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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 €13.96 per day
From Heraklion to Rethymno – 18 offers from €12.89 per day
Top sights 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.