After a long flight the last thing you want is to haggle with a driver or wait for a bus. Here is how getting a ride works in Crete.
Pre-booked transfers
This is the easy option. You book online, pay a fixed price and a driver waits at arrivals with your name on a sign. If your flight is late, they wait. Child seats can be added, and for groups a minivan is often cheaper than two taxis. It works great for late arrivals, families and anyone heading to a hotel far from the airport.
Taxis at the airport
Both Heraklion and Chania airports have a taxi rank right outside arrivals. In summer the queue can be long when a few flights land at once. Many rides from the airports have fixed fares, and the list is usually posted at the rank. If not, agree the price before you get in.
Taxis in town
Licensed taxis are grey in Heraklion and blue in Chania and Rethymno, though colours vary by area. Inside towns they use the meter. For longer trips, like a ride to a trailhead or a beach, drivers often quote a fixed price. Ask your hotel or taverna to call one for you, they all have a favourite driver.
When a taxi makes more sense than a car
- One way trips, like getting to the start of the Samaria gorge or picking you up after a long hike
- A night out in Chania or Heraklion old town, where parking is a pain anyway
- A day of wine tasting, so nobody has to stay sober
Read next: Getting around Crete and Car rental.
Updated: 2026-10-29
