What you should know before hiring a car in Heraklion
| Heraklion city centre | ||
| Nikos Kazantzakis Airport (HER): 3 mi from city centre | ||
Car hires in Heraklion: practical information
Where to rent a car in Heraklion
Planning a holiday in Heraklion? Crete is the perfect island to explore with a Heraklion rent car. The airport has a full range of car hire agencies like Hertz, Avis and Budget but local companies will often offer better prices. These can be found in the town centre.
Driving in Heraklion: parking and other tips
Driving in Heraklion and Crete is really the best way to get around, just be careful of local drivers. It was only recent that the island got two-lane roads so many of them are still used to driving in the middle and flashing their headlights to overtake vehicles.
Parking can be a challenge in Heraklion, so make sure you double check the parking regulations before leaving your car unattended. Not all hotels in Heraklion will have parking available, so call ahead before arriving. Remember, if you plan to take your rent car on a ferry, you’ll need written permission from your car hire agency to do it.
Road trips from Heraklion: what to do, what to see
Palace of Knossos
This ancient Minoan palace is a highlight for visitors in Heraklion. It’s open daily and is one of the most important Minoan palaces in Crete and was the seat of the Crete King Minos. The palace is connected with a lot of ancient legends, including the story of the Labyrinth and the Minotaur.
Hania
Hania is one of Crete’s most beautiful cities. The Venetian Quarter and its small atmospheric streets are charming. Many of the restored Venetian townhouses have been converted into boutiques, cafes, restaurants and tavernas. Hania boasts some of the island’s best restaurants so indulge yourself!
Samaria Gorge
Fancy a little trekking while on holidays in Heraklion? The Samaria Gorge is supposedly the longest in Europe, at 16km and begins just below the Omalos Plateau. Entry €5 and totally worth it to see the endangered species living here, like the kri-kri and the Cretan wild goat.