VRENTY CAR is an independent comparison service. The search above is provided by our partner Localrent and lists local agencies side by side; you book directly with the provider. Always confirm the price, insurance and deposit before you pay.
📍 Chania Airport "Daskalogiannis" (CHQ): on the Akrotiri peninsula, roughly 13–15 km east of Chania town in western Crete.
Why Rent a Car at Chania Airport
Chania town is lovely on foot, but the island's west is where you need a car: Elafonisi's pink-tinged sand, the Samaria Gorge trailhead, the south-coast villages and the Gramvousa and Balos peninsula are far apart, and bus timetables are limited. A car also lets you avoid a long drive from Heraklion.
Our advice: base yourself in or near Chania and plan one or two long days to the west and south. For Samaria, ask the agency about parking and the bus return at the end of the gorge.
Drive Times from CHQ
Times are approximate and change a lot with the hour and the season; use a live navigation app for the real figure.
| Destination | Approx. distance | Typical drive |
|---|---|---|
| Chania centre | ~13–15 km | about 20–30 min |
| Rethymno | ~60–65 km | about 50–70 min |
| Kissamos (for Balos) | ~40–45 km | about 45–60 min |
| Elafonisi | ~75–80 km | about 1.75–2.25 hours |
| Sougia / Paleochora | ~70–80 km | about 1.5–2 hours |
| Omalos (Samaria Gorge) | ~40–45 km | about 1 hour |
| Heraklion | ~140 km | about 1.75–2 hours |
Picking Up at CHQ: Meeting Points and Late Arrivals
Hand-over depends on the agency: arrivals area, a car park, a yard with a shuttle, or delivery to a hotel in Chania or on the coast. Use the "Specify location" option in the search to choose, and trust the car card and voucher. If you land late, give your flight number.
Late arrival? Many international flights land late at night. Give the provider your flight number, confirm the meeting point and any out-of-hours fee, and check that the phone number on your voucher answers messages.
Documents and Age
- Valid driving licence, usually held for at least a year; minimum age is typically 21 (23 or 25 for larger or premium cars)
- Valid driving licence; drivers from outside the EU/EEA are generally advised to carry an International Driving Permit (IDP) with their national licence — rules differ by nationality, so ask the agency what it requires before you travel
- Passport and the booking voucher
- A payment method that matches the offer: many agencies block the deposit on a credit card; use the No deposit or No credit card filter if you need an alternative
What Affects the Price of a Rental at CHQ
We do not quote a fixed price here, because rates for the same car change with dates and availability. Look at the live search for your exact days. The main factors:
- Season: July and August, and the Easter and early-September weeks on the islands, are the busiest and dearest; spring and autumn are calmer and usually cheaper, and winter rates are lowest but some island agencies close
- Car class: an automatic SUV or pick-up costs clearly more than a compact car
- Rental length: weekly and longer rentals usually lower the daily rate
- Insurance level: full coverage adds a daily amount but often removes the deposit
- Pick-up and return place: airport and out-of-hours pick-up, delivery and one-way returns can carry fees
When you compare, look at the total with full coverage, not the base rate alone.
Greece Insurance and Deposit Explained
With basic insurance the excess — your share of any damage — can be large and the agency blocks a deposit. Full coverage brings the excess close to zero and, with many local agencies, means no deposit. Typical exclusions are tyres, glass, the underbody, interior damage and lost keys, and the cover is not valid off-road. Motorway tolls, fines, parking and ferry costs are billed separately. Photograph the car with the agent at pick-up and return and make sure all damage is in the acceptance document.
Balos, Elafonisi and Unpaved Roads
The road to Balos leaves the paved road near Kissamos and becomes a gravel track that many agencies exclude from insurance; the usual alternative is a boat from Kissamos port or a walk. The road to Elafonisi is paved but long and winding. Ask the agency which of these roads are covered, and do not drive on tracks the car card excludes.
- Check whether Balos access roads are covered by insurance
- Park only in marked areas; rocks and sand can damage tyres
- Carry water and a charged phone on long mountain drives
Chania Town Parking
The old town and Venetian harbour have narrow, often pedestrian streets, and parking is tight in summer. Use the larger car parks outside the old centre and walk in; ask your hotel where guests park. Rental cars are a common target for fines, so read signs carefully.
Driving Near CHQ: Roads and Habits
Mountain and gorge roads have blind bends, sheep and sometimes no barriers. Winter snow can close high roads in the White Mountains, and the north coast road has heavy summer traffic.
- Traffic drives on the right; give way to traffic already on a roundabout unless signs say otherwise
- Speed limits are signed — typically 50 km/h in towns, around 90 km/h on open roads and up to 110–130 km/h on motorways; cameras and police checks exist, so follow the signs
- Seatbelts are compulsory for all passengers and children need a suitable seat; no handheld phone while driving
- Drink-driving limits are low and penalties are heavy — the safest rule is zero alcohol before driving
- On many main roads slower drivers move onto the hard shoulder to let others pass; do not assume it is always safe to overtake or to stop there
- Parking: white lines usually mean free or allowed, blue lines paid or restricted, yellow lines no parking; fines are charged to the renter
- Do not take the car on unpaved beach tracks or dirt roads: insurance is generally not valid there
- A rental car usually cannot go on a ferry or leave the country unless the agency agrees in writing
Best Day Trips from Chania Airport by Car
Car Rental at Other Greece Pick-Up Points
If your trip starts elsewhere, pick up closer to your first night and save a long drive after landing.