Rethymno Car Rental
Car rental in Rethymno
Rethymno sits in the middle of the north coast, about an hour from Chania Airport and 1 hour 15 from Heraklion Airport. With a car you can reach the south coast (Plakias, Preveli) in under an hour. Many local offers need no deposit and no credit card and include zero-excess insurance, often with hotel delivery.
Pickup
Town office, hotel delivery or either airport
Airports
Chania ~1 h, Heraklion ~1 h 15
Old town
Restricted; park outside
Best day trips
Arkadi, Preveli, Plakias, Spili, Margarites
Airport or Rethymno pickup?
Both airports are about the same distance. Choose the airport that has the better flight, and pick up there. If you only want a car for a few days, local suppliers can deliver it to your hotel in Rethymno or along the coast to Platanes, Adelianos Kampos and Skaleta.
Drive times from Rethymno
- Arkadi monastery: about 30 min
- Margarites and Eleutherna: 30–35 min
- Spili: 35 min
- Plakias: about 45 min
- Preveli: about 50 min
- Bali and Panormo: 25–30 min
- Chania: about 1 h
- Heraklion: about 1 h 15
Check live prices and availability
Enter your dates to compare cars, deposits, payment methods and insurance for Rethymno.
Parking in Rethymno
The old town is largely closed to cars. Use the paid car parks along the seafront and near the Fortezza. Hotels along the beach strip usually have their own parking.
No deposit, no credit card and zero excess
Many Rethymno suppliers rent without a deposit, accept debit cards or cash and include zero-excess cover. Check the conditions on the exact car before booking.
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
Rethymno car rental: questions
Which airport is closer to Rethymno?
Chania is slightly closer (about 1 hour); Heraklion is about 1 hour 15.
Can a car be delivered to my hotel in Rethymno?
Often yes, with local suppliers.
Where can I park in Rethymno?
In paid car parks along the seafront and near the Fortezza.
How far is Preveli from Rethymno?
About 50 minutes by car.
Can I rent in Rethymno without a credit card?
Yes, with many local suppliers.