Quick driving comparison Balos access options Is Rethymno a good base for day trips by car? Do I need a special car for Balos? Can I do Samaria Gorge as a simple return drive? Related guides Day Trips Discover the best day trips from Rethymno by car, with practical routes to Arkadi Monastery, Plakias, Preveli Palm Beach, Knossos, Balos Lagoon, and Samaria Gorge. Rethymno sits on Crete’s north coast between the Venetian Harbour and the inland road network of VOAK/E75, so a rental car gives you the fastest access to both the south coast and western Crete. Arkadi Monastery is a 16th-century landmark in central Crete, and the drive from Rethymno is about 23 km with a 30–35 minute travel time on good paved roads. The route suits a small rental such as a Suzuki Swift, Seat Ibiza, Opel Corsa, Kia Rio, or Nissan Micra, and it pairs well with Margarites village for pottery and a lunch stop. The cultural value here is tied to the 1866 revolt, which the Hellenic authorities and EOT regularly reference as a major national heritage site. You can extend this inland loop toward Spili, Gerakari, Potamoi Dam, or the Amari valley if you want a half-day itinerary rather than a single-stop visit. Best for: history, monasteries, pottery, and quiet inland roads Drive time from Rethymno: 30–35 minutes one way Road level: paved, direct, and suitable for economy cars such as a Suzuki Celerio, Citroën-style city hatchback class, or VW Polo 💡 Tip: Combine Arkadi Monastery with the Old Town, Fortezza, and a sunset walk by the Marina Rethymnon so the same day covers both inland culture and the coast. Plakias is one of the easiest south-coast day trips from Rethymno, with roughly 35 km to Plakias and about 45–50 minutes of driving before the gorge descent. The road is paved but winding through Kourtaliotiko Gorge, so drivers heading in a VW Golf, Skoda Octavia, Suzuki Vitara, Seat Arona, or Nissan Juke should plan slower speeds and extra braking distance. Preveli Palm Beach is the key coastal goal, and the approach matters more than the destination because the last access can involve steep steps or a boat transfer from Plakias. If you want to avoid the climb, the off-airport shuttle concept does not apply here; instead, the practical alternative is to park in the broader Plakias area and use the small local boat service when operating. Best for: beach time, gorge scenery, and tavernas Drive time from Rethymno: 45–50 minutes to Plakias Road level: paved but winding, with hairpin turns and wind gusts in the gorge ⚠️ Warning: Balos-style assumptions do not belong on the south coast, and Preveli access still requires stamina because the steps can be steep and uneven in summer heat. The Amari valley offers a slower, greener day trip from Rethymno, with a loop of about 90 km and roughly 2.5–3 hours of driving plus stops. This route works well in a Suzuki Baleno, Toyota CHR Hybrid, VW Caddy, Nissan Evalia, or Nissan Qashqai if you want extra comfort for passengers and cameras. The landscape at the foot of Psiloritis and Mount Ida includes chapels, olive groves, and small villages such as Thronos, where the route rewards unplanned stops. The inland road network is usually manageable, but narrow bends and local traffic require the same caution recommended by the Hellenic Police and the KOK (Κώδικας Οδικής Κυκλοφορίας). Best for: photography, traditional villages, and a half-day scenic loop Drive time from Rethymno: about 2.5–3 hours driving time total Road level: paved, narrow in places, and ideal for patient drivers 💡 Tip: If you want a quieter lunch stop than Rethymno or Adelianos Kampos, use the valley route to reach a village café rather than a seaside taverna. Knossos is the most famous archaeological day trip from Rethymno, and the drive to Heraklion is about 80 km with a typical 1 hour 15 minute journey on VOAK/E75. A compact rental such as an Opel Mokka, Kia Sportage, Toyota Yaris Hybrid, or VW ID.4 is comfortable for this route, and parking is easier if you arrive before mid-morning. Knossos is managed within Greece’s heritage and tourism framework, and visitors often combine the site with the Heraklion Archaeological Museum for the best context on Minoan finds. If you are flying into Heraklion International Airport (HER / LGIR), this route is also a useful first or last day transfer pattern — our Rethymno arrival walkthrough covers the HER pickup flow. Best for: archaeology, museums, and urban sightseeing Drive time from Rethymno: about 1 hour 15 minutes one way Road level: easy motorway driving on E75/VOAK, then urban access near Heraklion Quick driving comparison Day trip Distance from Rethymno Typical one-way time Best vehicle type Main risk Arkadi Monastery 23 km 30–35 min Kia Picanto / VW Polo / Renault Clio Plakias & Preveli 35 km 45–50 min Opel Corsa / Seat Ibiza / Suzuki Swift gorge bends Amari Valley 90 km loop 2.5–3 hrs total Suzuki Vitara / VW Golf / Skoda Octavia narrow roads Knossos 80 km 1h 15 min Toyota Yaris Hybrid / VW ID.4 city traffic Balos car park 110 km 2h 15 min higher-clearance only dirt track Balos Lagoon is one of Crete’s most photographed places, and the drive from Rethymno to Kissamos is about 110 km with a 2 hour 15 minute journey before the final access track. The road from Kissamos to the car park is approximately 8 km of rough, unpaved, rock-strewn terrain, so the route raises excess exposure, deductible risk, and undercarriage damage concerns for standard rental agreements. This is where insurance terms matter most: CDW or Collision Damage Waiver may reduce damage liability, but many contracts exclude tires, glass, roof, and underbody; SCDW, FDW, or zero excess packages can narrow the deductible, yet not every rental company in Crete treats Balos as an approved surface. Major suppliers such as Avis, Hertz, Sixt, Enterprise, Alamo, Budget, National, Avance, Surprice, Greenways, AutoMotoSport, Intercity, Voyager In Crete, Top Rent, CretanCars, Eurocars, Monza Rent A Car, Rethymno-Cars, Star Galaxie, Autoway, Arkadi Rental, MinoanRentACar, and Kydon Rent-a-Car may apply different clauses, so the contract must be checked line by line. ⚠️ Warning: The Balos road can void cover if the car is taken onto an unapproved dirt track, and a roadside damage claim may also trigger a preauthorisation hold until the insurer reviews the case. Best for: iconic scenery, ferry alternatives, and early starts Drive time from Rethymno: about 2 hours 15 minutes to Kissamos Road level: motorway to Kissamos, then rough unpaved access to the lagoon area Balos access options Option Cost profile Risk level Notes Drive to Kissamos and ferry safer for standard rentals Drive to the car park low upfront, higher risk dirt track may exclude cover Organised excursion higher upfront simplest for first-time visitors Samaria Gorge is a serious hiking day, and the standard plan begins with a drive from Rethymno to Omalos and Xyloskalo, which takes about 2 hours one way. The hike ends at Agia Roumeli, and the return usually requires a ferry toward Sougia or Chora Sfakion plus a bus connection back to recover the car, so the logistics are much more complex than a normal round trip. The route is manageable for prepared travellers, but the full-day structure makes it less practical for families, children, or anyone without early starts and good footwear. If you prefer a cleaner transport chain, an organised coach service from Rethymno can eliminate the ferry timing problem and reduce the chance of missing the last connection. Best for: hiking, mountain scenery, and experienced walkers Drive time from Rethymno: about 2 hours to Xyloskalo Road level: paved mountain access, but the day involves ferry and bus coordination afterward Most visitors choose pickup at Chania International Airport (CHQ / LGSA) or Heraklion International Airport (HER / LGIR), and the arrivals terminal or arrivals corridor is where the preauthorisation, driver’s licence check, and insurance upsell usually happen. A compact economy class from AUTOJUMBO, Surprice, Greenways, CretanCars, Avis, Hertz, Sixt, Budget, or Enterprise is often enough for Rethymno, while a family route to Balos or Samaria usually benefits from a higher-clearance model such as a Suzuki S-Cross, Kia Sportage, Nissan Qashqai, or VW ID.4. If your plan centres on western Crete, basing around Platanias just west of Chania shortens the drive to Balos and Samaria, and you can compare car rental in Platanias for that side of the island. The right booking usually balances price, excess, and road plan: a basic rate may look cheaper, but zero excess, full coverage, third-party liability, TP, and PAI can matter more if you plan multiple day trips across Crete. For legal and consumer disputes, Greek travellers can escalate to the General Secretariat of Trade and Consumer Protection, the Hellenic Consumer Hotline 1520, ECC-Net, or the Hellenic Ministry of Transport, and company status checks can be verified through GEMI, TAXISnet, or official registries. Compare Car Rental Deals Is Rethymno a good base for day trips by car? Yes, Rethymno is one of the best bases in Crete because it sits between the north-coast motorway and the south-coast mountain roads. A driver can reach Arkadi in 30–35 minutes, Plakias in about 45–50 minutes, and Knossos in about 1 hour 15 minutes, which makes the town efficient for mixed itineraries. The main caveat is that Balos and Samaria need longer logistics than a standard beach day. Do I need a special car for Balos? Yes, a higher-clearance vehicle is safer for Balos because the final track is rough and unpaved. The access road is about 8 km of rock-strewn terrain, and many standard contracts exclude undercarriage or tire damage on that surface. The exception is a ferry-based visit or an organised excursion, which avoids the dirt track entirely. Can I do Samaria Gorge as a simple return drive? No, Samaria Gorge is not a simple return drive because the hike ends far from the start point. The route requires a car drop-off at Omalos, a hike to Agia Roumeli, a ferry, and then a bus connection back toward the parking area. The caveat is that a bus tour from Rethymno is often easier for travellers who want to avoid the transfer chain. From the Old Town to the road to Arkadi, and from Plakias to the ferry port at Kissamos, Crete rewards travellers who rent with realistic plans and clear insurance terms. Choose the car category that matches your route, confirm the deductible, and check the contract before you leave the arrivals terminal. Browse cars for Rethymno day trips Compare Car Rental Deals Related guides Airport Driving Tips Rethymno Parking Map Guide Compare Car Rental Deals