Driving routes in Crete. Guide to the island of Crete. Crete by car

It is impossible to describe all the amazing destinations and routes in one post, because there are a huge number of unique places on the island of Crete. Best travel companies provided a whole list of routes that you should visit during your trip by car. The best options for the most scenic routes in Crete can be explored with a rental car.

Thus, you can save time and money, while getting a lot of positive emotions. Traveling in Crete in a rental car, you can see the most important monuments of each region, visit historical sites, visit the best resorts and get to know local residents who are very friendly to visitors. In these parts you can see landscapes of unique beauty.

About the trip around Crete by car

Crete is a great place to relax with both friends and family. There is no more diverse and picturesque place on the map than this island with many interesting routes. Before setting off, many are concerned about the question of exploring long-distance car routes around Crete. This is where the guide (electronic guide) will help you find green oases, luxury hotels and attractions in a densely populated area.

Research about. Crete by car

Before you rent a car in Crete and learn where to go by car, you need to study the rules of the road. All these rules and requirements are designed to ensure that the tourist can easily travel in the right direction as safely as possible. It should be remembered that the movement here is right-hand.

Slippery and dry roads

The road remains a problem. Movement around the island is difficult, especially in winter. To overcome the road, paved with slippery cobblestones, winding over the abyss, it is necessary to reduce the speed to 30 km/h. Most of the roads in Crete were in need of repair a few years ago, but today you can safely drive on wide roads. V settlements allowed to drive at speeds up to 50 km/h.

Landslides

You need to look carefully at the road. Since, due to adverse weather conditions, there may be stones on the roads that will damage the car. After rain, small and large stones slide down hills or mountain slopes. They also cause danger on the roads.

Basic road rules

Fuel quality

Refueling is very easy and simple. Gas stations provide full service, so the driver does not need to get out of the car. Please bring cash with you as not all gas stations accept credit cards. Many of them are open until 21:00. Therefore, you need to think about refueling in advance. The quality of fuel in Greece is not the best.

Safe travel on the roads

On the island you can find a huge number of motorcycles. Many drivers like to overtake cars on the right side. Due to the lack of sidewalks in some settlements, pedestrians move directly along the road.

parking

As in all settlements, car parking is an urgent problem. There are almost never empty seats in the central part of the city. If necessary, you can use paid parking.

Greek guide - tourist assistant

Guide to Crete (road routes)

Crete is the largest of the Greek islands, located in the Mediterranean Sea, north of Egypt and Libya. The island has been the center of human civilization for thousands of years since the Neolithic Age in 10,000 BC. Since then, Crete has been ruled by a number of civilizations, including the Minoans, Dorics, Ancient Greeks, Byzantines, Venetians and the Ottomans. As a result, Crete combines rich history, diverse cultures, architecture, art and cuisine.

According to the personal experience of travelers, Crete is best explored by car. In order for the trip to be an unforgettable experience, you need to draw up a detailed itinerary. Many people usually wonder what to see in Crete on their own by car in a week. An interactive map will help you with this.

Here are carefully depicted and indicated the sights of Crete that are worth seeing by car. First of all, these include: the Palace of Knossos, the cave of Zeus, the old city of Rethymnon, the island of Spinalonga, the Lassithi plateau, the village of Arolithos, the gorge of Ha, the sunken city, which is located in Agios Nikolaos.

Important! You should plan your trip around the island starting from the northwest, then heading west along the south coast, and finally move east along the north coast.

What to see on your own by car with children

Many tourists travel with their children. In this option, the best way to explore nearby cities is to rent a car. When traveling by car, the child will feel most comfortable. Russian tourists often asked to explore Crete where to go by car. Among the many places of interest are the following:

Aptera

Ancient Aptera is located in a striking archaeological site. The city is located on a high mountain with the remains of a Greek temple from the 2nd century and a city from the 7th century BC, destroyed by an earthquake. During the Byzantine rule, the temple was restored. From this amazing spot you have stunning views of the summit above Souda Bay. The bay, which is now a NATO base, and where is located jet fighter. Previously, this place was considered a shopping center.

Traveling with a child in a rental car

Chania

The old town, which is famous for the Venetian port, is the most popular tourist destination. This interesting region with Venetian and Turkish architecture, which is located on the northern coast, fascinates many visitors. Here is the famous Venetian lighthouse. Guests of the city can go to the local market, which occupies a central place, and the old streets belong to real artisans. Fine leather products are made here.

Imbros

Gokceada is a unique place where the Imbros Gorge is located. A small number of people live in this small village. This amazing region offers majestic views of the entire island of Crete. The route from the city to the gorge is 8 km. You can get there by car.

Knossos

To the south of the capital of the island is the well-known resort town of Heraklion. This is an excellent archaeological site of the Minoan palaces, which was discovered in the early 1900s. In summer, the road is completely congested here, so getting to this province is quite difficult. It is much more difficult to explore Crete on your own by car, routes that are not known to tourists. Usually guests are offered a sightseeing tour with a professional guide.

Samaria

The historical region of Crete is known to tourists for its white mountains. In order to see this beauty, you need to go to national park Samaria. In this part there is the longest gorge in Europe at 16 km. To go to the park you need to allocate time from 6-8 hours. Initially, you need to come to the coastal village of Ayia Roumeli. This is a rather difficult road. Therefore, you need to make good route. Mostly trekkers come here. The nature in this area is unusual. The national park is a UNESCO heritage.

white mountains

Aka Lefka Ori is the largest massif in Crete. Wildlife thrives here and traditional agriculture has been preserved. The height of the top of the white mountains reaches up to 2000 m, the highest ridge is Pahnes at an altitude of 2453 m. In order to make a hike, good physical preparation is required. The path is long, you have to climb the mountain halts. Mountain villages rise nearby. There are more than 50 gorges in this region. The most popular place is the Samaria Gorge.

Malia

On the northern part of the island of Crete, 34 km from Heraklion, there is a small province called Malia. This town is part of the Chersonese community. The population is about 3000 people. Just 2 km from the province are the ruins of the palace of Knossos.

Pelageya beach

One of the most colorful beaches is Pelageya. This is a luxury place for family vacation with a sandy beach, beautiful nature and crystal clear water.

Hersonissos

Hersonissos is a popular tourist destination in Crete. It belongs to the community of Heraklion and has many beautiful beaches as well as archaeological sites such as Knossos and Phaistos.

Important! The area is well developed and has many tourist facilities.

Travel companies offer you a variety of interesting tours to explore this region. For independent travelers, there is a guide about the daily life, monuments, sights and entertainment of Hersonissos. In addition, you can independently book hotels on the website,. Exploring the island on your own, you will definitely need a comfortable car. There are many companies in Greece that offer a wide range of cars. But the most reliable service is. Before submitting an application, you must carefully read the terms and conditions of the company.

In conclusion, it should be noted that it is advisable to organize a trip to Greece 2 or 3 months earlier. During this period, the cost of air tickets is much lower than immediately before departure. You can use SkyScanner to find cheap tickets.

Hello! In this post we will talk about the largest island of Greece - Crete.

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Very important before the trip, identify for yourself the purpose of your trip. Conventionally, Crete can be divided into "beach" and "excursion". Those who want to lay flat on the sand, sip on a cocktail, and smear on sunblock/sunblock will have a great time. It remains to choose the right hotel and, more importantly, the right beach.

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The beaches of Crete is an ambiguous phenomenon. Due to the volcanic nature of the island, the coastline (270 km) is basically not a very convenient entrance to the sea. Stone slabs are very common, hence the problem even in many hotels. The government does not allow any way to demolish, destroy or break stone underwater barriers. There are very few real sandy beaches. Basically, it is pebbles and sand. And if the Germans, the British and the French don’t care about the sea (they all lie like seals on deck chairs by the pool), and even more so the beach, then give the Russian only sand: white, fine and not hot.

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The first landmark is a series of hotels stretching along the sea coast. If there are many hotels, then the beaches in this place are good. However, not always. You will have to make sure of the quality of the beach only through your own monitoring. Find nice beach you can also visit the numerous taverns - this is how cafes and restaurants are called in Greece. If there are a lot of taverns on the shore, there is a chance to play soldiers on the sandy beach. These beaches are usually municipal.

Sun loungers, towels and umbrellas - on almost all of these beaches - are paid. Many taverns, as part of fierce competition, put up their infoboards on the beach, which say something like this: “Order lunch from us, get umbrellas and sunbeds for free.” You can use these things. Saving 5-7 euros for each day will not hurt. Guaranteed sandy beaches 11 km long and 300 meters wide can be found in the village of Kavros (Rethymno region). These, according to the guide, are the best beaches on the Aegean coast.

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The same Those who prefer the sightseeing-natural recreation option to beaches, seas and sunbathing should first of all start with car rental. Rent a car and Crete, like a beauty from the red-light district, will open its beautiful insides to you.

Probably, You won't find a better knowledge of the island. Needless to say, you can easily get to any corner of Crete, the most popular or wild, armed with GPS navigation or a regular map. True, you need to be prepared for narrow roads, which are quite difficult to pass with buses, but maximum concentration and minimum excitement ... well, you yourself know everything. Just in case, the rules and notes on the roads of Crete.

There are countless small agencies or giants like Hertz or Avis at your service.

If you do not have rights, desires or opportunities, you can rent ATVs or scooters, the number of which is hardly less than cars. I repeat that it is much more convenient to get to know the Cretan land on a rented transport. If this option is too tough for you, you can ride a walking sheep - they know the area as well as a licensed guide.

Cretans, and indeed all Greeks, pay special attention to food. The very convenient location of the island plus the favorable climate contribute to a rich harvest, which the Cretans harvest twice in good years. Cretans would rather throw themselves into a well than treat themselves to stale food. Naturally, great attention is paid to olive trees, revered by the Greeks as well as birches for Russian poets. The same goes for citrus fruits. Seafood in abundance: mussels, squid, cuttlefish. Portions in taverns are huge, prices are low. It is better to take a portion for two. Greek hospitality is also manifested in taverns: after ordering a dish (which unhurried Greeks can carry you for about 40 minutes), you will be offered to drink local vodka - raki (emphasis on the last syllable). And after the meal they can offer dessert. Both of these are free. Worth a try : Greek salad , Moussaka , pita , Tzatziki, lamb.

But with fish, the situation is different - it is incredibly expensive. A kilogram of fish can cost 50 euros. Most likely, this is due to the fact that the fish here is prepared according to special recipes and only freshly caught, but frozen fish prevails in many taverns.

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Heraklion

Hostel in Heraklion - Korifi Suites Apts - from 22 USD per day

See other options

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Rethymno

Gorges

There are a lot of gorges on the island for every taste, long and not very long, wide and narrow, high and low, but they are all impressive. It is best to conquer them on a rented car.

Monastery of Preveli, 36 km from Rethymno.

Now a quiet and peaceful place where 4 monks live, if I am not mistaken, during the war it was a refuge for Cretan soldiers from the Nazis. The monks hid the soldiers, treated their wounds, helped them navigate the terrain and simply set them on the path to victory. On the way to the Preveli monastery, you will definitely stumble upon the Kurtaliot Gorge, in which the only river that does not dry out throughout the year flows. In the monastery itself there is a mini-zoo, and below is the famous palm beach of Limni. The road from Rethymno to the monastery, I believe, will be remembered by you no less than the monastery itself.

Santorini island

Those who have been to the Italian town of Positano and have known its beauty will not fail to take the opportunity to go on an excursion to this charming Greek island, where life originated about 3,000 years ago. Who has not been, you need to go all the more. The island is also of volcanic origin, moreover, the volcano hidden under the water abyss is active. The strength of the eruption of the volcano exceeds most of the volcanoes in the world, some thousands of times. It is assumed that as a result of an earthquake in 1450 BC, a tsunami up to 100 m high flooded the Palace of Knossos. The last time, an earthquake was observed in 1956, destroying only some of the island's houses.

spinalonga island

Another strategic island with a 16th century Venetian fortress. It is located in one of the most beautiful bays of Crete - Mirabello, in Elounda.

Information about other places and excursions can be found .

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One of the main The peculiarity of the Cretans is hospitality. However, sometimes in the eyes of many people it is refracted due to another distinctive feature of the population - slowness, or even carelessness. This slowness manifests itself in everything from waiting for an order in a tavern to more serious business services. The Cretans themselves explain it something like this: "There is nowhere to hurry - appreciate every moment." You just need to take note of this feature and not pay attention to it. Otherwise, the Greeks are pleasant, smiling, friendly and good-natured. The average life expectancy is 80 years. Everyone smokes, always and everywhere, Greece is the leader in tobacco use per capita in the world. Cretans work early in the morning, before sunrise. Then they go to bed. Somewhere from two to six - Siesta time, people stay at home, escaping the heat, so meeting people, especially the elderly, is difficult.

Do not be surprised endless cats and dogs under their table in a tavern, yawning in the middle of the street or just lying under the shops. The Cretans do not keep anyone at home, it happens for an hour that they feed the cats from the other side of the city. From you, these little ones need very little - one tenth of your meal, a couple of affectionate ones, in a word - pay attention to them.

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Perhaps the best option "price / quality" would be to buy a hotel and a flight from a tour operator. This is related to the following:

1. Demiurges such as Teztur, Mibz and others launch their own charters, thus, tickets for a tour are significantly lower in price compared to regular flights. Such tickets cost about 150-250 euros, but buying them is not always easy, but you should definitely try.

2. Due to the huge flow of tourists, these companies have elotments (guaranteed hotel rooms), also at special prices.

Therefore, sometimes you can book a tour at ridiculous prices.

For instance:

1. ephyros each 3 *, HB - 562 euros per person with a flight, for a week. Departure 18.06

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Of course, places for lighting, hotels, restaurants and other attractions described in the post, in fact, there are much more. That is why you will have questions: “why is there not this square, but there is this monument, who needs it?”, or “why did you choose this hotel, because it is much better”. It's understandable - you can't please everyone.

Therefore, it will be very good if you supplement useful information about cities, because together, by combining common experience, we will make a useful travel guide for ourselves.

Crete has a very long and rich history. Once this island was the home of the ancient Minoan civilization, which was one of the most influential in the region. Greek civilization came later.

Crete has always been a special place for me. Even at school, the Minoans firmly sunk into my soul. I even remember the report that I did about their civilization in the 9th grade. First of all, I was attracted by the ruins. But Crete also has beautiful beaches, interesting trekking routes, quaint historical towns, delicious food and wine. The inhabitants of Crete are open and friendly.

I hope you love Crete as much as I do. And this guide will help you save time and money.

When to go on vacation to Crete

The choice of month for a holiday in Crete depends on your preferences. The weather in Crete is warm all year round. If you feel like sunbathe on the beaches Crete, then plan your vacation from April to the end of October.

In April, the beach season in Crete officially opens, but the sea is still cool. May is a great time for vacation. It is not very hot, the winds practically do not blow this month, and the sea is cool 20 - 22 degrees Celsius. Another pleasant month is September. It is also not so hot anymore, but the sea is noticeably warmer than in May.

July and August are the high tourist season. The weather is sultry, there are a lot of tourists, prices rise almost 2 times.

There are very few tourists from November to the end of March. Winter in Crete is warm, sometimes the temperature rises to 20 degrees. At this time it is good to come if you are interested in the culture and history of Crete. Prices will be noticeably lower than in summer.

Prices in Crete

You can spend the night in Crete from 1000 in an inexpensive 2-star hotel, or you can rent an apartment in Crete from 600 rubles per day on Airbnb. Real estate rental prices in Crete are relatively low.

Lunch in a restaurant for two will cost 20 euros. If you cook on your own, you can meet the 30 - 35 euros per week for groceries. Estimated daily budget with housing, food and entertainment costs from 40 euros per person. But traveling together is always more profitable.

© theo_reth / flickr.com / CC BY 2.0

Where to go on vacation in Crete

Crete is divided into 4 regions: Chania, Rethymno, Heraklion, Lassithi. Each area has its own characteristics: slightly different weather conditions, resorts, beaches, attractions. Crete is a big island. Certainly more than it might seem to a person who has never visited it. Therefore, it is worth planning in advance in which region you will live. To make your choice consciously, you need to study a little information about:

How to organize a holiday in Crete

If you want to visit Crete on your own, then you need to get a visa, book a hotel and buy air tickets.

Airfare to Crete

If you are going to rest for a short time - up to 2 weeks, then it is cheaper to buy a ticket. If you want to live longer, then independent travel to Crete will be more profitable.

In 90% of cases you will land at Heraklion airport - Nikos Kazantzakis. If you are traveling on your own, then follow the link to find information on how to get from the airport to Heraklion. If you are traveling on a tour package, then you will be provided with a transfer.

Car rental in Crete

According to statistics - more than half of the vehicles on the island of Crete are cars rented by tourists. Which is not surprising, since this is the most convenient way to get to know the island. Car rental in Crete costs from 1000 rubles per day. In the article you can learn about required documents where to rent a car, traffic rules and many other important details.

- one of the most interesting places on earth for car travelers. There are also organized tours here. But, as elsewhere, tourists are taken only to certain places and, as a rule, in a crowd. This does not always allow you to see everything you want and feel like what you see.

Roads in Crete

The roads on the island are just great! Road communication too. If desired, by car you can get to almost anywhere in Crete. It is difficult to call it intensive movement.

The mountainous area is replete with dizzying serpentines, which offer stunning views. So, the road itself will become an unforgettable adventure.

Beginners behind the wheel should not be afraid of mountain roads, they are all well equipped, you just need to show a little attention.

Traffic in Crete

Although the traffic is not as intense as in large settlements in Russia. But during the summer season big cities Crete to park the car is not so easy. Fines for illegal parking are very impressive and issued quite often.

Although the same traffic rules apply on the island as elsewhere, the Cretans are in no hurry to comply with them. Especially when it comes to speeding: everyone drives as they want. Signs are also not readily followed. Shot through road signs have almost become the hallmark of Crete.

Do not forget that gas stations do not work around the clock. Some close at 19.00, some at 22.00, very few open until 23.00

Be prepared for sudden maneuvers by other road users. The locals do not bother turning on the appropriate signals.

It is considered normal among the locals to get behind the wheel in a slightly drunk state (although if they are caught, the fines are severe), no one cares about not wearing a seat belt, and children without a special seat, too.

However, we should not forget that the Cretans live there all their lives and are perfectly adapted to the specific mountain roads. And a person without such experience should still be careful in order to maintain health and well-being.

Important!

If you arrive at the parking lot and see that all the cars are in the sun, while under the trees there is a lot of free space. You will most likely be surprised. But this is not at all accidental. The ubiquitous Cretan goats are very fond of chewing tree branches, climbing onto well-parked cars. Although they can climb just like that ... without trees ...

Do not leave valuables and documents in the car. They can even “attach legs to them”.

There are traffic jams on the roads of Crete. True, they are very unique. Goats, goats ... everywhere they are the silent masters of the island.

Rent a Car

Where to go by car?

Here the expanse is almost limitless. Interesting places there are many on the island. And when traveling around Crete by car, you yourself will draw up a route and plan the time.

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