Car Rental at Crete Airport Chania

Airport travel guide

Chania is the second-largest city on the island of Crete and also one of Greece’s most popular tourist destinations. Not only is Chania famous for its rich historical heritage, culture, and charming old town atmosphere, but also for its beautiful beaches and unforgettable nightlife.

There are plenty of things to do in Chania, such as:

• The Old Venetian Port of Chania. This beautiful harbor was built over 700 years ago for trading as well as protection against pirate raids. Today, it’s one of the most iconic landmarks of Chania and one of the most photographed places on the island. Explore from the Lighthouse of Chania all the way around to the Firka Venetian Fortress.
• Etz Hayyim Synagogue. Although now very few of them are left, Chania along with the rest of Crete had a sizable Jewish population for more than 2,000 years. This ancient heritage is best exemplified by the beautiful Etz Hayyim Synagogue which has nowadays become a notable center of interfaith dialogue — and is also one of the most popular tourist attractions in Chania.
• Museums. It’s hard to imagine the weather in Chania forcing you to stay indoors, but even if the weather is splendid, you might do worse than spend an afternoon exploring Chania’s many interesting museums. The most notable of them, the Archaeological Museum, used to be located in a historic Venetian Monastery but moved in 2021, while other interesting places to visit include the Folklore Museum and Nautical Museum of Crete.
• Beaches. You don’t have to go far to find a beautiful beach in Crete. The best beaches in Chania are Nea Chora Beach, Koum Kapi Beach, and Golden Beach (also known as Paralia Hrisi Akti).
• The Old Chania Market. This historic market was built in 1913 and is a great place to visit to buy local products, specialties, and souvenirs.

If you want to explore beyond Chania, here are some fun day trips:

• Elafonissi Beach. This beach is famous for being Crete’s signature pink sand beach. It’s a popular tourist attraction but also a must-visit if you’re visiting the island for the first time.
• Balos Beach and Gramvousa Island. One of the most photographed beaches on the island, Balos Beach is known for its unique landscape with a lagoon on one side and the sea on the other. Gramvousa is an uninhabited island not far from Balos. It’s known for its pristine, untouched beaches.
• Samaria Gorge. Crete has many natural attractions, but Samaria National Park is easily the most impressive of them. Surrounding a gorge of the same name, the area is known for absolutely stunning views but also unique flora and fauna like the Cretan mountain goat (kri-kri). This is the most beautiful hiking trail on Crete and also one of the most famous ones in Europe. The trip from Chania only takes about 40-60 minutes.

Top international routes

• Athens
• Helsinki
• London
• Paris
• Paphos
• Thessaloniki
• Copenhagen
• Krakow
• Berlin
• Vienna

Main airlines

Aegean Airlines, Sky Express, Ryanair, Eurowings, Finnair, easyJet, and Jet2

Terminals

Chania airport has a single passenger terminal that serves all domestic and international flights. The terminal was significantly expanded in 2018.

Location

Chania airport is on the north coast of Crete, about 14 km (8.7 mi) from the city of Chania. Aerodromiou Soudas, Akrotirou, Monousou Koundourou, and El. Venizelou are the main streets connecting the airport to the city.

Most popular types of rental car

• Small cars - from $8 per day
• Medium cars - from $12 per day
• SUVs - from $16 per day
• Station wagons - from $31 per day
• Convertibles - from $29 per day
• Vans - from $44 per day
• Large cars - from $12 per day
• Premium cars - from $78 per day

Car rental desks

Most are located in the arrivals hall.

Services and facilities

Despite the airport’s small size, you’ll find a few food stands and bars, as well as a couple of kiosks. Duty-free outlets are available to passengers traveling outside the EU. You’ll also find an ATM, a currency exchange, an on-site hotel, a nursing room, a lost and found office, and a first aid station. The airport is well equipped for travelers with reduced mobility. It offers additional help, so if you’d like this service, contact your airline in advance.

Nearest gas station

Shell, located about 600 m (0.35 mi) from the airport, is on your right when leaving the airport and can be reached in one minute. There are other gas stations on the way to Chania.

Popular one-way rentals

• Heraklion (148 km / 92 miles)
• Rethymno (72 km / 45 miles)
• Gouves (163 km / 101 miles)
• Stalis (175 km / 108 miles)