Kissamos Car Rental
Car rental in Kissamos
Kissamos is the base for Balos, Falasarna and Elafonisi, about 45 minutes west of Chania and an hour from Chania Airport. Many local offers need no deposit and no credit card and include zero-excess insurance, but check whether that cover includes unpaved roads such as the Balos track.
Pickup
Kissamos, hotel delivery or Chania Airport
Airport
CHQ, about 1 h
Balos
Last 8 km on a dirt track with a small toll
Best day trips
Balos, Falasarna, Elafonisi, Polyrrinia
The Balos road and your insurance
The last 8 km to Balos is a dirt track from Kaliviani, with a small toll at the entrance. A normal car can manage it slowly, but many rental insurance policies exclude damage on unpaved roads, even with zero excess. Ask the supplier before you go, or take the boat from Kissamos port (Kavonisi) instead.
Drive times from Kissamos
- Kavonisi port (Balos boats): 5 min
- Balos car park: about 45 min including the track
- Falasarna: 20 min
- Polyrrinia: 15 min
- Elafonisi: about 1 h 15
- Chania: 45 min
- Chania Airport: about 1 h
Check live prices and availability
Enter your dates to compare cars, deposits, payment methods and insurance for Kissamos.
Pickup options
Collect at Chania Airport if you arrive by plane, or have the car delivered to your accommodation in Kissamos for the days you need it.
No deposit, no credit card and zero excess
Cars with no deposit, debit-card or cash payment and zero-excess cover are widely offered. Read the exclusions carefully, especially for unpaved roads.
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
Kissamos car rental: questions
Does rental insurance cover the Balos road?
Often not: many policies exclude unpaved roads. Ask the supplier, or take the boat from Kissamos.
How far is Falasarna from Kissamos?
About 20 minutes.
How far is Kissamos from Chania Airport?
About an hour.
Can I rent in Kissamos without a credit card?
Yes, with many local suppliers.
Do I need a 4x4 for Balos?
No, but drive slowly and check your insurance.