TIPS & ARTICLE

Five sights to visit in your rental car in Crete

The island of Crete boasts beautiful beaches, deep blue seas and stunning sunsets, but if that’s not enough, there are plenty of sights to visit inland to get a true taste of Crete. Drawing on over 35 years of experience, the team here at Rent car in Crete have picked a few of our favourite places to visit to help you make the most of touring the island in your rental car.

The Loggia in Réthymno

The Loggia was built in the 16th century. At the time it was considered one of the most imposing and impressive buildings in the city – the building was originally used by Venetian aristocrats for important political and economic meetings. At the beginning of the 20th century, during the Greek-Turkish War, the Loggia became a mosque and continued to be used for prayer until 1930. Today the Loggia is a fascinating museum with archaeological treasures that were found all over Crete.

The Old Palace of Káto Zákros

Around 1500 BC, during the Bronze Age in the Minoan-Cretan era, several palaces were built in the Minoan style. One well-preserved palace can still be found in Káto Zákros. The Palace at Zakros was built around 1900 BC. This impressive archeological site is located 50km from Sitia in eastern Crete, approximately 140km from Heraklion. The extensive ruins are located just behind Káto Zákros, 7km from the modern village of the same name and show the complex rooms, ceremonial chambers and sophisticated construction of the architecture of the era.

Hike in the highlands: Oropédio Nídas, Anógia

If you are feeling adventurous and energetic, the beautiful highlands of Crete are a must for visiting in your rental car. Perfect for hiking and exploring, the village of Anógia is situated at an altitude of almost 1,400m and is home to the state-owned tavern and many grazing sheep and goats. From there you can travel further up into the mountains to discover the Ida cave, which was closed to visitors until 2012 to protect its treasures, including gold and silver jewellery, spearheads and seals dating from Minoan to Roman times. It’s well worth a trip.

The Fortézza in Réthymno

Located in the north of Crete is the Fortézza in Réthymno, another 16th Century ruin. Dating back to the Venetian era, this citadel is one of the best-preserved sites on Crete. It is situated right by the sea, so you can easily combine a cultural trip with a spot of beach time when you visit in your rental car.

Chrysoskalítissa Monastery

A 17th century Orthodox Christian monastery, Chrysoskalítissa lies on a steep cliff on the south west coast of Crete, approximately 72km from Chania. Built on 35m high rocks, it overlooks the Libyan Sea. According to local tradition, the name of the monastery is derived from one of the 90 steps that lead there, which is said to be golden (“chryso” in Greek) and visible only to devout Christians. Why not take a trip in your rental car and immerse yourself in its charm and tranquility?

Which is the best rental car for exploring?

For advice on which rental car is best for you to explore Crete give our Customer Service team a call on +30 28340 51505 between 07:00a.m. and 21:00p.m. (MET) 7 days a week or email [email protected] and they will be happy to help you select the select the right car for your adventure from our range of more than 40 different models.