Crete car hire

Hiring a car in Crete will give you a big advantage over using the local public transport system, which can be patchy and sometimes unreliable. It also doesn’t cover the island comprehensively, so you’ll invariably find yourself having to use taxis to supplement the buses. It makes more sense to hire a car and have the freedom to drive where you want whenever you want. You’ll definitely want to visit Knossos, the main archaeological ruins on the island, as well as the 13th-century town of Chania, on the western side of the island. The breath-taking Samaria Gorge is one of the biggest tourist attractions, while you can immerse yourself in the traditional culture of Crete in the old town of Rethymnon.

With its juxtaposition of rural and urban, old and modern, driving in Crete can be quite an interesting experience. You’ll drive on the right-hand side of the road, so you’ll overtake on the left, but keep an eye out for scooters driven by locals that can sometimes appear on your right. Also watch out for farm animals grazing at the side of the road, which could step out into your vehicle's path. As we’ve already noted, the road surfaces can sometimes leave something to be desired, so watch out for rough patches, and be especially careful of gravel and small rocks from recent rock falls in the more mountainous areas.

If you want to hire a car for a self-drive holiday in Crete, you’ll have to be 18 years of age at a minimum and be in possession of a valid UK driver’s licence. However, you won’t be able to hire the more powerful or luxury cars from most of the car hire companies. For this, you’ll need to be at least 23 years of age. Also note that in Greece, you’re required to carry your car’s insurance papers when you drive, so don’t remove them from your hire car.

Economy (Volkswagen Polo or similar) is the most frequently booked car hire type in Crete.

Take a look at our extensive car hire location map to find the best car hire deals near you.

Based on car searches on KAYAK, the most popular cities to hire a car in Crete are Heraklion (86% of total searches of users looking to hire a car in Crete) and Chania (14%).