Car Rental in Heraklion

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Heraklion, Crete
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500+ Trusted Suppliers:

Cheapest Car Rental Rates

Heraklion Airport Car Rental
Economy
Suzuki Swift or similar
Suzuki Swift
  • 5
  • 2
  • 5
  • A/C
  • Man.
Carwiz
$9.73 per day
Heraklion Airport Car Rental
Mini
Toyota Aygo or similar
Toyota Aygo
  • 4
  • 2
  • 3
  • A/C
  • Man.
Ace Rent a car
$10.51 per day
Heraklion Airport Car Rental
Economy Elite
Renault Clio or similar
Renault Clio
  • 5
  • 2
  • 5
  • A/C
  • Man.
SKG Rent A Car
$16.44 per day
Heraklion Airport Car Rental
Intermediate
Peugeot 301 or similar
Peugeot 301
  • 5
  • 3
  • 5
  • A/C
  • Man.
Surprice
$18.39 per day

Most Popular Car Rental Deals

Heraklion Airport Car Rental
Mini Elite
Skoda Citigo or similar
Skoda Citigo
  • 4
  • 1
  • 4
  • A/C
  • Man.
EXER
$18.45 / per day
Heraklion Airport Car Rental
Compact
Peugeot 301 or similar
Peugeot 301
  • 4
  • 2
  • 4
  • A/C
  • Man.
AddCar
$19.25 / per day
Downtown Car Rental
Compact Elite
Opel Astra or similar
Opel Astra
  • 5
  • 1
  • 5
  • A/C
  • Man.
Alma Car Hire
$21.96 / per day
Heraklion Airport Car Rental
Standard
Nissan Pulsar or similar
Nissan Pulsar
  • 5
  • 2
  • 5
  • A/C
  • Man.
Dirent a car Greece
$30.50 / per day
The above prices are only approximate and were last updated at 21:21 on 2023-05-29. Prices may vary based on the booking dates, length of rental, and car class.
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Travel Information

Language
Greek,
English,
French,
German
Currency
EUR
Drive on
Right-hand side
Country code
+30
Average car rental price
$18.15 / per day
Average car rental length
8 days
Speed limit within town
50 km/h
31 mph
Speed limit out of town
90 km/h
56 mph
Acceptable limit of BAC
0.05%
Rating
8.2

Why rent a car in Heraklion?

Heraklion is a great place for renting a car. The capital and largest city of Crete offers everything from fascinating historic sites to great beaches, fun nightlife, and extraordinary local cuisine. The city also serves as a great base for exploring the rest of the island, especially its central parts and the northeast.

One-Way Car Rentals in Heraklion

The most popular one-way rental options for pick up in Heraklion and drop off in another city include:

  • From Heraklion to Chania - 351 offers from $14.98 per day
  • From Heraklion to Rethymno - 18 offers from $13.83 per day

Top ways to enter Heraklion

  • Heraklion Nikos Kazantzakis Airport. Named after a Greek writer who hailed from the island, Heraklion Airport is the second busiest in Greece. In 2018, for the first time in its history it served more than eight million passengers. The most popular destinations from Heraklion are London, Paris, and Moscow, but the airport is served by more than 50 different airlines and offers flights to most European countries. Heraklion Airport is just 5 km (3.1 mi) east of the city center.
  • Chania Airport. Crete’s other international airport, serving its second city, is about 150 km (93 mi) west of Heraklion. The two hour drive takes you along the island’s northern coast, offering some amazing views along the way.
  • Santorini Airport. Serving the beautiful island of the same name, the small and cozy Santorini Airport is especially busy during the summer months. It is connected to Crete by a frequent ferry service.
  • By sea. Heraklion boasts one of the busiest ports in Greece and, indeed, the Mediterranean. There are ferry services to a lot of nearby Greek islands as well as to the mainland and the capital, Athens. If you’re arriving in Heraklion by ferry, you can conveniently pick up your rental car at Heraklion Port.

City facts

  • With a typical Mediterranean climate, Heraklion has enjoyable weather throughout the year. Summer temperatures rarely exceed 30 °C  (86 °F) which means that is rarely scorching hot in the city. Precipitation is nearly non-existent from June to August. Winters are mild and pleasant, but generally more humid.
  • With a population of about 173,000, Heraklion is the fifth largest city in Greece and the largest that’s not on the Greek mainland. Nearly every third inhabitant of Crete lives in the city or its near proximity.
  • There have been permanent human settlements near the present-day location of Heraklion for around 9000 years. In the 3rd and 2nd millennium BC, the area was home to the Minoan Civilization, considered by most historians to be the first human civilization in Europe.

Top destinations and activities

  • Heraklion Archaeological Museum. A museum of archeology might not be the first thing on your mind when visiting a Mediterranean island, but this one will get you excited even if history is not your thing. With many fine examples of Minoan, Hellenic, and Roman art objects, weapons, and other artifacts like the Snake Goddess or the Bull-Leaping Fresco, this museum tells the fascinating and ancient story of the island. Come here first, then drive to the nearby Palace of Knossos where the capital of the Minoan civilization once stood. Its ruins are said to have once made up the mythical labyrinth that guarded the Minotaur.
  • Amoudara. Located just west of the city center, this blue flag beach that stretches for about 3 km (1.6 mi) is the most famous coastal area of Heraklion. Spend a fine and leisurely day in the golden sands, have a delicious meal at the beach taverna, or, if you’re up for something more exciting, go surfing or kitesurfing for which there are many opportunities. Should you ever grow tired of this hip and busy area, just jump in your rental car and drive up or down the coast and you’ll find many other, more private beaches near Heraklion.
  • Lychnostatis Open-Air Museum. While many other of the Heraklion museums deal with the more epic and belligerent chapters of the island’s history, in Lychnostatis you can experience what the rural, bucolic life of Crete was (and still is). See the wine and olive presses at work, take a look inside the folk art gallery, or even try your hand at a weaving workshop.
  • Knossos. The sunbleached remnants of this old Minoan palace form one of the most famous tourist attractions in the country. It covers an area of 150,000 square feet and is thought to have been the main political and financial hub for the Minoan civilization. Evidence suggests that humans inhabited this land as early as 7000 BCE. However, construction on Knossos and nearby palaces started around 1900 BCE. The palace is currently on the tentative list for being given UNESCO status. According to Greek mythology, the minotaur, a terrifying half-man, half-bull creature, was kept in the labyrinth here. 

  • Greek coffee culture. Going out for coffee is a huge part of Greek culture — so much so that it could be considered the country’s national sport! Coffee shops can be found on virtually every corner in Heraklion. For a real local experience, head to Think Tank (Andreou Kritis 7), an espresso bar housed inside a grand neoclassical building. Alternatively, treat yourself to handmade Greek desserts and pastries, washed down with a Greek freddo espresso coffee at Hacienda (Leof. Andrea Papandreou 25).

  • The village of Thrapsano. This hilltop settlement is located 30km southeast of Heraklion. It takes just over half an hour to reach it by car. It is known as the “pottery village of Crete” and is a great place to pick up souvenirs and handmade pottery. When you approach the village, you will find several potters hard at work in their workshops, firing up their kilns and shaping pots and vases by hand. Many locals work in pottery businesses that have been passed down through their families for generations. They take a lot of pride in their craft and are happy to provide demonstrations to curious travellers. 

  • Koules fortress. The main focal point in the old port of Heraklion is its 16th-century Venetian fortress. The fortress has served several purposes throughout the years — initially as living quarters for military personnel and as storage space for weaponry and foodstuffs. It was largely rebuilt during the Ottoman occupation, during which time it operated as a prison. Today, you can enter for just €2 and admire the views over Heraklion and the Cretan sea. This is particularly stunning at sunset.

  • Wine tasting. More than 70% of Crete’s wine is produced in the vineyards south of Heraklion. With so many wineries available, it can be overwhelming to know where to choose. The vineyards of Archanes and Peza, surrounded by rolling green hills and fragrant olive groves are particularly special. If your schedule doesn’t affor you the time to visit vineyards, many bars and restaurants in central Heraklion offer tastings paired with charcuteries.

Traffic and parking

  • There are no highways on Crete (nor on any other Greek islands).
  • Unless specifically indicated otherwise, the speed limits are 90 km/h (55.9 mph) on roads outside populated areas and 50 km/h (31 mph) in populated and built-up areas.
  • Many gas stations might be closed during the weekends and public holidays. 
  • It is illegal to use a mobile phone while driving.
  • The legal alcohol limit is 0.05% for experienced drivers and 0.02% for novice drivers. Exceeding these limits can lead to steep fines and a licence ban. Exceeding the limit of 0.08% is a criminal offence and can lead to up to two years of imprisonment.
  • The insurance and car documentation needs to be in the car whenever you’re driving.
  • If you’re the driver, you need to have your passport or ID card with you at all times.
  • The general emergency number, like elsewhere in the EU, is 112. The police number is 100, the ambulance number is 166, and the fire brigade number is 199. 

Toll roads

There are no toll roads in Crete. There are a number of toll roads, tunnels, and bridges on the mainland of Greece. Many travelers find them very hard to navigate and some choose to avoid using the toll roads altogether because of the very complex toll road system that is in place. Different toll roads are administered by different private companies and so there is not a single, nationwide (or even region-wide) toll road system in place.

For most toll roads, the payment can be either made with cash at a toll gate, by credit card, or with coins at an automatic toll machine. For some roads, an electronic transponder might be used to pay for using the toll road. Some rental cars might be equipped with such an electronic transponder. However, because of the aforementioned different toll road systems that are in place, this payment method might work for some toll roads but not for others. Determine your route in advance and ask your car rental provider about the best way to pay for the toll roads that you plan to use.

Ideas for day trips

  • Rethymno. This cute little town about 80 km (50 mi) from Heraklion has some of the best architectural examples of the times when the island was ruled by Venetians. In addition to history (and a good number of interesting museums), it also has beautiful stony beaches and a lighthouse.
  • Psychro. The village of Psychro that’s about 1 hour’s drive inland from Heraklion might be a sleepy and idyllic place, but its main attraction, the Psychro Cave or Dikteon Cave, has often been mentioned as the birthplace of Zeus, the king of the ancient Greek gods. Even if you don’t believe this amazing legend, the cave is worth visiting thanks to its otherworldly stalagmite structures. Do keep in mind that although the Latishi plateau where the cave is located is close to the coast, the elevation rises quite rapidly as you drive inland and the cave is at a height of more than 1,000 meters (3,280 ft).
  • Agios Nikolaos. A calm and relaxed town about an hour’s drive east of Heraklion, Agios Nikolaos is in many ways a serene alternative to the busyness of the big city. From here, you can also go on a boat trip to Spinalonga Island that at different times in history has been a Venetian fortress and a leper colony.

Most popular cars

The most popular rental in Heraklion is the Citroen C3, although travelers also love the Fiat Panda, and the Citroen C1. The most popular rental car types are economy, mini, and compact. The larger and more central streets of Heraklion are wide and in good shape, but streets in some neighborhoods, as well as in many nearby towns and villages, can be quite narrow, so getting a smaller rental car can be a good idea.

Further destinations

Note: While you can bring a vehicle on some ferries, be sure to ask your car rental provider, in advance, if they permit it and whether you can later drop off the car in another location or if you need to return to Crete. Alternatively, you could always travel to another destination and rent another car there. 

  • Chania. Mixing the Greek, Italian, and Turkish influences of its past, Crete’s second largest city is a charming and atmospheric place to visit. Visit Chania’s Municipal Agora, its main historic market and its beautiful ancient churches. Also, don’t miss out on Samariá National Park and its many impressive gorges that’s just south of the city.
  • Santorini. With its white Cycladic buildings, the black pebble beach of Kamari, scuba diving opportunities, and many traditional wineries and restaurants, Santorini is perhaps even more idyllic than all other small Greek islands. There is a frequent ferry service between Heraklion in Santorini. 
  • Athens. The birthplace of modern democracy, home to many important Hellenic sites, and also a modern, vibrant metropolis, the Greek capital is as diverse and interesting as you’d expect it to be. There are frequent ferry service between Heraklion and Athens as well as daily flights. 

Car Rental Prices in Heraklion

  • Convertibles - from $22 per day
  • Station wagons - from $34 per day
  • Large cars - from $15 per day
  • Medium cars - from $13 per day
  • Vans - from $46 per day
  • Premium cars - from $68 per day
  • Small cars - from $10 per day
  • SUVs - from $19 per day

Money-saving tips

These are the tricks that can help you land a good car rental deal in Heraklion:

  • Compare rates of different rental car providers
  • Book your rental car well in advance
  • Plan your route before you go
  • Know your fuel and mileage requirements
  • Visit during the month when the rental prices are the cheapest. According to our data, visiting Heraklion is the cheapest in March when renting a car is about 62% cheaper than the yearly average and an entire 80% cheaper than renting a car in August.
This information was written, fact-checked, and/or translated by our content creators. Learn more about our Editorial Policy.
Fact checked by:
Melissa Douglas
Melissa Douglas is a British Travel Writer based in Athens, Greece. She runs the Mediterranean-focused solo female travel website High Heels and a Backpack and has written for several high-profile travel publications across the globe. Her aim is to inspire people to travel off the beaten path and not just stick to the most popular tourist destinations in each country.

What travel writers say

Most trips to Crete will start or end in the capital. Heraklion is home to the main port in Crete and also the largest airport on the island. Heraklion is the capital city and has all the capital city things for an island nation. A Starbucks, an Archaeological Museum, and lots and lots of traffic. The city is a good place to visit for a day or so before jumping off to the rest of the prefecture.
CSANA
Cameron Seagle and Natasha Alden
We love getting to off-the-beaten-path destinations and aren’t afraid to go it alone. We hope to inspire other independent travelers and provide them with the resources to do so.
After exploring Chania or Heraklion, you’ll have deserved some time at the beach. Head straight over to Balos Lagoon and beach area that’s so idyllic. Now, it does get quite busy here, especially in peak season but don’t let that put you off. It’s one of the top places for any beach bum. Afterwards, pop into Kafeneio Mezedopoleio Eilikrineia (a tongue-twister, I know) that serves up some of the tastiest food this side of Crete.
YO&LG
Yaya Onalaja-Aliu & Lloyd Griffiths
Hand Luggage Only was born back in April 2014 on a surprisingly warm afternoon in Yaya’s college room at University of Cambridge. In what seemed like an oasis of calm between assignments, Yaya and Lloyd (that’s us!) were talking about sharing our travel stories and photos with others like-minded travellers on the internet.
Crete is one of the more populated islands of the Aegean, while Heraklion is the capital and largest city on Crete. Second only to tourism, olive oil production is one of the biggest industries on the island. In fact, it’s estimated that there are some 35 million olive trees on the island and between 50 and 70 thousand tonnes of olive oil are produced here on an annual basis.
SN
Sophie Nadeau
Bonjour! For the past seven years, I've been writing about the weird and wonderful on this travel and culture blog, with a particular focus on history, hidden gems, and offbeat adventures in Europe and beyond.

Top 9 Cities near Heraklion

  1. Gouves Car Rentals from $25.20 per day
    11.0 km / 6.8 miles away
  2. Hersonissos Car Rentals from $29.27 per day
    19.0 km / 11.8 miles away
  3. 23.6 km / 14.7 miles away
  4. Malia Car Rentals from $25.67 per day
    23.8 km / 14.8 miles away
  5. Agios Nikolaos Car Rentals from $22.67 per day
    51.4 km / 31.9 miles away
  6. Elounda Car Rentals from $67.88 per day
    51.4 km / 31.9 miles away
  7. Rethymno Car Rentals from $12.48 per day
    57.5 km / 35.7 miles away
  8. Sitia Car Rentals from $44.24 per day
    84.7 km / 52.6 miles away
  9. Chania Car Rentals from $12.02 per day
    95.8 km / 59.5 miles away

Top 9 Locations near Heraklion

  1. Downtown Car Rentals from $16.42 per day
    1.8 km / 1.1 miles away
  2. Heraklion Port Car Rentals from $16.42 per day
    3.2 km / 2.0 miles away
  3. 17.7 km / 11.0 miles away
  4. 84.7 km / 52.6 miles away
  5. 95.8 km / 59.5 miles away
  6. 101.6 km / 63.1 miles away
  7. 107.0 km / 66.5 miles away
  8. 107.2 km / 66.6 miles away

Map of Car Rental Locations

What is the cheapest month to rent a car in Heraklion?

Car rental prices in Heraklion vary by time of year. This graph shows the average prices per month to help you find the best time of year to rent.
Average rental costs per day in Heraklion
$10.96
January
$11.19
February
$14.22
March
$16.68
April
$19.67
May
$37.40
June
$54.02
July
$58.91
August
$37.52
September
$21.88
October
$14.91
November
$12.64
December
The cheapest month to rent a car in Heraklion is January (when prices average $10.96 per day). This is 58% cheaper than the yearly average and 81% cheaper than renting in August (when prices average $58.91).

This information can help you identify the low season. But these are only average numbers. How much your car rental will cost will depend on the type of vehicle you rent, how long you’ll rent it for, and how far ahead you book. Simply enter your dates in the form at the top of the page to see the exact prices.

What’s the usual rental length in Heraklion?

How long travelers keep their rental cars for varies from month to month: in February, the average renter keeps their car for 9 days, and in January, they keep their car for 7 days.
Average rental length in Heraklion
7
January
9
February
7
March
8
April
8
May
8
June
9
July
9
August
8
September
8
October
7
November
8
December

What's the most popular month to rent a car in Heraklion?

Based on the number of searches by our customers, the most popular month for renting a car in Heraklion is July, and the least popular is February.
Monthly searches in Heraklion by pick-up date relative to the average
5%
January
4%
February
14%
March
72%
April
132%
May
186%
June
266%
July
241%
August
179%
September
90%
October
7%
November
4%
December

Car Rental Information

Car rental locations 5
Airport locations 1
Popular suppliers Alma Car Hire, Royal Rentals, RightCars, Autocandia, Surprice
Popular car categories Small cars, Medium cars, SUVs, Large cars
Lowest price $10 per day
Cheapest supplier Carwiz

Most Popular Car Models of Rental Suppliers

Rental Supplier Model Doors Luggage Type
Autocandia Peugeot 208 5 2 Small cars
RightCars Volkswagen Polo 4 1 Small cars
RightCars Toyota Aygo 3 1 Small cars
ABBYCAR Peugeot 208 4 2 Small cars
Autocandia Citroën C1 5 1 Small cars
Autocandia Peugeot 108 5 2 Small cars
Carwiz Suzuki Celerio 5 1 Small cars
Surprice Fiat 500 3 1 Small cars
ABBYCAR Toyota Aygo 4 1 Small cars
Alma Car Hire Fiat Panda 5 1 Small cars

Our Customers' Reviews

Because we want to make sure each review listed here is left by a real customer, we don’t have an option to post a review here. Instead, we ask each and every customer to leave a review after they return their rental car. This way, you know that all reviews are authentic, verified, and trustworthy.

United Kingdom
Peugeot 108
November 18, 2022
Chania was particularly beautiful but a car was essential to get around and visit the excellent beaches, monasteries and the war Cemetaries. There were some excellent scenic drives across the island.
Canada
Seat Ibiza
October 24, 2022
Loved Crete. So beautiful
France
Volkswagen Up
October 21, 2022
Weather wasn't great on our visit, hence 8/10, but the island is beautiful and we were glad to have a car to go exploring
United States of America (USA)
Peugeot 207 Cabrio
September 16, 2022
Crete is beautiful especially with a Convertible
Poland
Fiat Panda
September 12, 2022
Travelling with car is best option to see nice placea.
Greece
Citro?n C1
September 7, 2022
Did almost 1000 km and enjoyed it. Saw many lovely places around Crete, such as Rethymnon, Aghia Pelagia beach, Matala, Aghios Nikolaos, Spinalonga island & Elunda beach, and much more.
Italy
Toyota Aygo
August 9, 2022
I don't know what this other review is about, but Crete is amazing, so get a car by "King's car rental" and enjoy exploring the island!
Netherlands
Suzuki Celerio
August 9, 2022
We rent the car to drive into the mountains, it was great to see different landscapes of beautiful Crete.
United States of America (USA)
Fiat Doblo
August 8, 2022
Drove between Heraklion and Chania, back and forth several times, ate good food in the harbours, just watch out for the speed cameras- use maps or Waze that mark them
Canada
Peugeot 208
August 5, 2022
Great driving experience visiting the countryside of Crete
Sweden
VW Polo
August 1, 2022
We went around a lot. We started off with a trip to Preveli where you can walk in water into a gorge. After that we went to Rethymno which has a beautiful long beach with a lot of stores close by. We continued to Heraklion which is more of a city but nonetheless lovely to be in. After that we went on to Agia Marina next to Chania where the beach and food is lovely. We took a daytrip to Balos by driving to Kissamos as well. After that we drove down to Chora Sfakia to take the boat over to Loutro which is a beautiful fishing village. We continued our journey to the beautiful beach Falassarna which we felt was almost the best part of the trip, with a lovely sand beach. We took a day over to Elafonissi, the pink beach, which was lovely as well. We stopped our journey in Chania old town which is fantastic to walk around in but a bit warm mid day, so better to be at the beach around that time. Great trip overall!
Czech Republic
Fiat Tipo STW
July 30, 2022
Crete is full of options from treks, small deserted beaches to tourist attractions and many monuments... The problem is not the distances, but the time between the places of interest. I recommend planning multiple accommodations, according to points of interest and moving from one to another rather than commuting...just a classic itinerary...
Italy
Volkswagen Polo
July 25, 2022
you cannot manage a trip in Creta if you don't have a car
Portugal
Fiat Panda
June 27, 2022
Good company, and good service
Switzerland
Hyundai i20
June 23, 2022
fast service to receive the booked car
Australia
Fiat Panda
June 13, 2022
We stayed with friends in Krista and recommend the village as a day trip destination.
United States of America (USA)
Nissan Pulsar
June 1, 2022
Dirent a car is far back in the Heraklion lot, walking behind/through hertz
France
Toyota Aygo
June 1, 2022
So many things to see, definatelly need a car to go through this island
France
Fiat Panda
November 5, 2021
Use google to research what there is to see before visiting any attractions or villages
Greece
Nissan Pixo
October 18, 2021
Agios Nikolaos - recommend Almyros Beach Apartments -- good restaurant, friendly people. Rethymnon -- Rather dull place. Restaurants even back from the front rather overpriced -- or poor. Plakias -- avoid at all costs the seemingly attractive and allegedly 4-star Calypso Beach Resort Hotel. It is run down with almost non-existent service, although the location should make it a paradise. Plakias town is nothing but a strip of bars and low quality restaurants, although it does have a good beach and lovely sunsets.
Singapore
Renault Clio
September 26, 2021
Crete is a beautiful place. And a small car would be perfect if you’re going to mountains. You don’t need a big car.
Slovenia
VW Golf
July 17, 2021
If you don't want to just stay at the hotel in Crete, you definitely need a car.
Germany
Hyundai I20
June 25, 2021
If you want to explore Kreta in full extend including the hidden gems in the south of the islands, a car is definitely a necessity to optimize your precious holiday time, not to mention the freedom to go wherever you want. Driving in Kreta is easy, if you see someone wanting to take you over, just drive on the right side of the road to provide enough space for them to take over. Otherwise it's business as usual.
Greece
Fiat Panda
June 17, 2021
Visit Agiofaraggo beach. Matala beach.
United Kingdom
Kia Picanto
November 6, 2020
Lovely area to visit
Germany
Toyota Aygo
November 3, 2020
Very nice
United Kingdom
Toyota Aygo
October 19, 2020
Lovely town, lots of good things to see and eat.
United Kingdom
Skoda Citigo
October 6, 2020
It is a very easy and pleasant drive around the island. Parking is nearly always free and easy to get spots. Roads are in very good condition - 100% recommend a car for exploring
United Kingdom
Peugeot 301
September 27, 2020
Great island to explore.
Poland
VW Polo
September 22, 2020
It's definitely worth to rent a car in Crete. You however need to make sure that you feel comfortable driving in the mountains, as we have seen many tourists struggle on the way - pretty annoying to drive behind somebody who slams the brakes on each curve. It is also more efficient to opt for a diesel, as unleaded is more expensive (around 30c more per liter). When planning your road trips account for the fact, that it takes more time to reach your destination when you drive through the mountains - we found that 200 km from our accomodation was far enough for a day trip - you wouldn't probably feel like sightseeing after driving across the whole island in one go.
Germany
Fiat Panda
September 14, 2020
Heraklion is a very sweet port city with many shops and a beautiful week market. The architecture is also nice and food and drinks are everywhere cheap and nice.
United Kingdom
Peugeot 208
September 1, 2020
Crete is great location for family holiday
United Kingdom
Citroen C3
August 31, 2020
DEFINITELY hire a car but ensure the engine is 1.4 litres minimum to handle the hills.
United Kingdom
Peugeot 308
August 31, 2020
Agios Nikolaos very nice town with lots of shops and bars and nearby beaches. Harbour and lake area nice. Great visit to a vineyard near Heraklion. 30 mins away in hills. Generous wine tasting for Euro 5 each and owner really nice. Fantastic white wine - Diamantakis Vineyard Dianmantopetra is special !!
United States of America (USA)
Renault Megane STW
August 21, 2020
If you would like to travel around Crete, having a car is a definite plus. If you're staying in the city, most likely you won't need a car since everything is walking distance or reachable via buses.
United Kingdom
Nissan Micra
August 20, 2020
Crete is beautiful and there are places you just won't see without access to a car.
United Kingdom
Toyota Aygo
September 28, 2019
Really enjoyed our stay, good food and we found some nice beaches. The people are very friendly as the Greeks usually are.
Israel
Ford Focus
September 4, 2019
crete is a lovely place with many sea shores and small bays, it is a waste to stay ther whole time in one place
United Kingdom
Peugeot 308
September 3, 2019
very tight village streets and in the mountains as you go to restaurents there are many 'roads' with no tarmc and no street lights to navigate down steep windy hills... not for the faint hearted but the restarents are fabulous if you go for it... google maps essential but even that lost the plot in a fw valleys....
France
Suzuki Baleno
July 30, 2019
Belle ville , quiétude et café agréable . Le musée archéologique est magnifique
Ireland
Peugeot 308
July 19, 2019
Rethymno was superb and has great restaurants. We enjoyed a day trip to Chania and spent a week in Aghios Nikolaos which we really liked. If you are reasonably fit, a day trip/hike through the Gorge of Samaria is a fantastic experience, despite the 6am start and a challenging walk in the heat of mid-summer
United Kingdom
Opel Corsa
November 9, 2018
Definitely needs to rent a car to visit Crete, it it the best way to enjoy this beautiful and amazing island !
United Kingdom
Renault Clio
November 2, 2018
Drive defensively, check country specific signage
Israel
VW Polo
October 16, 2018
You'll need a car to access the gorgeous Cretan countryside.
Australia
Fiat Punto
October 14, 2018
The freedom of having a car is great on an island with many sights to see.
Romania
Peugeot 108
August 17, 2018
Crete is an amazing island...however plans need to be laid out carefully as the distances are quite large. Despite this slight inconvenience a few towns and beaches are compulsory: Chania, Rethymno, Agios Nikolaos, Malia & the beaches: Elafonissi, Prevelli, Istro, Matala, Balos etc. Have fun and keep your eyes on the road!
United Kingdom
Skoda Citigo
August 2, 2018
Crete is amazing for exploring and walking, especially the remote beaches and Gorges / Canyons such as Richti and Sarakinada. You definitely need a car to get the most out of your holiday.
United States of America (USA)
Fiat 500 2 doors
July 22, 2018
We rented easily at another location and had a lovely time. Southern coast from Paleochora to Chora Sfakion including Samarian Gorge hike amazing! Also small beaches in that area and near Rodakino were outstanding. The east was very beautiful, but a little harsh in terms of heat, wind and sun (somehow). If I were to do it again, I would spend more time in Paleochora and north west.
Israel
Hyundai Tucson 4WD
July 7, 2018
The car was as promised, in good condition. However, it broke down late one evening and I was told that it could only be serviced or replaced the next morning at 9 am. As we had an early afternoon flight about 1.5 hours from our location I requested they arrive as early as possible. In the end they came a bit earlier than originally promised, and when they found out that the car could not be serviced immediately replaced it. All in all very satisfactory service.
United States of America (USA)
Kia Ceed
June 25, 2018
If you are not an experienced driver, do not rent a car in Heraklion. It is very difficult to drive in the city and hard to park. If you are driving to other cities on the highway, then renting a car is highly recommended. The highway driving was very easy.
United States of America (USA)
Fiat Doblo
June 4, 2018
I highly recommend Heraklion and Crete in general. It is a beautiful country with friendly, honest people. I stayed in Elounda and it was absolutely beautiful. Go to Crete.

Car Rental Statistics

Highest rated company
EasyAuto
9.3 / 10
Lowest rated company
Goldcar
6.6 / 10
Total number of reviews
178
Total rental companies
44
Average daily price
$18.15
Lowest daily price
$9.73
Total cars available
1177

Top 44 Suppliers in Heraklion in 2023

EasyAuto
EasyAuto
Exceptional 9.3 / 466 reviews
4 locations
$23 - $103
Autocandia
Autocandia
Exceptional 9.3 / 520 reviews
3 locations
$16 - $137
OTOQ
OTOQ
Exceptional 9.3 / 27 reviews
1 location
$12 - $58
EXER
EXER
Exceptional 9.2 / 53 reviews
1 location
$18 - $68
Yours Car Rental
Yours Car Rental
Exceptional 9.2 / 12 reviews
1 location
$33 - $123
SIXT
SIXT
Exceptional 9.1 / 24 reviews
2 locations
$25 - $242
Thrifty
Thrifty
Excellent 8.9 / 10 reviews
3 locations
$29 - $113
Carwiz
Carwiz
Excellent 8.8 / 361 reviews
3 locations
$10 - $283
Royal Rentals
Royal Rentals
Excellent 8.8 / 424 reviews
4 locations
$17 - $401
Hertz
Hertz
Excellent 8.7 / 4 reviews
3 locations
GreenMotion
GreenMotion
Excellent 8.7 / 264 reviews
3 locations
$16 - $176
Alma Car Hire
Alma Car Hire
Excellent 8.7 / 612 reviews
3 locations
$16 - $78
Budget
Budget
Excellent 8.7 / 6 reviews
1 location
$42 - $140
King's Car Rental
King's Car Rental
Excellent 8.7 / 80 reviews
1 location
$32 - $404
Enterprise
Enterprise
Excellent 8.6 / 17 reviews
2 locations
$26 - $206
ACARENT
ACARENT
Excellent 8.6 / 97 reviews
1 location
$26 - $62
Dirent a car Greece
Dirent a car Greece
Excellent 8.6 / 223 reviews
1 location
$25 - $78
Avance
Avance
Excellent 8.6 / 40 reviews
1 location
$39 - $100
WheeGo
WheeGo
Excellent 8.6 / 10 reviews
1 location
$23 - $53
National
National
Excellent 8.5
1 location
$30 - $129
Avis
Avis
Excellent 8.5 / 2 reviews
1 location
$39 - $83
SKG Rent A Car
SKG Rent A Car
Excellent 8.5
1 location
$14 - $113
Optimo Rent
Optimo Rent
Excellent 8.4 / 9 reviews
3 locations
$26 - $103
Cargini
Cargini
Excellent 8.4 / 11 reviews
1 location
$21 - $93
Alamo
Alamo
Excellent 8.4 / 60 reviews
1 location
$24 - $96
CarQ
CarQ
Excellent 8.4 / 54 reviews
1 location
$21 - $32
Viaggiare
Viaggiare
Excellent 8.4
1 location
MONZA Rent a Car
MONZA Rent a Car
Excellent 8.4 / 5 reviews
2 locations
$31 - $168
Sterling Rentals
Sterling Rentals
Excellent 8.4
1 location
$23 - $104
Firefly
Firefly
Excellent 8.3 / 5 reviews
1 location
Centauro
Centauro
Excellent 8.3 / 141 reviews
1 location
$14 - $28
Surprice
Surprice
Excellent 8.3 / 434 reviews
3 locations
$17 - $70
ABBYCAR
ABBYCAR
Excellent 8.3 / 280 reviews
2 locations
Interrent
Interrent
Excellent 8.3
1 location
Zezgo
Zezgo
Excellent 8.3 / 4 reviews
1 location
Europcar
Europcar
Excellent 8.3 / 15 reviews
1 location
$17 - $39
Autounion
Autounion
Excellent 8.2 / 16 reviews
1 location
$31 - $139
RightCars
RightCars
Excellent 8.1 / 318 reviews
1 location
$16 - $117
Ace Rent a car
Ace Rent a car
Excellent 8 / 15 reviews
1 location
$11 - $44
AddCar
AddCar
Very good 7.5 / 81 reviews
1 location
$16 - $22
Global Rent a Car
Global Rent a Car
Very good 7.4 / 43 reviews
1 location
Ok Mobility
Ok Mobility
Very good 7.4 / 215 reviews
1 location
$14 - $106
Keddy
Keddy
Very good 7.3 / 11 reviews
1 location
$16 - $37
Goldcar
Goldcar
Good 6.6 / 50 reviews
1 location
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