Whenever we travel somewhere new, the first order of business is figuring out how we’ll get around, which inevitably leads us to research whether the country/island has ridesharing apps.
So, is there Uber in Crete? What about Bolt or other ridesharing apps?
Unfortunately, there is no Uber in Crete, including the major cities of Heraklion, Chania, and Rethymno. There are also no alternative ridesharing apps available in Crete, so you’ll have to find another way to get around.
Luckily, there are a few other options for exploring the island. You can rent your own car (which is what we did), use public taxis, take local buses, or book tours and private transfers.
Why is there No Uber in Crete, Greece?
Uber has been around for a while in Greece’s two largest cities, Athens and Thessaloniki. But it’s still working hard to expand to other destinations and is finally making some headway.
Uber announced plans in 2023 to expand to Santorini, Mykonos, Rhodes, and Corfu. So far, the rideshare app has fully rolled out its services in Santorini, Mykonos, and Corfu. However, it’s still operating on sort of a hybrid basis with local taxi drivers in Rhodes.
There has been no announcement about Uber expanding to Crete, but we could see the largest island in Greece being on the shortlist.
The good news is that there are a few other convenient and affordable ways to get around Crete, such as public taxis, buses, and car rentals.
Uber Alternatives in Crete
The closest thing to a ridesharing app is WelcomePickups, where you can pre-arrange taxis and transfers around the island, but there is no way to hail a cab from your phone on demand.
WelcomePickups is just the tip of the iceberg, though. There are so many ways to get around Crete.
You can hail a local taxi on the street, use the island’s extensive bus system, or join group tours.
However, if you’re like us and want more flexibility to explore the island at your own pace, you can book a rental car, hire a scooter, or rent an ATV!
Each transportation option has its pros and cons, so the most important thing is to be prepared and research in advance.
Whether you’re planning a day trip to one of Crete’s gorgeous beaches or a week-long road trip across the island, choosing the right transportation can make or break your holiday.
Is Bolt Active in Crete?
Bolt is also not available in Crete, but the Europe-based rideshare app is another likely choice for rolling out their app in the future.
Is Lyft Active in Crete?
Like Uber and Bolt, Lyft is also unavailable in Crete, and there is no expectation that it will begin services here anytime soon.
How to Get Around Crete (Without Uber)
With no Uber in Crete or alternative ridesharing services available on the island (like Lyft or Bolt), travelers are often forced to rely on public taxis, buses, or car rentals to get around. Here are six alternative ways to get around Crete.
1. Use Local Taxis
It may surprise you, but public taxis in Crete are the most expensive way to get around. We would only use taxis in Crete to get to/from the airport or for shorter transfers.
While taxis are reliable and convenient, they are way too expensive to travel between cities. For example, a taxi from Heraklion to Malia (roughly 36km) costs €45-50. Similarly, a taxi from Chania to Heraklion will cost over €150.
Even if you split that between 4 people, it’s still ridiculous.
With that said, each city/town in Crete has a taxi stand available for travelers who need a ride, or you can even try to hail one directly from the street.
But to be honest, we never use local taxis in Crete unless we’re going somewhere less than 10 kilometers away.
2. Reserve a Taxi Online (Private Transfers)
If you need a quick transfer to the neighboring city, the easiest option is to use this Crete taxi app.
Although we have already established that there is no Uber in Crete, there is one taxi app called WelcomePickups. They’ve partnered with local taxi agencies to help travelers schedule rides quickly and easily with just a few taps on their phones.
It’s a really reputable service, and while the prices are still a little higher than we’d like, at least we know that the small surcharge is paying for door-to-door service and the ability to schedule our ride ahead of time.
3. Rent a Car in Crete (*Our Choice*)
Since there is no Uber in Crete and taxis are ridiculously expensive, you should really consider renting your own car!
Renting a car is a VERY common way for travelers to get around Crete. The island is huge, and going on a Crete road trip offers some of the most scenic views in the Greek Islands. We drove from Chania to Chora Sfakion, the Rethymno, Plakias, Matala, Heraklion, and Agios Nikolaos.
Even after spending nearly 100 hours in the car, we still weren’t tired of driving around Crete.
There are quite a few reputable car rental agencies in Crete, and we’ve found rental cars for as little as $20/day. That’s the price of just one taxi from Chania to Stavros Beach!
Where to Rent a Car in Crete
If you are planning to rent a car in Crete, you will have the best luck finding a car in Chania, Heraklion, or Rethymno. These are the cities where most of the rental agencies have offices. You can also pick the car up at the airport to save time and money on an airport transfer.
You’ll notice plenty of large, multinational agencies like AVIS or Hertz, but we ended up using a local agency called Rental Center Crete and had a really good experience. We rented a car for the entire month, and it was clean, reliable, and had excellent gas mileage.
But if you want to check and compare prices from all over the island, we love checking out Discover Cars. They are a legit rental car aggregate that consistently finds us the best prices and offers complete insurance for a small fee.
4. Renting a Scooter in Crete
Another way to explore the island of Crete on your own time and at your own pace is by renting a scooter.
This is actually more expensive than renting a car ($40-60/day), which doesn’t make sense…but maybe it’s because there is less demand and it’s a more unique experience.
A scooter is a very fun way to travel and makes finding a parking spot way less time-consuming.
You’ll find a ton of rental shops in Chania, Rethymno, Heraklion, Malia, Agios Nikolaos, and even smaller cities of Crete. They offer everything from small 125cc scooters to larger street bikes and 450cc off-road ATVs.
Some popular rental companies in Crete include Crete Royal, EuroDriver, and Crete Bike Rentals. The best online tool for comparing prices is Bikesbooking.com!
The only difficulty with renting a scooter or ATV in Crete is that it’s illegal to take them onto the main highways. This means that it takes a lot longer to get from one city to the next. Some routes (like Chania to Plakias) seem impossible to drive without using highways.
5. Taking the Bus in Crete
Intercity buses go almost everywhere in Crete. This option is way less flexible than renting your own transportation. Still, if you need a quick ride from Chania to Heraklion or between other larger cities in Crete, frequent buses are available.
The Heraklion Bus Station has routes to almost everywhere in Eastern Crete, like Agios Nikolaos, Lassithi, or Agia Galini.
The bus station in Chania has routes to most of our favorite places to visit in Western Crete, like Seitan Limani, Elafonisi Beach, Samaria Gorge, and Chora Sfakion.
If you want to visit more remote areas of beaches, there are only a couple of buses each day (even in high season), so plan ahead and make sure that you have a bus ticket back to your hotel. You can book bus tickets in person or through the official KTEL Website.
6. Day Tours with Transportation Included
Travelers taking a short trip to Crete might not even need to worry about booking their own transportation. Chania, Rethymno, and Heraklion are very walkable cities, and there are loads of day tours to the top attractions outside of the cities.
These tours usually include transportation in the price.
Additionally, booking a tour takes much of the guesswork out of visiting. You don’t have to worry about how to get there or where to buy tickets, and you get a personal guide for the experience.
Here are some of the most popular day trip options in Crete:
Samaria Gorge Day Tour
Samaria River Gorge is one of the most famous places in all of Europe, and it’s a staple on most Chania itineraries.
This is the largest gorge on the island and offers some of the most dramatic views in Crete, eventually leading to Agia Roumeli Beach, where you can spend the afternoon relaxing and soaking your feet in the cool Mediterranean Water.
It is possible to visit Samaria Gorge on your own, but it’s a long journey with many transfers. You have to catch a bus to the trailhead, then find a ferry from Agia Roumeli to Chora Sfakion, and finally, a bus back to Chania. It’s a long day with a lot of logistics.
FYI – You can only visit between May and October (winter has a high risk of flash floods).
Balos Beach & Gramvoussa Island Boat Tour
If you are looking for a way to explore the natural beauty of Crete from Chania, then a boat tour to Balos Beach & Gramvoussa Island is perfect for you.
This full-day tour takes you on an unforgettable journey to two of Crete’s most beautiful and iconic destinations. Balos Beach is a stunning white sand islet surrounded by turquoise waters that leads out to a massive peninsula, while Gramvoussa is an uninhabited island with a beach and scenic ocean views.
Be sure to book the tour with transportation included. We accidentally booked a transfer to the Kissimos Port that did not include the boat ticket and were very disappointed.
Most people travel to Balos Beach & Gramvoussa Island from Chania, but it is also possible to book a tour from Heraklion or a tour from Rethymno.
Agios Nikolaos & Spinolonga Island Day Tour
One of the most popular day trips from Heraklion is visiting Agios Nikolaos, the central port city of Lasithi (East Crete). There are many wonderful cafes and restaurants here, along with pristine beaches and the historical island of Spinolonga.
This Agios Nikolaos tour includes a guide for the day and all transportation, but you are responsible for the entrance fee to Spinolonga Island.
Closing Thoughts
If you are planning a trip to the Greek Islands, it’s unfortunate that there is no Uber in Crete or other ridesharing services available.
But that doesn’t mean getting around the island is stressful. There are A LOT of different options, from taking a bus from Chania Bus Station to booking taxis and day tours to places like Balos Beach.
But we always tell people to rent a car in Crete. It honestly made our trip 1000% more enjoyable!
We hope this has helped you weigh all the options and determine the best way to get around Crete this summer.
