Crete is an island made to be explored by car. Stretching over 260km from west to east, you can't see its true beauty from a tour bus.
After hosting thousands of travelers at Comfy, we mapped the perfect loop: beaches you can only reach by dirt road, mountain villages where time stops, and tavernas no guidebook mentions. This is the 7-day itinerary we give to our friends.
Pick up your car at Heraklion (or Chania) Airport - and from 2028 also at the new Kasteli International Airport - and let's go.
Why 7 Days is Perfect for Crete by Car
7 days gives you 3 bases (Chania, Rethymno/Heraklion, East Crete) without rushing. Average driving: 1.5-2 hours per day. You'll have time for both famous spots like Balos and Elafonisi and hidden gems like Margarites and Matala.
The Route at a Glance
Heraklion Airport > Chania (2 nights) > Rethymno & South Coast (2 nights) > Heraklion & Central Crete (2 nights) > Agios Nikolaos & Vai (1 night) > Heraklion
Day 1-2: Chania & The Wild West
Land, pick up your rental car in under 5 minutes at the airport, and head west. The highway to Chania is easy and scenic — about 2 hours from Heraklion, 30 minutes if you land in Chania. This is where Crete feels most Venetian.
What to do: Spend your first afternoon wandering Chania's Old Port, then dedicate Day 2 to the west coast beaches. Balos and Elafonisi require a car — tour buses can't handle the dirt road to Balos, and they leave you only 1 hour at Elafonisi.
- Balos Lagoon: 1 hour drive + 20 min walk. Go early (before 10am).
- Elafonisi (pink sand): 1h15m from Chania. Stay for sunset.
- Falassarna: Best sunset beach on the island, 10 minutes from Balos turnoff.
Want more secrets? Check our list of Top 20 Hidden Beaches you can only reach by car and 5 Epic Road Trip Routes in Crete.
Day 3-4: Rethymno, Margarites & The South Coast
Leave Chania after breakfast and drive east along the coast (1 hour). Rethymno is the perfect base for 2 nights — smaller than Chania, incredibly atmospheric, and central for mountain villages and southern beaches.
Day 3 - Villages: Drive to Margarites (30 min), a pottery village stuck in time, then to Arkadi Monastery. Afternoon coffee in Spili. These best villages in Crete to visit by car are impossible without your own wheels.
Day 4 - South Coast: Head to Preveli Beach (palm forest river meets sea), then to Matala (famous hippie caves) or Triopetra for wild, empty beaches. On the way back, stop for a food tour — local tavernas & wineries only locals know.
Day 5-6: Heraklion, Knossos & The Heart of Crete
Drive 1 hour to Heraklion area. Base yourself just outside the city for easy parking. This is history day.
Day 5: Palace of Knossos (go at 8am opening), Heraklion Archaeological Museum, and then escape to the mountains — Anogia and Zoniana villages for grilled lamb. Check our guide for 10 amazing day trips from Heraklion you can enjoy with a rental car.
Day 6: South to Gortyna, Phaistos, and Matala again if you missed it, or north to Lasithi Plateau and the Cave of Zeus. For first-timers, read The Ultimate Guide to Exploring Crete by Car.
Day 7: Agios Nikolaos, Vai & The East
Crete's east is completely different — drier, wilder, more exotic. Drive to Agios Nikolaos (1 hour from Heraklion), swim in Voulisma Beach, then push to Vai Palm Forest — Europe's only natural palm forest. Elounda and Spinalonga island are on the way back.
Return to Heraklion (or Chania) for your flight. Total loop: ~650km.
Tips from the Comfy Team
- •Car choice: A compact SUV like Peugeot 2008 is ideal — high enough for dirt roads to Balos, small enough for village alleys. Automatic is worth it.
- •Parking: Free everywhere outside Heraklion/Chania centers. In Chania, use the east harbor parking.
- •Roads: New national road is excellent. Mountain roads are paved but curvy — drive slow and enjoy.
- •Why rent with us? See why Comfy is the best place to rent a car in Crete — no hidden fees, 5-min pickup, full insurance included.
Ready to drive it? Browse more stories on our blog or check prices now.
