The 7 Most Important Reasons Why to Rent a Car in Crete

Greece is a beautiful country that attracts millions of tourists every year. You can choose between the destinations on the Aegean Sea and the Ionian Sea, and you can never be wrong with your choice. Greece has plenty of beautiful places to visit, including beaches, near the sea villages, islands, and historical monuments. All of these things make Greece one of the most wanted tourist destinations in Europe.

You can visit the places that you can reach by car or a bus, such as Chalcidice (Halkidiki) and Katerini in Pieria, or combine a trip to some of the islands that include ferry transport, like Thasos or Crete. Whatever you choose, you’ll be able to enjoy crystal clear water and very tasty Greek cuisine.

Crete is the largest Greek island in the Aegean Sea. Tourists love it, but since it’s big and mountainous, they need to come in their car using a ferry, but that takes a lot of hours traveling. Another option is to rent a car there, so you can see all of the beautiful places this island has. If you stay in one place, you will have a good time too, but Crete is worth exploring it and you don’t want to miss that chance.

So, rent a car using some of the popular services such as MonzaRentACar and start your beautiful Crete adventure visiting some of these places:

1. Sfakia

This is a wild and yet majestic region in the west part of the island. If you start the drive from Chania, you need to head to Lefka Ori and go to Chora Sfakion. This region offers you great views, so you need your camera to take breathtaking photos. There are a few mountain villages, and since you are there, you can leave the car at the nearest parking spot and visit some of the villages that you can reach only by boat or hiking.

From Sfakia (Chora Sfakion), you can take a boat or ferry to Agia Roumeli. This village has one of the most beautiful beaches on the island and it’s not accessible by road. Another option is to go with a car to the nearest point and to use hiking trails to reach the village.

2. Phalasarna

This is a beach town on a one-hour drive from Chania. During the drive, you will be able to see the sea almost all the time, using the local road. When you arrive there, you will be speechless, because this is a real heaven on the Earth. Sandy beaches, beautiful cliffs, and turquoise water. You will want to stay there forever. And while you still at Phalasarna, you can visit the historical remnants from 333BC, or discover the ancient Classical Greek harbor.

3. The wine roads of Heraklion

Many places on Crete can be reached with public transport services, but it’s easier if you rent a car and use your map, and explore the island by yourself, together with your friends or family. You can visit the famous vineyards of Heraclion, which look almost the same as the Tuscany’s. And there, you can try some of the best authentic Greek wines and visit archaeological sites, especially the Minoan city.

4. Sacred Monastery of Arkadi in Rethymnon

If you want to explore the unique Greek history, this is the place that you need to visit to start your journey. It’s an orthodox monastery that offers you a different spiritual feeling. It has a specific architectural style, which is a mix of Roman and baroque elements. The Arkadi monastery has a great historical value for the Greeks because, during the Ottoman attacks, women and children were hiding there, in the room where the warriors kept the weapon. The powder barrels exploded, killing 846 people inside. This is one of the reasons why Greeks and tourists respect this sacred place many centuries later.

5. Samaria Gorge National Park near Chania

This is one of the most beautiful national parks in Europe, preserving the natural beauty of Crete. You can get there by bus, but you will need to walk longer, so the car is a better option. You can also reach Agia Roumeli, the place that we mentioned before, using the mountain trails of Samaria Gorge. The village named Samaria lies in the middle of the park, but it’s abandoned and no one lives there. You can arrange the visit with the local travel agencies, or you can organize it by yourself.

6. Elafonissi Beach

This beach is an absolute winner for the best beach in Greece and Europe. If you visit Crete, you don’t want to miss it, even though is commercial and many visitors go there daily. The sand is white and pink in some places, and the water is crystal clear, so many people say that it resembles the Caribbean Islands and Maldives. If you were to pick just one thing that you can do while on the Maldives trip that would still be worth the trip, then this is it. Book a Maldives package here and enjoy your holiday in the Maldives. It’s a magnificent spot and the locals do everything to keep its authenticity, never mind the number of tourists that come every day.

7. Spinalonga

Take a car trip to the village of Plaka, located in Mirabello Bay, and then take a boat, that will take to a unique explore trip to the Spinalonga island. What makes this island exceptional? It was fortified in the past, and the fortress is still there, and today is under consideration to be listed as a World Heritage Site. We recommend you to read the book “The Island” by Victoria Hislop while you are on your Crete vacation and you will learn a lot of things about Spinalonga too. Also, you can reach the island from Elounda and Agios Nikolaos.

Crete is once in a lifetime adventure that you will want to repeat every year. You will never have enough days to explore everything this place offers, but you can try to visit as much as you can. And in the evenings, sit in one of the seaside taverns and enjoy the authentic Greek food, drinking some of their best local wines or ouzo. And of course, try to dance some sirtaki with the locals. You’ll enjoy it.