One Week in Crete: A Self-Drive Road-Trip Itinerary
Seven days, one rental car, the best of Crete. A flexible self-drive itinerary from the Venetian harbours of the west to the palaces and beaches of the centre.
Written by Artemis Maninakis
Artemis Maninakis is the founder of IQ Car Rentals and runs its fleet from Kolymbari, West Crete — every guide is written from first-hand local experience on Crete's roads.
Seven days is just enough to taste the best of Crete if you have your own car. This is a flexible, west-to-centre self-drive itinerary we'd happily send our own friends on — adjust the pace to suit you. Pick the car up at Chania Airport (or pick it up free at our Kolymbari office) and you're away.
Day 1 — Land & settle in Chania
Collect your car, drop your bags, and spend the evening in Chania's Venetian harbour and old-town lanes. Easy first day — see our Chania old town walking guide.
Day 2 — Western beaches: Falassarna & the far west
Head west to Falassarna for a wide sandy beach and a legendary sunset. (For Balos, take the boat from Kissamos — the final track isn't for rental cars.) Base yourself around Kissamos or back in Chania.
Day 3 — Elafonissi pink-sand lagoon
An early start gets you to Elafonissi before the buses. It's a winding but fully paved drive — bring water and arrive before 10:00 in summer. A perfect lazy beach day.
Day 4 — Mountains & a gorge
Swap the coast for the interior: the Samaria or the gentler Imbros gorge, or the drive up to the Omalos plateau. Hiking Samaria? Read our Samaria Gorge guide for the one-way logistics a car makes easy.
Day 5 — Drive east to Rethymno
Move along the north coast to Rethymno — another gorgeous Venetian old town under a huge fortress, and a great base for the centre. Stop at Lake Kournas or Georgioupoli on the way.
Day 6 — Heraklion & Knossos
Continue to Heraklion for the Palace of Knossos and the superb Archaeological Museum — the heart of Minoan Crete. Afternoon wine villages around Archanes if you have time.
Day 7 — South coast or slow morning, then home
If you fly from Heraklion (HER), squeeze in Matala's caves and beach in the south before departure. Flying from Chania (CHQ)? Enjoy a slow coastal drive back. Tip: a one-way rental (collect at Chania, drop at Heraklion) saves backtracking — see Heraklion vs Chania airport.
Which car for this trip?
For two people, a comfortable automatic compact is ideal on the hills. Families or groups will want an SUV or 7-seat minivan for the luggage and longer legs. All with unlimited kilometres — essential for a week of driving.
FAQ
Is a week enough for Crete? For the western and central highlights, yes. The far east (Agios Nikolaos, Sitia) deserves extra days.
How much driving is it? Comfortable — most days are 30–90 minutes between stops, with the Chania–Heraklion leg about 2 hours.
Should I do a one-way rental? If you fly into one airport and out of the other, yes — it removes the backtrack.
Ready to map it out? See car rental across Crete or book your car and build your own route.
