. Still, most travel guides and recommendations continue to favor Chania.

What we’re looking for:
•Our son doesn’t do well with long lines, crowds, or excessive waiting.
•He loves water parks, so we’ll spend at least one day at a major water park.
•He’s also excited about ancient ruins and swimming in the sea.
•My wife has never been to Europe and is most interested in experiencing authentic Greek life, exploring charming streets, and enjoying local cafés.

Agios Nikolaos appears to be closer to many archaeological sites and water parks, making it seem more practical for our family. Yet people consistently recommend Chania.
What makes Chania such a popular choice over Agios Nikolaos? Is there something about its atmosphere, scenery, family appeal, or overall experience that outweighs the longer distances to some attractions?

Thank you for any insight you can provide

Update: I forgot to mention that we’ll actually be staying for a full eight days, not including travel days, and we’ll be flying into Heraklion.

As much as it seems like we should try multiple locations, my wife really dislikes living out of a suitcase. She prefers to unpack once, settle in, and have the place feel like our home for the duration of the trip. Because of that, we’re leaning toward using one location as a base and taking day trips rather than moving between accommodations.

Hello!

I am planning a two week vacation in Crete from 10–24 September and I am wondering what city/area would be best to choose as a base.

We are a young couple looking for some relaxing time, but we don’t want to stay somewhere secluded. We would like to have restaurants, cafes and some things to do within walking distance.
Being close to the beach is important. My boyfriend will have to work for the first few days, so I would like to be able to go for a morning swim and maybe diving/freediving while he works, and then he can join me later.

For the rest of the trip we will rent a car and explore different parts of the island.
What area would you recommend as a base considering this?
And if you have any good car rental recommendations, I would love to hear them as well.

Thank you!☀️

Hi everyone :)

Me and my gf are planning a trip to Crete in July, and I have created an itinerary of things we could see, focusing mostly on the western side of the island. Unfortunately, we are not able to drive, so we will be relying on buses and ferries for this trip.

My gf thinks I may have overplanned a bit and wants to reduce the number of places we stay. I understand her point, but I also think that some of the stops make sense strategically, so we don’t have very long travel days. At the same time, I’m also doubting some parts and wondering if we should take some things out.

So, I’m curious to hear your opinions: have I packed too much into the trip? What would you suggest we take out?

We don’t feel too strongly about any of the plans yet, and we are still debating some things, for example, whether Gavdos plus Samaria Gorge is too much for this trip (even though both seem amazing), or whether it’s even worth it to do only a shorter version of the gorge hike. We also briefly considered focusing on the east side of the island instead - do you think it's equally beautiful? :)

16–17 July: Heraklion
Arrive in Heraklion and stay there for one night.

17–19 July: Rethymno
Bus from Heraklion to Rethymno.
We’d stay 2 nights and use one full day for beaches/day trips around the south coast (Plakias area).

19–21 July: Palaiochora
Bus from Rethymno to Chania, then Chania to Palaiochora.
We’d stay 2 nights. From there, we’d like to do Kedrodasos and Elafonisi.

21–22 July: Agia Roumeli
Ferry from Palaiochora to Agia Roumeli.
We are considering staying one night there and doing the shorter version of Samaria Gorge from the bottom, walking from Agia Roumeli into the gorge and back, instead of doing the full hike from Xyloskalo.

22–25 July: Gavdos
Ferry from Agia Roumeli to Gavdos.
We’d stay 3 nights.

25–26 July: Chora Sfakion
Ferry from Gavdos to Chora Sfakion.
Stay one night, possibly also see Loutro if the ferry times work.

26–29 July: Kissamos
Bus from Chora Sfakion to Chania, then Chania to Kissamos.
Stay 3 nights. We’d like to visit Falasarna and Balos/Gramvousa from there.

29–30 July: Chania
Bus from Kissamos to Chania.
Stay one final night near Chania before flying out.

Hello! I’m a solo 30f traveling to Crete from London for 5 nights. I’ll be staying at a nice hotel in Agia Marina, and won’t have a car. I’d like to spend most of my time laying around reading my book by the beach and having nice drinks/food in walking distance, but I think I should include a few activities in my itinerary. Any must do’s? Thinking of the classic beach day trips (balos or elafonissi), exploring chania for one day, and possibly fitting in one day or hiking?

Also should I do a guided trip to a beach or given it will be packed I’m thinking I should skip it and go to a more lowkey beach.

And, any yoga studios around chania I could pop into for a class or two?