Crete is part of Greece and is the largest island in this country. Located at the junction of three parts of the world and washed by four warm seas, Crete has a fertile climate, for which tourists come from all over the world. There are three airports in Crete, and in the season they receive up to two million tourists.
The ancient island has attracted people since the beginning of time, the oldest trace of human activity on the land of Crete is about 6 million years old. The history of Crete was full of upheavals and wars, experienced powerful volcanic eruptions and earthquakes. During the reign of the Roman Empire, the island flourished: the Romans did not touch the spheres of ordinary life of the population, but left behind a wonderful architectural heritage, some of which has survived to this day and is available for visiting. The rich and strategically valuable territory changed hands many times during the wars of conquest of the early and middle ages, until it became part of Greece at the beginning of the twentieth century.
Today, Crete is the most famous prosperous resort, where there is everything that tourists need: warm gentle seas, mild climate, monuments and artifacts of ancient cultures and excellent modern infrastructure.
Relatively narrow and long, the island is mountainous, its highlands interspersed with fertile valleys that grow grapes, olive and citrus trees.
The temperate subtropical climate with hot, dry summers and mild winters means a long tourist season that lasts from April to October. Rains are rare guests of the island, there are about 300 sunny days a year. Official website of the island crete.gov.gr
What to see in Crete.
A rare tourist destination can boast such a combination of luxurious beaches and attractions. The ancient history of the island has made it a huge open-air museum, and the incredibly beautiful beaches are an illustration of the words "perfect vacation".
Best beach in Crete with fabulous sea and mountain views. The incredible color of the water and light sand create a vivid picture of the ideal beach of a warm country.
Pink shell rock adds color to the white sands. During some periods the visit is closed as sea turtles lay their eggs in the lagoon. This process is the best demonstration of the purity of the water on this coast.
You can get to the beach either by car rented through Bookingautos or by sightseeing boat.
Old Venetian Harbor. The tourist center of Chania is famous for its Venetian architecture and ancient lighthouse.
A well-maintained promenade with beautiful views is perfect for a romantic walk. Many cafes and restaurants invite you to enjoy delicious dishes and wonderful local wines against the backdrop of a stunning sea sunset.
Roman Archaeological Remains. The ruins of a Roman period settlement are located in the center of the modern city of Hersonissos. It is worth visiting them with a guided tour, where an experienced guide will tell you about the history of the place and its legends, show what is hiding from the eye of a passing tourist and will not attract attention. It makes no sense to inspect the Minoan palace on your own, this ancient artifact of a bygone era is valuable only for its age and history.
Knossos Archaeological Site. The Palace of Knossos is a prototype of the labyrinth from the famous myth of Ancient Greece about the exploits of Hercules. The palace was so large and had such a complex system of corridors that it was really easy to get lost in it. At the moment, the palace has been restored in the style corresponding to the era and has explanatory information plates. However, it is better to visit it with a guide who can tell you interestingly about the purpose of each room, show the places mentioned in famous myths and lead you through the legendary Labyrinth.
Where to go near Crete.
Crete is big enough to comfortably travel from city to city in a rented car. The beautiful beach of Elafonisi is located in the southwestern part of Chania. The place is so unique that any construction is prohibited within the boundaries of the beach. The coastline of the beach consists of pink-colored sand, which was formed from shells and shell rock, ground by waves to the smallest state. The sea in Elafonisi is shallow and of an amazing aquamarine color, which, in contrast to the pinkish sand, creates a stunningly beautiful landscape.
Vai is a palm beach. It was in his landscapes that the famous advertisement for Bounty chocolate bars was filmed. The beach has a well-developed infrastructure, you can rent sun loungers and parasols, eat delicious food in numerous seaside restaurants, and use the parking lot. Date palms, which are densely overgrown with the coastline, provide shade for vacationers and saturate the air with useful phytoncides.
Agios Nikolaus is a paradise of Crete, a place for romantics, young people and party lovers. Respectable daytime beaches turn into disco clubs at night, the city is replete with good restaurants, cafes and bars. The city is protected from the winds by mountains, which creates a unique microclimate on this stretch of coast, in which a huge number of plants grow, bloom and bear fruit. Plane trees and cypresses, typical for the subtropical climate, coexist with pines and chestnuts.
A riot of flowers floods the city streets all season long, making Agios Nikolaus look like a park or a botanical garden. The freshwater lake Voulismeni is located almost in the center of the city and attracts tourists with legends about its bottomlessness. Of course, the lake has a bottom, but it is really very deep for a reservoir of this type - more than 65 meters.
Archaeological Museum of the city tells about the era of the Minoan civilization. Another iconic place in the city is the Church of St. Nicholas, built in the ninth century and belonging to the Byzantine era. The temple is active and visited, in winter, when Greece honors St. Nicholas in December, special services are held in it.
The best restaurants in Crete.
Cuisine in Crete is Greek, simple, but at the same time tasty and satisfying. Greeks love and know how to cook meat and vegetables perfectly, local dishes are quite versatile and any tourist will like it.
Papanikolakis phone +30 2821 090442
doors for guests as early as 6 am. A huge selection of the freshest pastries, sandwiches, croissants with a variety of toppings and friendly staff make the cafe a favorite among most travelers. You can assemble a sandwich from different ingredients to your taste and enjoy it while looking at the beautiful landscape outside the windows.
Serves its guests classic Mediterranean and Greek cuisine. Fish and seafood of excellent quality, most of them can be grilled; real pasta of several kinds, pizza from a wood-fired oven with delicious dough and lots of toppings, fresh tasty vegetables and well-cooked meat. Gyros - the visiting card of fast Greek food is also present in the restaurant's menu.
Back to news parking is available in the port area, near large supermarkets and near the main attractions of the island's cities. You can also leave the car on the road in places where there are no prohibition signs. The cost is different, as well as the system of its collection: there is a price per hour, a fixed price and payment for the time used. In the latter option, payment is made according to the time marked by the barrier at the entrance and exit from the parking lot.
The cost also depends on the zone: in the first zone it starts from 3.5 euros for a period of no more than three hours, in the second - from 1.5 euros. At night, many paid parking lots can be used free of charge, the presence of this option and "happy hours" are always indicated under the sign.
Parking in unauthorized places is dangerous: fines for this in Greece are severe, you can get a receipt of 80 euros, or even find your car with the police numbers removed. The service is paid for with a special card, which can be purchased everywhere: in bars, shops, newspaper and souvenir kiosks.
Good to know
Most Popular Agency
Avis
Most popular car class
Standard
Average price
30 € / Day
Best price
21 € / Day
Average cost per week of rental in Crete
January
€199
February
€127
March
€128
April
€151
May
€172
June
€225
July
€243
August
€254
September
€154
October
€127
November
€117
December
€152
* The average cost of renting a car in Crete for seven days. The data is calculated based on car bookings for the previous 365 days.
A percentage showing the monthly occupancy of the fleet of available vehicles. During August, there is a maximum demand for car rental, which entails a decrease in the range of cars available for order. You should take care of booking a car in Crete in advance, this will allow you to get the preferred option on the most favorable financial terms.
The best time to rent a car in Crete is November. This month, rental prices are minimal, below the annual average by 34%, and start from €24 for a Compact car.
Convertible cars in Crete are in high demand during the summer. This is not surprising. After all, a trip on such a car gives a feeling of freedom and independence, allows you to relax and forget about the problems of the world around you. Although you should be prepared for an increase in rental prices and possible problems with the range of available cars. If we talk about the price Audi A3 Convertible - it will be from €65 per 1 day.
We have the largest selection of cars in Crete - Rethymno. What do we offer:
New cars 2024 of the year.
Cars of any class from budget to premium.
A wide range of models: convertibles, sedans, SUVs, minivans.
In Crete budget cars like Ford Fiesta or Renault Twingo can be booked for €45-€27 per day. This is provided that the contract is concluded on the spot. If you choose the same cars in advance on our website, you will save. Cars with a class: Skoda Superb, VW Tiguan, Audi A4 Estate - will cost an average of €45 per day. You can also find minivans, luxury cars, business class cars and electric cars. Rental costs from €27 up to several hundred euros per day.
The demand for electric cars is growing not only in the segment of their sales. These cars are just as popular when renting, which is often accompanied by the provision of a free parking space and the possibility of free car charging around the city. To rent an electric car you should set the appropriate filter. Moreover, the rental of Audi-E-tron when ordering in Crete will cost quite a modest amount.
Documents required for car rental
Driving license
Credit card
Voucher
Passport
Attention!
A valid international driver's license is required!
Crete car rental tips
Download Google maps for offline access
All modern smartphones have a GPS function. You can save on the "Navigator" service and roaming charges for the Internet if you download maps in the Google Maps application in advance. Offline maps also support route building and navigation. To download a map - open the area you need by controlling the scale, and enter "ok maps" in the search.
Book a car 6 weeks in advance
Crete is a popular holiday destination and the car rental service is in great demand here. Therefore, it is recommended to book a car in advance. When booking online, you know exactly which car, for what price and under what conditions you will get in Crete. The main advantage of early booking is the cost savings. The less time left before the start of the rental, the higher the cost of the rental becomes. The optimal period for booking in rental companies is 6 weeks before receiving the car. If you book early, two days before receiving the car, you can cancel the order without any penalties.
Which car to choose
Choose a car according to the purpose of your trip. You can drive around the city and its surroundings in a compact car Renault Twingo or Ford Fiesta. These models are the most popular with our customers in Crete.
In the mountains, more powerful transport will be required. Pay attention to the volume of the engine - it must be more than 1.6 liters. An all-wheel drive crossover would be ideal. Audi A4 Estate will cost €33 per day. By the way, before leaving, do not forget to refuel with a margin. On the rises, the fuel goes one and a half to two times more. Gas stations in mountain villages are rare.
What you need to pay attention to when receiving a car
Before picking up, you are required to carefully inspect the car and point out to the rental company manager for scratches, damage and defects, such as dirty seat upholstery. You should check the ignition and the fuel level in the tank. You need to know the conditions for returning the car - where exactly, with what amount of fuel to return the car.
The rental agreement must include a telephone number to contact the rental company. It is designed so that customers can get help in emergency situations, such as when a car breaks down or in the event of an accident. A call to the rental company should be done first, even before the arrival of the police.
Insurance advice
When you pick up your rental car, you need to take it seriously. This is especially true if you do not intend to purchase additional insurance. You should carefully inspect the received car and fix all scratches, dents, and other defects in the contract. It is also recommended to take a picture of the existing damage to the car, its number, write down the name of the rental company employee.
What types of insurance are available for car rental?
Third Party Liability (TPL). This is a third party liability protection. If you are the culprit of an accident, the insurance will compensate for the costs of the victims for you.
Collision Damage Waiver (CDW). This is to protect your vehicle from any damage. She works with a franchise. This is the amount that you will have to pay in case of damage in any case. The company will cover anything over the limit. The insurance does not cover theft.
Theft Waiver (T.W.). This is car theft protection. Operates with a franchise.
Personal Accident Insurance (PAI). This is medical insurance for the driver and passengers.
Check out the fuel policy
When you pick up your car, you may be asked to pay for a full tank of fuel right away. This condition will suit you if you plan to travel long distances. For a couple of trips around the city, you don’t need so much fuel, and therefore it doesn’t make sense to overpay. Pay attention to the fuel policy when booking a car. If necessary, use the special filter to select the most convenient option for you.
Mileage without limits
According to the rental conditions, the mileage can be limited or unlimited. Travel lovers should choose the option without a limit. It will cost more, but in the end it will save. Check the appropriate box to filter offers with unlimited mileage.
Compare conditions of different rental companies
When choosing a rental car in Crete, you should carefully read all the terms of the rental. This is due to the fact that different companies may differ not only in rental prices, but also in conditions for limiting mileage, the cost of additional services, and the amount of the deposit. To compare rental conditions, it is convenient to use the search and booking system on our website.
Which rental company to choose
It is recommended to rent a car in trusted companies, that is, in those whose services you have already used. You can also focus on the rating of our site, which is displayed next to the name of the company in the search results.
Ceteris paribus, preference should be given to larger companies that have a high level of service and a large selection of cars. The best rental companies in Crete are sixt with an average rating of 9.8 points and budget (rating - 9.7).
Car pick-up procedure
You should show a voucher and personal documents. A manager draws up a lease agreement. The deposit is blocked on the card.
Before leaving the rental, turn on the ignition, find out the amount of fuel and compare it with what is written in the contract.
Inspect the car carefully. Point out to the manager any paint chips and scuffs. The employee must record the damage. Take a photo yourself: they should show the defect, the number of the car and the employee of the rental company. This will help to avoid problems when returning the car: it will prove that it was not you who torn the upholstery or scratched the fender.
Our advantages
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Car rental reviews: Crete - Rethymno
Based on 8255 reviews
Rate 4,8/5
Based on 8255 reviews
Tony
4,8
Without a doubt, I will continue to use Bookingautos on a regular basis. Thank you very much for your assistance!
Michael
4,7
Excellent value for money. The pick-up process was a little confusing, but I would use it again!
Luna
4,5
The search was very simple to use, the price was really low, and there were no problems with the rental car company.
Jody
4,9
Everything proceeded as expected. The complete coverage compensation really worked.
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