Chania car rental guide
Top 10 Car Rental Companies in Chania
The best car rental companies in Chania are Sixt, Hertz, Avis. Prices start from €20/day for an economy car, the minimum age is 21, and airport pickup adds about 13%.
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Ranked comparison
Top 10 rental companies in Chania
Ranked by customer rating, price transparency and pickup convenience. Each opens a pre-filled search.
#1
Sixt
Editor’s pickFull-to-fullUnlimited mileageDeposit from €300Min age 21Free cancellationAirportDowntown
From€22/day
all-in estimate
View Sixt deal
#2
Hertz
Full-to-fullUnlimited mileageDeposit from €300Min age 21Free cancellationAirportDowntown
From€23/day
all-in estimate
View Hertz deal
#3
Avis
Top ratedFull-to-fullUnlimited mileageDeposit from €300Min age 21Free cancellationAirportDowntown
From€22/day
all-in estimate
View Avis deal
#4
Budget
Full-to-fullUnlimited mileageDeposit from €250Min age 21Free cancellationAirport
From€20/day
all-in estimate
View Budget deal
#5
Europcar
Full-to-fullUnlimited mileageDeposit from €300Min age 21Free cancellationAirportDowntown
From€21/day
all-in estimate
View Europcar deal
#6
Enterprise
Full-to-fullUnlimited mileageDeposit from €300Min age 21Free cancellationAirportDowntown
From€24/day
all-in estimate
View Enterprise deal
#7
Alamo
Full-to-fullUnlimited mileageDeposit from €300Min age 21Free cancellationAirport
From€21/day
all-in estimate
View Alamo deal
#8
National
Full-to-fullUnlimited mileageDeposit from €300Min age 21Free cancellationAirportDowntown
From€25/day
all-in estimate
View National deal
#9
Avance
Local pickFull-to-fullUnlimited mileageDeposit from €200Min age 21Free cancellationAirportDowntown
From€17/day
base rate
View Avance deal
Prices are indicative market estimates · Last checked 2026-07-20 · 2 public sources (DiscoverCars + market data)
Price guide
Prices by car type in Chania
| Car type | From / day | Example | Seats |
|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | €20 | Hyundai i10 | 4 |
| Compact | €25 | Opel Corsa | 5 |
| SUV | €40 | Dacia Duster | 5 |
| Minivan (7-seat) | €55 | Volkswagen Touran | 7 |
| Luxury | €82 | Mercedes-Benz C-Class | 5 |
Pickup locations
Where to pick up a car in Chania
Airport — Chania International Airport "Ioannis Daskalogiannis" (CHQ)
About 14km from the city; the airport bus (~€2.50, 20–30 min) stops running after 00:30, so late-night arrivals usually need a taxi (~€25–28, with waits over 20 minutes in peak summer).
Downtown — Chania Old Town
Desks near the Venetian harbor and Old Town serve travelers exploring on foot before day trips to Balos, Elafonisi or Samaria Gorge — driving inside the fully pedestrian Old Town isn’t possible at all.
Fees
Fees at a glance
| Fee | Typical amount | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Airport surcharge | ~13% of base rate | CHQ airport pickup |
| Young-driver fee (21–24) | €15–25/day | Drivers under 25 |
| Additional driver | €7–12/day | Per extra driver |
| One-way fee (Chania ↔ Heraklion/Rethymno) | €60–120 | Different pickup/drop-off city |
| Refundable deposit | €300–500 | Standard hold at pickup |
Local intelligence
Things to know before renting in Chania
- Chania Airport (CHQ) sits about 14km from the city — the bus (~€2.50, 20–30 min) stops running after 00:30, so a late-night arrival usually means a taxi (~€25–28, with waits over 20 minutes in peak summer).
- The Old Town is fully pedestrian — the municipality installed retractable bollards at 16 access points to enforce it completely, not a soft restriction.
- Free parking is available at Talos Square (5-minute walk from the harbor, fills fast in summer) and the Koum Kapi dirt lot (usually has space); a Park & Ride opened at Kladissos in June 2024, about 10 minutes from the Old Town.
- A common broker scam offers a cheap online price (~€15/day) with third-party "Full Protection" insurance that gets rejected at the local counter, forcing a high credit-card deposit instead — book directly with a recognized provider and buy the damage waiver from them.
- Avoid the EuroMart ATM near the harbor — it’s known locally for unusually high fees; use a regular bank ATM instead.
- Rental prices swing sharply by season — from about $8/day in February (56% below the yearly average) to $42/day in August (110% above it).
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about renting a car in Chania
Do I need a car in Chania?
Not for the Old Town — it’s fully walkable and largely closed to cars anyway. But for day trips to Balos, Elafonisi, Falassarna or Samaria Gorge, a car is the practical option, since the KTEL bus network covers some but not all of these routes conveniently.
Chania, Rethymno or Heraklion — where should I base myself in Crete?
Chania is beautiful and romantic but sits 5–6 hours round trip from Knossos. Rethymno is centrally located and a balanced, "safe choice" base for the whole island. Heraklion is the most practical for airport and ferry access, but feels more like a working city than a resort town.
Where can I park near Chania Old Town?
Talos Square (free, 5-minute walk from the harbor) fills up fast in summer; the Koum Kapi dirt lot usually has space. There’s also a paid Blue Zone using the iPark Chania app, and a Park & Ride opened at Kladissos in June 2024, about 10 minutes from the Old Town.
How do I avoid car rental scams in Chania?
A common trick is a cheap online broker price with third-party "Full Protection" insurance that gets rejected at the local counter, forcing a high deposit instead. Book directly with a recognized provider, buy any damage waiver straight from them, and photograph the car and fuel gauge before you drive off.
How do I get from Chania airport to the Old Town?
The airport bus costs about €2.50 and takes 20–30 minutes, but it stops running after 00:30. For late-night arrivals, a taxi runs about €25–28, with waits over 20 minutes possible during peak summer.
What’s the cheapest and most expensive time to rent a car in Chania?
February is cheapest, averaging around $8/day (56% below the yearly average), while August is the most expensive at around $42/day (110% above it).
