I really think the best way to discover Crete is by car.
Below is my complete guide about driving in Crete to help you prepare, including:
- Is driving difficult? safe?
- Driving rules,
- Road conditions and safety tips,
- Parking,
- Car rental tips,
- Where to go in Crete by car,
- …
Before my tips + photos, here are my favorites for Crete:
My favorite platform to rent a car in Crete: DiscoverCars
The unmissable boat tour: Gramvousa island + Balos Lagoon
Fun activity: Quad excursion off the beaten path
My favorite places to stay:
- Chania: see best rated hotels – e.g. Casa Delfino
- Palaiochora: see best rated hotels – e.g. Blue Horizon Hotel
- Rethymno: see best rated hotels – e.g. Leo Hotel
Driving in Crete – Essentials to know + Video
Video
Crete is a great destination to go on a road trip!
Let’s start with a short video that shows you what it looks like to be driving in Crete: high speed roads, sinuous mountain roads, villages, cities and the biggest distraction of all while driving: the scenery!
Essentials to know before driving in Crete
If you don’t want to read the entire article, here are the main rules to know:
- Driving is on the right side of the road
- Greek rules apply
- Minimum driving age is 17, but rental companies will ask for drivers to be 21 with at least 1 year of driving
- Seatbelts are mandatory for all
- Alcohol limit is 50mg per 100ml of blood – but I always recommend not drinking at all if you are driving
- Urban speed limit is 50km/h but often less – check the signage
- Must-carry items – reflective warning triangle, Fire extinguisher, first aid kit
- In case of accident – emergency number: 112
Where I rent my cars
I always compare prices right away on Discovercars.com.
This is one of the best customer-rated comparison sites on the market.
I have found really great deals and I think the platform super easy to use. I can filter based on my criteria.
Plus, they have a practical coverage option at great price that will cover you in case of damage to the outside of the car.
Check out their current car rental deals in Crete.
Need more help? Read my 36 tips for a worry-free experience.
My recommendation for a local option
If you are looking for a more local company:
Check out the local company Rental Center Crete – They have an excellent reputation and they include a zero-excess insurance policy (so you don’t have to worry) – See prices and availabilities
How difficult is it to drive in Crete? Do you need a car?
Is it difficult to drive in Crete?
You sometimes read online that driving in Crete is not easy.
Well, first of all, remember that only the few who has issues write about their experience and all the people who had no issues don’ take the time to share their ‘I had no issues’ trip.
I think it is not difficult.
If you don’t want to read the whole article, below are few essentials to know:
- RIGHT SIDE – Driving is on the right side of the road applying Greek driving rules
- TAKE YOUR TIME – It sure is not a country where you will be driving at high speed, but who would like to with such beautiful landscapes!
- WINDING ROADS – Crete has a few “high speed” roads. But most roads are sinuous, around (up and down) the mountains
- STATUS OF ROADS – Generally we have found the roads in good conditions, even off the beaten path. Only a few of them were narrow with no railing and lines.
- MAIN THING TO KNOW – The most important is to understand that: when you are on a fast road, you are supposed to drive halfway on the emergency lane (which is quite wide) to let other cars overtake you – if you receive headlight flashing, they want you to do just that
- MAIN DANGER – The main danger I have found were the animals on the mountain roads. Don’t drive too fast, they can appear at any turn.
- DRIVING IN SUMMER – Considering the Summer crowds, it does get harder during July and August, especially when crossing path with big coaches
- DRIVING IN WINTER – Yes, Crete is a generally warm country. However because of the mountains, you can have snow and ice on the plateaus in Winter
More details further in the article.
Do you need a car in Crete? – short answer
- No, if you mostly want to stay at the beach and just see a few things in Crete
- Yes, if you are curious about the island and want to see more about what it has to offer: mountains, beaches, caves, monasteries, ruins…
- Yes, if you want to avoid the crowds by visiting early morning or late afternoon – especially at popular destinations
- Yes, if you want to discover hidden gems.
The island is quite large, with mountain roads. I think the best way to explore it is by renting a car and doing a road trip.
Driving times in Crete
To help you decide if you are going to rent a car or not, below is map of the driving times you can expect around the island:
Plan your dream trip in Crete thanks to my guide
- 5 maps to easily plan your itinerary
- 60+ pre-selected locations
- GPS coordinates direct to the carparks
- Tips to make the most of your time
- 150+ original photos to help you choose
Getting around Crete without a car
It is possible to get around Crete without a car:
- Bus – There is a network of public transportation – if frequency and travel times, make it difficult to explore
- Organized tours – Your other option is to not worry at all about where you are going – book organized tours and enjoy the scenery with a guide. This is a great option if you want to see the highlights without stress. Check out the many options – However you can’t control how long you stay at each places.
- Taxis and private transfers – there are taxis and you can also book private transfers. But it will get very expensive.
#1 to 6 – Crete Driving Rules (Greece)
Let’s start with general rules and regulations you should be aware of:
#1 – License requirement / Age – Do I need an international driver’s permit?
It is always better to have you International Driving Permit anywhere you travel out of the country.
This way you never wonder.
However, know that to be allowed to drive in Crete / Greece (for a short stay):
- EU citizen can use their EU license
- Visitors from outside of the EU must have and International Driving Permit on top of their valid driving license from their country.
Official driving age in Greece is 17.
However, if renting a car, companies will require you to be 21 and to have held a license in your home country for a year or more.
#2 – Side of the road
Driving in Crete is on the right side of the road.
It means that upon entering a roundabout, you head right.
#3 – General behavior rules
- Seatbelts are mandatory for all
- No cell phone while driving
- Kids under 12 cannot seat in the front of the car
- Traffic that is on the roundabout has priority
#4 – Alcohol and driving
The legal limit for driving is 50mg per 100ml of blood.
I always recommend not drinking at all if you are driving
#5 – Mandatory equipment to have in your car
In Greece, the following pieces of equipment must be available in the car:
- Warning safety triangle
- First Aid Kit
- Non expired fire extinguisher
#6 – Mandatory insurance
The mandatory insurance in Greece is: third-party liability insurance – it is automatically included in the price of all car rentals.
If you are visiting with your own car, don’t forget to bring proof of insurance.
Compare car rental prices in Crete
#7 to 13 – Crete Roads conditions and Road Signs
#7 – Driving on the main roads
Along the North Coast of Crete, you have a main road from Kissamos to Sitia.
This is a ‘high speed road’ with speed limits varying, generally around 90km/h.
Most of that road is quite wide, with emergency lanes on each side.
#8 – Specificity about driving in Crete – overtaking
This is the main thing you should be aware of before driving in Crete!
There is an unwritten rule that on large roads with emergency lanes, you have to drive halfway over it to give space and let other cars overtake you.
As you can see on the picture above, we are driving on the side, to let the grey road overtake.
Sometimes it creates strange situation when it is happening on each side and you get 4 cars lined up on a 2 lane roads… but it generally work without any issue.
If someone is flashing his headlight at you, it probably means that you have to move over.
#9 – Driving on mountain roads
Then you have the roads in the mountains.
I was quite impressed, because most of them are in very good conditions: wide, well paved, with lines.
The only problems are the animals as well as the rocks falling (see the danger section further in the article).
Of course, you can still find a few isolated mountain roads that are not as good. But on those, there is no traffic, so you have the time to drive slow and you won’t be scared crossing path with other cars.
#10 – Driving in the Cretan towns and villages
Driving in towns is not too bad compared other countries.
Traffic can be more complex around old towns where cars are not allowed in all the streets at all hours of day.
Nothing special to be aware of.
At the end, the places where I thought driving was the most difficult were the villages.
Most of them have very narrow streets and blind corner where you can’t cross path with another car.
Make sure you drive quite slowly and use the mirrors whenever there is one.
#11 – Speed limits and signs
- Speed limits are indicated on circular signs with red border and a number
- Speed limits are in kilometers per hour
- Speed limits are – 30 to 50km/h in residential areas
#12 – Crete road signs
- Road signs are quite clear. Although there are not enough speed limit signs, and you are not always sure how fast you can drive.
- Town names are written using both and using the greek and latin alphabets.
- You can find all the road sign pictograms here
#13 – Tolls in Crete
There are no tolls on the roads of Crete.
I don’t drink coffee 
But I also like other drinks and sweets!
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#14 to 15 – How to drive safely
#14 – Know the potential dangers
Except for the overtaking strange rules I have mentioned earlier, there are 2 main dangers on the Cretan roads:
1. The animals
There are a lot of animals wandering around the mountain roads. We saw some everyday (and I took way too many pictures of them to be able to show you).
Sometimes it is just one or 2, and other times it is a large group.
It is clearly their domain and they do not get scared by car.
So always be careful, don’t drive too fast, and slow down at turns.
2. Falling rocks
The other danger on the mountain roads are falling rocks.
We hardly saw any nets on the side of mountains. So there were a lots of rocks on the side of roads.
#15 – What to do in case of accident
In case there are people hurt or there is a conflict, the emergency number in Crete is 112 is.
The best order of actions is:
- contact emergency services
- contact the police
- contact your rental provider
#16 to 17 – Carparks in Crete – parking rules
#16 – Parking in towns and villages
It can be difficult to park in towns and villages. Especially with the narrow roads.
The main towns often have a larger carpark outside or an underground carpark.
Don’t forget to check with your accommodation if there is a parking facility or what they recommend.
#17 – Parking at beaches and attractions
Most attractions have free carparks.
A few beaches have private carparks for a fee (normally covering the entire day).
In shoulder seasons, there is always space. But in the heat of Summer, you may have difficult parking near famous beaches or attractions.
Where to stay in Crete?
My favorites:
- Chania, a charming town: See best rated accommodations
- Rethymno, history, beach and central location: See best rated options
- Heraklion, main city: See best rated options
- Palaiochora, for stunning scenery, away from crowds – See best rated options
- Mochlos, for a very quiet area: see best rated options
- For a sandy beach and some nightlife: Malia or Bali
#18 to 19 – Gas stations
#18 – Fuels and their names
- Petrol is called “Benzine”
- Diesel is called “Diesel”
- Gas stations are called “Benzinadiko”
- See the concentration of electric car charging station, where you are going in Crete on this website
#19 – Management of gas stations
- Not much to know about refueling in Crete.
- There is a gas station attendant
- There are stations in the main towns and around the airport. They are normally open at night.
- Outside, stations are far in between and may not open at night.
- They accept credit cards
#20 to 24 – Crete Car Rental Tips
Below is a snapshot with the main things to know.
You can find all my tips in this other complete guide about renting a car in Crete.
#20 – Type of car to rent
Here are a few things to keep in mind when traveling in Crete:
- Power
The island has mountains with lots of sinuous roads going up and down. None of them are very steep.
However, for a more comfortable driving experience, I recommend to avoid the smallest engine. This way you won’t have to change gear all the time. - Size
I don’t have special recommendations. A narrower car might be easier for some to cross other vehicles on narrower roads. Plus, in some villages, the streets are narrow and you would feel more comfortable. However, I have seen other destinations where a narrow car is essential. This is not here.
The choice of manual car is larger. If you need automatic, book very early.
#21 – Where to rent your car in Crete?
The largest car rental hubs in Crete are:
- Crete Airport Heraklion – see car rental deals
- Heraklion port – see car rental deals
The airport has the largest choice. And it is easier to start driving out of the airport than directly inside the town of Heraklion, to get used to the car.
#22 – Best car rental company in Crete
Most major international brands are available in Crete.
But there are also many many many local brands.
If you are using a well-known brand, you can expect certain standard.
It is harder to know what to expect with lesser known local brands.
Here are my recommendations:
- Option 1 – You can find your typical international brands and compare car rental prices in Crete on Discovercars.com – one of the best customer-rated comparison sites!
- Option 2 – Or check out the local company Rental Center Crete – They have an excellent reputation and they include a zero-excess insurance policy (so you don’t have to worry) – See prices and availabilities
#23 – General tips for worry-free experience
There is no particular thing to do when renting a car in Crete with a reputable agency.
I recommend always doing those things wherever you are renting:
- Take pictures of the car as you pick it up
- Don’t forget to check the state under the bumper of the car (look for scratch and take pictures)
- Don’t forget to check the state of the roof (look for rock fall dent and take pictures)
- Take pictures of the car as you leave it
- Bring back your car with the agreed level of fuel in the tank to avoid paying extra
- Insurance – I strongly recommend the insurance for gravel protection and broken glass; We saw a lot of rocks on the side of the road since they don’t use many nets to stop them from falling on the road
#24 – Crossing to other islands
From Crete, you could also visit Santorini or head back to Mainland Greece.However, that implies taking a ferry.
This is not allowed by most rental companies. And for others, there are fees included.
If you have your own car, this is a great option to explore.
- Most ferries arrive in Heraklion
- The ferry from Athens takes 7 to 9 hours depending on which company you select. There are overnight crossing options.
- You can find all your ferry options and times on Directferries.com
Where to go – Road trip in Crete by car
- 40 best landscapes in Crete (in pictures) – read article
- 20 best things to do in Crete – read article
- The 27 best beaches in Crete – read article
- The most beautiful archaeological sites – read article
- The most beautiful churches and monasteries in Crete – read article
- Advice for planning your road trip in Crete and your itinerary – read article
- The most beautiful boat trips around Crete – read article
- Chania or Heraklion or Rethymno – where to go? – read article
Planning a trip to Crete?
Check out my travel guide eBook to help you plan:
Plan your dream trip in Crete thanks to my guide
- 5 maps to easily plan your itinerary
- 60+ pre-selected locations
- GPS coordinates direct to the carparks
- Tips to make the most of your time
- 150+ original photos to help you choose
And keep track of your own trip!
Want to see more of CRETE?
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