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Crete is a big island with a lot of nice villages. A rental car is therefore an absolute must. The easiest way is to pick up the car immediately after arrival at Chania or Heraklion airport. You can also pick up the car at a rental office in the area of your stay or have it delivered to your accommodation. The roads in the mountain villages such as Koutouloufari and Piskopiano are very narrow. When an oncoming car arrives it is all equally fitting and measuring. You will certainly have to face the slopes here, but this is all worth it! On the island there are also very good (high) roads and over the coastline you’ll have a beautiful view. Occasionally stopping at a viewpoint completes the road trip. So it’s definitely a GO to rent a car in beautiful Crete! Below some recommendations.

RETHYMNON

Rethymnon is a beautiful harbor town in the west of Crete. The town can be found within an hour’s drive from Chania airport. Delicious dining on the waterfront terrace or strolling through the narrow, authentic streets in the inner city, Rethymnon is the bomb.

There are many restaurants and terraces in Rethymnon. The Sofokli Venizelou (the main street of Rethymnon) with dozens of restaurants / shops leads you to the port of the city. Where the restaurants and shops are settled on the left, there is a long sandy beach on the right.

On the boulevard the tourist pays the prices for a snack / drink as we are used to in the Netherlands. When you walk into the old city center you will soon notice that it is cheaper.

Fortezza fortress is located at the end of the Sofokli Venizelou. In history this served as a shelter for the Cretans. The fort was not very useful, since the Turks occupied Rethymnon quite quickly. You can visit Fortezza. Inside you can see the Sultan Ibrahim Mosque, an open-air theater and remains of buildings. There is also an Archaeological museum. Not interested in history? The fort also gives you a beautiful view of Rethymnon.

Piskopiano, Koutouloufari and Old-Hersonissos

These mountain villages are about 1-2 km away from the “oh oh so infamous Cherso and Malia”. It is a lot calmer in these villages than in Chersonissos, but you can reach the busy cityin no time if you wish.

You will see authentic Crete here. Small old houses, stray cats and dogs and seniors with a curved back and a walking stick make these mountain villages beautiful! The locals are very helpful and the restaurant owners are not intrusive to get you on their terrace. In these villages they let the tourists go their own way and partly because of that there is a calm and relaxed atmosphere.

Piskopiano, Koutouloufari and Old-Chersonissos are recommended for couples, relax seekers and young people who do not specifically go for a party holiday in high season, but who want to have this possibility within reach.

AGIOS NIKOLAOS

Agios Nikolaos is an hour’s drive from Heraklion. It is a beautiful town with a beautiful inland lake where several boats are moored. Colored buildings can be found around the lake. This is where most of the restaurants are which also immediately brings a nice view! There are many souvenir shops in the side streets. These streets also have some height differences. There are both sandy and pebble beaches in Agios Nikolaos. Agios Nikolaos is known as one of the most beautiful beach resorts in Crete.

ELOUNDA

The resort of Elounda is approximately 10 km from Agios Nikolaos. The village is lively and has an old center with different types of restaurants and dozens of shops. Elounda is located near the dam to the Spingalonga peninsula. There are 2 mills from the start of the dam. From here you have a beautiful view of Elounda and Spinalonga.

AMOUDARA

Amoudara is a small village with a few restaurants and small shops. Very typical of Amoudara is the huge sandy beach, spread over about 5 kilometers. There are many beach clubs where you can rent a bed, but there are also private beaches.

There is not much else to do in the village itself. If you want to go out in the area, a rental car is really recommended when you stay in Amoudara.

CHERSONISSOS

From Chersonissos we were only allowed to taste the nightlife. The nightlife of Chersonissos is nice and quiet in the preseason. There are many clubs open and it has a cozy atmosphere. From a beach club to a disco or do you prefer to walk down the street for souvenirs or have a quiet bite somewhere on the water, it is possible in Chersonissos. You can stay here in the early or late season when it is quieter.

CHANIA

This is the second largest city of Crete. You can walk here around for hours. Let yourself be carried through the winding and authentic streets of Chania or treat yourself to a drink in one of the many taverns where you have a beautiful view of the picturesque harbor. Venetian, Turkish and Jewish remains can be admired in the old city. There are also churches, monasteries and archaeological ruins in the area.
If you want to visit the beach from Chania, you can find it at Platanias and Agia Marina.