Heraklion Car Rental
Car rental in Heraklion
Heraklion is Crete's capital and the hub for central and eastern Crete. You can collect a car at the airport (5 km), the port or a city office, and many local offers come with no deposit, no credit card and zero excess. Driving in the centre is slow and parking is scarce, so pick up when you are ready to leave the city.
Pickup
Airport, port, city office or hotel
Airport
HER, about 5 km from the centre
City driving
Busy; use paid car parks
Best day trips
Knossos, Archanes, Matala, Lasithi plateau
Choosing where to collect
If you spend your first days in the city, you do not need a car: the centre, museum and harbour are walkable and Knossos is a short bus or taxi ride. Collect the car when you start touring, from a city office, by hotel delivery or back at the airport. Ferry arrivals can pick up directly at the port.
Drive times from Heraklion
- Knossos: 15 min
- Archanes and the wine villages: 20–30 min
- Hersonissos: 30 min
- Malia: 40 min
- Lasithi plateau: about 1 h 15
- Agios Nikolaos: about 1 h
- Phaistos and Matala: about 1 h 15
- Rethymno: about 1 h 15
- Chania: about 2 h 15
Check live prices and availability
Enter your dates to compare cars, deposits, payment methods and insurance for Heraklion.
Parking in Heraklion
The historic centre has pedestrian streets and limited parking. Use paid car parks near the centre and walk. Hotels outside the centre often have their own parking; ask before booking.
Which car to choose
A small or compact car suits most trips. For the south coast and the Asterousia mountains, roads are winding but paved; a car with a bit more power helps on the climbs.
No deposit, no credit card and zero excess
Many Heraklion suppliers offer cars with no deposit and accept debit cards or cash; zero-excess insurance is widely available. Check each condition on the exact car, and read the exclusions.
Documents and driving rules in Crete
- Licence: valid licences from the EU/EEA, the UK, the USA, Canada and Australia are recognised in Greece for visitors. Some rental suppliers or their insurers may still ask for an International Driving Permit, and a licence not in Latin script may need one, so check the rental terms before you travel.
- Age: most suppliers ask for a minimum age of 21–23 and a licence held for at least a year; drivers under 25 may pay a young-driver fee.
- Driving: on the right. Typical limits are 50 km/h in towns and 70–90 km/h on the north-coast highway (follow the signs). The alcohol limit is 0.5 g/l, and 0.2 g/l for drivers in their first two years.
- No tolls on Crete. Fuel stations are frequent on the north coast but sparse in the mountains and on the south coast, and many village stations close on Sunday afternoons.
For how deposits, payment methods and insurance excess work, see no deposit, no credit card and zero excess car rental in Crete.
Car rental across Crete
Tours & experiences
Heraklion car rental: questions
Do I need a car in Heraklion city?
Not for the centre. Rent when you start touring outside the city.
Can I pick up a rental car at Heraklion port?
Yes, many suppliers deliver to the port for ferry arrivals.
How far is Knossos from Heraklion?
About 5 km, roughly 15 minutes.
Can I rent without a credit card in Heraklion?
Yes, with many local suppliers; check the payment terms on your car.
Where should I park in Heraklion?
In paid car parks near the centre, then walk.