Car Rental in Heraklion: The Starting Point for the Most Beautiful Coastlines

The Greek island of Crete is a destination where a rental car not only makes things more convenient, but also greatly enhances the quality of your vacation. The island is large, diverse, and full of places you simply can’t reach by bus: hidden gorges, villages perched on cliffs, secluded beaches, and monasteries high on mountain ridges.

The main airport in Crete is the one near the capital, Heraklion. In this guide, you’ll learn where to rent a car in Heraklion and which routes take you along Crete’s most beautiful coastlines.

Renting a Car at Heraklion Airport

Crete is Greece’s largest island, so the best decision you can make after booking your flight is to reserve a rental car at Heraklion Airport. Your road trip adventure will begin the moment you pick up your rental car at the airport.

Where to Find Rental Companies

Several reputable car rental companies are located in the arrivals hall and the adjacent parking lot. They offer a wide range of vehicles, from small economy cars for the highway and the beach to SUVs with higher ground clearance for the rugged roads in the south.

Counter vs. shuttle service

There are several (local) car rental companies with offices just outside the airport grounds. If you’ve rented a car from one of these companies, you’ll be taken there by a shuttle bus. This takes barely any longer than waiting at the rental counter in the terminal. The big advantage is that these car rental providers are often much more affordable. Be sure to check the rental company’s reputation before you book.

View available rental cars at Heraklion Airport.

What should you keep in mind when driving in Crete?

With a little preparation, driving a rental car in Crete is a real pleasure: it’s a way to explore the island on your own terms and at your own pace. Be sure to read our tips for picking up and returning your rental car.

Mountain Roads and Narrow Roads

The interior and southern coast of Crete are characterized by spectacular mountain ranges. The most important rule on mountain roads is: brake before the curve, not into it. Visibility in hairpin curves is limited, and you’ll often find yourself encountering another car or a herd of goats right there.

On narrow one-way roads, it’s customary for the car closest to a passing point—a widened section of road or a farm entrance—to yield the right of way. In practice, this is done through a combination of eye contact, hand gestures, and occasionally backing up. Local drivers are generally very tolerant of tourists who are clearly doing their best.

Don’t rely blindly on GPS

Navigating with GPS is handy, but not perfect in Crete. It sometimes leads you down paths better suited for a ATV than for a regular rental car. Google Maps is generally more cautious in choosing routes than Waze. If a road looks questionable, trust your own eyes rather than the navigation app.

Parking in Heraklion City

Heraklion is the island’s capital and home to the Venetian harbor, Koules Fortress, and a fantastic Archaeological Museum, among other attractions. These are all sights you should definitely visit. For a day trip, it’s best to park your rental car in one of the parking garages in the city center. The parking garage under the Central Mall is conveniently located near the Old Town. If you’d rather not drive through the narrow streets of the Old Town, park your rental car in the large parking lot near the ferry terminal.

Gas Stations Outside Cities

In the larger cities, refueling is no problem. This also applies to the highway along the north coast, where gas stations are located at regular intervals. Outside these cities and the highway, planning is essential. The general rule is simple: make sure your gas tank is never less than a quarter full when you’re outside a major city.

Villages in the interior rarely have gas stations, and even if they do, the station may be closed for a few hours in the afternoon or may not open at all on Sundays. Many smaller stations are family-run businesses and operate on a schedule more attuned to village life than to the needs of tourists. Therefore, check your fuel level before driving on mountain routes in the interior.

Most Beautiful Coastal Routes from Heraklion

From east to west, Crete is over 250 kilometers long, so you can set out in your rental car every day to explore a different part of the island. Here are a few routes starting from Heraklion.

Heraklion → Agios Nikolaos

The drive from Heraklion to Agios Nikolaos is one of the most beautiful driving routes in the entire Mediterranean region. Once you’ve passed the industrial outskirts, the road climbs along the coastline, taking in a series of bays, olive groves, and small fishing harbors.

Highlights between Heraklion and Agios Nikolaos:

• Palace of Knossos – Don’t head straight east; instead, drive a short distance south first. Just past the southern outskirts of Heraklion lies the most famous remnant of the Minoan civilization.

• Skotino Cave – An impressive, deep cave near the village of the same name, which you can visit for free. Be sure to bring a headlamp and sturdy shoes if you want to explore the deepest part.

• Spinalonga – An uninhabited islet off the coast featuring a 16th-century Venetian fortress and the ruins of a marketplace from the Ottoman era. Boats depart from the charming seaside town of Plaka.

• Oxa – At the summit of this mountain lie the ruins of the city of Naxos. It’s not an easy climb, but the view of the Gulf of Mirabello from the top is fantastic.

The descent to Agios Nikolaos, with the gulf below you, is one of those moments that make the entire trip worthwhile.

Heraklion → Matala

Drive your rental car from the north coast to the south coast. You’ll pass through the foothills of the Ida Mountains, passing through villages where little has changed in decades.

• The Tuscany of Crete – South of the Palace of Knossos, you’ll drive through the Archanes wine region, which is often called the “Tuscany of Crete” because of its green hills.

• Festos – Unlike Knossos, the Minoan palace at Festos has not been reconstructed. These ruins are just as interesting, but much less crowded.

• Olive Oil – The fertile Messara Plain is dotted with olive trees. Are you an olive oil lover? Then pick up a bottle at a roadside stall, because this olive oil is of exceptionally high quality.

• Matala – Along the town beach, you’ll see the famous caves in the sandstone cliffs, where hippies camped out in the 1970s. A quieter beach is Kommos Beach, north of Matala.

• Amari Valley – On your way back to Heraklion, take a detour through the Amari Valley, one of the most beautiful and least-visited areas of Crete. In this green valley surrounded by mountains, you’ll find authentic Cretan life.

Heraklion → Rethymnon

Rethymnon is located 80 kilometers west of Heraklion and can be reached in two ways: via the modern highway and via the old national road, which follows the coastline past a series of beach towns and traditional villages. Take both routes—first drive your rental car west on the old road and then return via the highway.

Highlights between Heraklion and Rethymnon:

• Fodele – A small village that prides itself on being the birthplace of the painter El Greco. Further west, the road climbs upward, offering sweeping views of the Mediterranean Sea.

• Vossakos Monastery – Tucked away in the mountains between Fodele and Bali lies an idyllic monastery, where there’s a good chance you’ll be the only visitor.

• Bali – A small seaside resort nestled in a series of bays, where you’ll definitely want to stop for a swim.

• Rethymnon – Perhaps the most architecturally beautiful city in Crete, with a stunning old harbor and the island’s largest Venetian fortress, which offers panoramic views of the coast.

Best beaches accessible by rental car

With a rental car in Crete, you’ll have access to beaches that are difficult or impossible to reach any other way.

Balos Lagoon
You can reach the beaches here by driving across the Gramvousa Peninsula. The roads get very bumpy toward the end—a rental car with high ground clearance is recommended. The lagoon, with its turquoise waters and white sandbars, is one of the most photographed spots in Crete. Go there early in the morning, before the day-trip boats arrive.

Elafonissi
A beautiful beach on the southwest coast, where you can walk to the island of the same name at low tide. It’s a ten-minute walk from the nearest parking lot. It’s a popular beach, so it can get very crowded here during peak season.

Seitan Limania
Just outside Chania lies a dramatic, narrow cove wedged between white limestone cliffs. The road leading there is very bumpy and the final climb is steep, but the clear blue water is extraordinary.

Xerokampos
One of Crete’s quietest and most beautiful beach areas is located in the far southeast, near Zakros: a series of small sandy coves with virtually no amenities. To get there, drive your rental car along a winding but well-maintained road.

Preveli Beach
This beach is located at the mouth of a gorge, where a palm-lined river flows into the sea. The road leading there is quite winding. From there, you descend to Preveli Beach via stone steps.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you need a rental car in Crete?

We can answer that with a resounding yes. At least, if you want to see more of Crete than just the beach near your hotel. And who wouldn’t want that? Because Crete is a paradise for exciting road trips through beautiful landscapes and to impressive cultural attractions. And with a rental car, you can drive to villages and beaches that public transportation doesn’t reach.

Is driving in Crete difficult?

Most roads in Crete are in good condition, but there’s only one major thoroughfare: the A90 along the north coast. It connects the cities of Chania, Rethymnon, Heraklion, and Agios Nikolaos.

In southern Crete, the roads are winding, full of hairpin turns, and sometimes narrow. Make sure to rent a car with sufficient engine power if you plan to drive there. When driving your rental car, always be on the lookout for stray animals on the road.

Carefree Driving with a Rental Car in Crete

Rent a car with our Worry-Free label to enjoy a carefree vacation in Crete. These rental cars include:

• Full damage coverage

• Unlimited mileage

• The best fuel policy

• No high deposit

• Reliable rental companies

Start your adventure at Heraklion Airport

Crete rewards the curious, and curiosity requires freedom of movement. You’ll experience the most beautiful moments only with a rental car: the gorge you stumble upon by chance, the village with the cozy café, and the hidden beach you find after taking a wrong turn—which ultimately turns out to be the right one. Crete is waiting for you, and it’s much larger and more impressive than it appears on a map. The best way to discover it is behind the wheel.

Compare rental cars in Crete.