Car Hire in Chania

Why hire a car in Chania?

Located on the northwestern coast of Crete, the city of Chania is one of Greece’s top holiday destinations. There’s plenty of stunning coastline to explore just to the west and east of the island, but Chania can also serve as a hub for traveling around the rest of Crete and getting to famous destinations like the Samaria Gorge.

Top ways to enter Chania

• Chania Airport: Serving about three million travelers per year, Chania Airport is a 20-minute drive west of the city center. During the summer months, the airport has flights by about 40 different airlines, including a number of low-cost carriers.
• Heraklion Airport: Heraklion Airport serves the city of the same name, the most populous on Crete. The airport handled more than 7 million travelers in 2019, making it one of the busiest in all of Greece. The drive from Heraklion Airport to Chania takes about 2 hours and 20 minutes.

Top sights and activities

• Beaches. Crete is home to some of the best beaches in Europe, and the surroundings of Chania are definitely no exception to that — in fact, it is often listed as one of the finest beach towns on the continent. Some of the best coastal stretches include the nearby Akrotiri peninsula with its impressive coves, as well as more distant beaches like Phalassarna and Elafonisi that are nonetheless easy to reach if you’ve hired a car.
• Old Town. Inhabited since the Stone Age, Chania has a diverse and fascinating history. Today, much of this heritage is exemplified by the city’s small yet atmospheric old town. The well-preserved area remains partially encircled by the Venetian Walls and is characterized by its large and busy marina, as well as the small, narrow sidestreets further away from the coast.
• Etz Hayyim. Although much of Crete’s Jewish population sadly perished during the Second World War, the community had lived on the island for more than 2,300 years, strongly influencing its history and culture. Also known as the Romaniotes, the Greek-speaking Jews were one of the oldest Jewish diaspora groups in Europe. One of the best places to learn about this chapter of Chania’s past is the Etz Hayyim Synagogue which was restored in 1999. The historical Jewish quarter, or Ovraiki, is a part of the aforementioned old town, comprising its northwestern part.

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 petrol stations might be closed on 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 license ban. Exceeding the limit of 0.08% is a criminal offence and can lead to up to two years of imprisonment.
• Proof of insurance and the car’s registration need to be in the car whenever you’re driving.
• When driving, 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 on Crete. 

Ideas for day trips

• Samaria Gorge. From its highest point at 1,250 m (4,100 feet) to sea level, the 14km (8.7 mile) long Samaria Gorge is one of the most impressive natural attractions in Greece. Whether you only go as far as the famous ‘Iron Gates’ or hike all the way to the top, visiting this place is bound to be one of the highlights of your trip. The drive from Chania to the highest point of Samaria in the northern part of the gorge takes about an hour.
• Heraklion. The largest city of Crete, Heraklion is also one of Crete’s most interesting travel destinations. Home of the ancient Minoan civilization which predated Classical Greece, and sites like the Palace of Knossos, the city has plenty to enjoy in terms of history and architecture. Heraklion can also be used as a hub for exploring the eastern end of Crete.
• Kissamos. Located in the far western part of the island, the town of Kissamos remains rather overlooked by foreign visitors but can be a lovely place to visit. The area is best characterized by bucolic olive groves and other farmland but is also home to the aforementioned Phalasarna Beach, the beautiful Balos Lagoon, a small but interesting archaeological museum, and the nearby Gramvousa peninsula. The drive from Chania to Kissamos takes only 40 minutes.

Most popular cars

The most popular car for hire in Chania is the Fiat 500, closely followed by the Citroen C3 and the Nissan Micra. The most popular car hire types are economy, compact, and mini.

Car hire prices in Chania

• Small cars - starting at US$8 per day
• Medium cars - starting at US$12 per day
• SUVs - starting at US$16 per day
• Station wagons - starting at US$31 per day
• Convertibles - starting at US$29 per day
• People Carriers - starting at US$44 per day
• Large cars - starting at US$12 per day
• Premium cars - starting at US$78 per day

Money-saving and other tips

These are some good methods to save money on your car:

• Compare the rates of different car hire suppliers
• Book your car well in advance
• Plan your route before you go
• Know your fuel and mileage requirements
• Visit during the month when the car hire prices are the cheapest. According to our data, visiting Chania is the cheapest in January when hiring a car is about 70% cheaper than the yearly average and a whole 83% cheaper than hiring a car in July.