Travel Advice/Ταξιδιωτικές Οδηγίες A message to any tourists who may be here
If you rent a car or are planning to rent a car, please read previous posts about driving in Crete.
I am tired of driving and seeing ambulances stuck behind clearly terrified drivers on the National Road going 40kmh with a trail of cars behind getting more frustrated and doing more idiotic things like overtaking on bends. You are causing horrible problems not just for ambulances, but commuters, logistics, buses and farmers.
If you are scared to drive on the National Road, please simply don't drive on it. If you're only doing 40kmh, it won't take you any longer to drive on other roads without a queue of 30 cars behind you.
If you are a tourist who is comfortable on Greek roads, but your terrible rental Hundai i10 won't go over 70kmh, please take note of what other drivers do and pull right in to the side so other vehicles can pass safely. There is no need for you to be driving in the middle of the road. Or worse, swerving back and forth.
Also something I have seen more and more of in the last 3 years. PLEASE stop getting in your car after you have been drinking. Sure it was "only a few beers with lunch". It's very obvious and it's incredibly selfish.
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u/Slartitartfast 9d ago
I loved driving in Crete, I can feel your frustration even as a visitor - going over mountain roads and drivers not moving over is super frustrating. It's strange coming from a country where you do not speed to a country where speed limits seem to be entirely optional.
One question - I was on the national road one day and an ambulance was behind. I pulled to the side to let it go but it didn't pass, it seemed to just sit in the flow of traffic with the lights on. I was v confused.
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u/Otherwise-Remote7347 8d ago
I live in the mountains in southern Italy, and the roads are basically the same as in Crete, so I’m used to driving on this kind of roads (and where speed limits are just a suggestion). It’s really frustrating to get stuck behind people who aren’t used to mountain driving and not only go at 20 km/h, but don’t even bother to get the hell out of the way when they see they’re causing kilometers of traffic. It almost makes you want to ram them. /s
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u/Slartitartfast 8d ago
Yeah, I grew up driving country roads and loved the winding Cretan ones. We were told 'if people want you to move, they'll tailgate you, it's fine just move over,' but none of the other rental drivers (of which there were many) seemed to know this!
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u/blackmafia13 Heraklion 2d ago
Went on a moto trip to Apennine mountains earlier in August... There, too, I came across a tourist being in the MIDDLE OF THE F*CKING ROAD, going 25 with an almost km queue behind them.. people, if aren't comfortable in driving on these roads then don't. Take a bus or a taxi... Locals, especially in regions where speed limits exist because European law demands it. Locals aren't obliged to follow your pace, let them pass
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u/Otherwise-Remote7347 9d ago
I am a tourist who was in Crete in June with a rental car. I was the first to get annoyed when I saw all these incapable drivers, to the point that I couldn’t imagine what hell it must be for the locals to drive those roads every day. You have my deepest sympathy. I just hope I didn’t get caught by any speed cameras, because some of the speed limits are absolutely ridiculous, especially on the National Road...
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u/ClubAgile 9d ago
I've been driving in Crete for 7 years now. Driving too slow is not the answer. As was said, drive the same speed as locals and if there is someone driving behind you, go to the shoulder to give them way. Also, be careful on the bends, there might be someone overtaking in opposite direction.
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u/AlGekGenoeg 9d ago
Crete has 4 types of drivers, from least dangerous to most dangerous:
Greeks that drive like a Greek 😎
Tourists that drive like a Greek (me) 🥸
Tourists that drive like a tourist 🤕
Greeks that drive like a tourist ☠️
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u/Ruvio00 9d ago
Farmers in a beat up pickup truck ☄️
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u/AlGekGenoeg 9d ago
If they drive like a Greek 🤷🏻♂️ (quick near the maximum a road can handle, knowing where to go and expecting other drivers)
But if they drive like a tourist 😬(stopping all of a sudden to take a picture of the view/checking up on goats or throwing it in reverse because they missed an exit without checking the rear view)
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u/stefavag 8d ago
It has one more, called 'Petsakes'.
They are the ones in black Navarras and Hilluxes and they are an entirely indigenous species, not to be found anywhere else in Greece.
Just let them do their thing and go peacefully your way, they are not to be messed with.
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u/Solly6788 5d ago
If you are a tourist and drive like a Greek you end up in a traffic accident.
Cretans know when a curve is comming and that's why can drive fast. As a tourist you don't know that and there are also not always signs that tell you that a curve is coming.
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u/Time_Cash_7677 9d ago
I had car play and honestly the amount of times the speed limit was switching over and over again on the same straight of road (and it being really low for the kind of road was) was so confusing. I just gave up and matched the speed of the car infront and looked for cameras. Even then i was getting overtaken on bends and people flying past on cameras. Crete does have some of the worlds shittiest and impatient drivers.
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u/blackmafia13 Heraklion 2d ago
Yes you are the prime example of "take a bus". VOAK's speed limits are outdated and nobody bothers since a new road is under construction. That's why everyone says "follow the traffic". If you were following a tourist who was going 50 on a stretch of the road everyone else is going 90 then yeah, they will overtake you, and maybe you should overtake as well
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u/almostmorning 7d ago
I'm SO sorry to hear that!
I'm on your beautiful island right now (no car, just buses) and I can commemorate: I'm from the Austrian alps and we have heaps of tunnels. Limit is 80, but locals usually go 90. You cannot overtake there! And then there are all these campers coming from Italy, being terrified of 10km long tunnels and go 50, 40 or just 30 kmh. While the ambulance is stuck behind and this is the only way to get to the hospital... seriously. Some people should not be allowed to drive outside their home district. There should be an extra class for this...
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u/illsense78 9d ago
Having recently driven from hersonissos to rethymnon it feels that the speed limit changes randomly and the signage is limited and can be hidden behind trees. It's no wonder that some people find it challenging to know what the speed is as such would rather play it safe rather than getting in trouble with the police.
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u/WhyWasIShadowBanned_ 9d ago
Apparently OP and Cretans generally drive over speed limit and blame tourists not the infrastructure.
The ops argument of people renting not powerful enough car is ridiculous. It’s normal on Greek Islands to go around in cars like Fiat panda. Those cars are even better for narrow roads and are fully capable on doing 160km/h on highway.
I spent few days driving around the Island and I’ve never seen a car except trucks going below a speed limit. Unless I see a video evidence of people notoriously doing 40 in 90, Im convinced that he complains about someone doing 50 on a turn where the speed limit is 60. Because this is more common on national road there than OP wants to admit.
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u/Ruvio00 9d ago
You spent a few days driving here? Oh my god that totally matches up to all the Cretans here who have been driving for decades.
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u/WhyWasIShadowBanned_ 9d ago
How many decades do you need to drive a single road to notice speed limits on it? Usually you just have to do this once. There were plenty of speed limits that I personally found ridiculous.
Also when you say stuff like i10 can’t drive faster than 70km/h it’s clear that you’re exaggerating.
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u/PM_ME_NAUTILUS 9d ago
Haha funny im on crete rn and i drove around 110km/h on road "90" from rythomnon or whatever, only slowing down for those traffic cams where you drive 60.
I freaking love locals going to the right to let faster cars go by. So efficiënt!
Love your island! Im sad to leave in 2 weeks :{
Your island is amazing, food is great, please take care of it!
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u/RegretSerious3438 8d ago
Hi! We were going in mid October for a few weeks. Do you have any recommendations for things to do?
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u/PM_ME_NAUTILUS 8d ago
There are so many things haha, but here are a few things i really liked;
Arkadi monastery is small but beautifull and cheap (Restaurant next to it has nice people but food is lackluster, drinks good.)
Lake Kournas if you dont wanna go to the sea, this is a great alternative. Free parking and free sunbeds here!
if you want to try hiking, a nice easy start would be Plakias bay (start to the right off plakias bay hotel, also free parking there) Has great views over the whole bay.
if you drive from Rethimnon towards Plakias you come across a large canyon, beautifull to drive past/take pictures and if you want you can also hike there! Not sure what the name is exactly.
Katholiko Monastery, north of Chania, is a lovely site. Its a bit of a walk/hike though, so come prepared!
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u/Kooky-Temperature397 9d ago
DONT RENT A CAR, just take a bus it's so much easier and not as expensive. Plus no hassle
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u/InvestigatorLost1199 8d ago
This. convinced me not to rent a car in the Peloponnese. Yep. I was afraid just riding WITH my greek friends in those mountains.
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u/FewDevice2218 8d ago
I am Greek.
I drive car usually and I race motorcycles on gravel, enduro, and attend asphalt track days. Also I travel on motorcycles for weeks at a time in Europe, Asia, and parts of Africa.
I am well acquainted with distinct driving patterns and usually acclimatise easily.
I have only visited Crete once the last ten years. I rented a car and drove around the whole island with my wife. I am happy we didn’t get involved in an accident. I consider it to be purely chance. We had a great time but we will not go back. The chances of being involved in a traffic accident, or witness one are too high for comfort. Especially on vacation where the whole idea is to relax.
Live and let live. They can drive as they please, but I do not need to be there.
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u/LakeTwo 8d ago
From US and have driven a 9pax van several weeks around Crete. It’s no more difficult than many other places. Just drive like everyone else and it’s fine. The driving “style” is a bit more flexible than many places so you sort of have to go with the flow. TBH having driven in most European countries though Greece is one of the most challenging places to drive in Europe.
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u/vex0x529 7d ago
This is not a problem if you just simply drive slightly to the right in the lane. I learned this from the locals. Seeing two cars passing each other in the same lane was the norm when I was there.
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u/Beautiful-Ad5662 7d ago
Was in crete several years ago and indeed, I've seen some terrified tourists. Mostly people that are clueless about narrow mountain roads. Local, howewer, are a bit reckless.
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u/ftbbbbbb 7d ago
I've driven around Crete a fair bit (from the UK) all I'll say is it's not as bad as driving around Albania.
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u/Ok-Director8647 6d ago
If you have a gathering line of cars behind you just pull in, stop, and let them all pass. Then pull back out, repeat as often as you need. Pulling in a few of times is only going to add minimal time to your journey.
No need for anyone to go at a speed they don’t feel comfortable at, no need for people being stuck at a speed that’s unnecessarily slow for them.
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u/toocontroversial_4u Chania 9d ago
Funny you say this now because the new speed limit on the national road is 50km/h so I guess we'll all have to endure it.
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u/Ruvio00 9d ago
From when? I have seen nothing about that.
Do you mean where there are roadworks?
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u/beardedkomodo 9d ago
Μαλακίες λέει πρέπει να είναι bot. 90 είναι
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u/Ruvio00 9d ago
κι εγώ το ίδιο νόμιζα
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u/Embarrassed_Lake_337 9d ago
Το όριο ταχύτητας δεν είναι το ίδιο σε όλο το μήκος του ΒΟΑΚ. Πέρα από κόμβους που πέφτει στα 50, υπάρχουν πολλά σημεία - ειδικά στο δυτικό τμήμα - που το όριο είναι 60 ή 80, ή ακόμα και 40 λίγο πριν το Καστέλι Κισσάμου. Αν οδηγάτε «νομίζοντας» μάλλον θα πρέπει να δίνετε περισσότερη σημασία στα σήματα.
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u/Arcbishop11 9d ago
Καλά αδερφε ειναι κλασικοί κρητικοί οπεκεπε που σκοτώνονται κανα δύο τη μέρα σε τροχαία. Οταν ειχα πάει κρητη κ ακολουθούσα πιστά τα όρια εχω εφαρμογή δεν περιγράφεται το τι βρισίδι άκουγα. Οδηγούν σαν Πακιστανοί- Αιγύπτιοι-σαρακηνοι. Μετα κλαίγονται για τους δρόμους που πάνε με 100 κ δεν έχουν μια λάμπα οτι και καλα φταίει ο δρόμος που σκοτώνονται. Απο οδηγική συμπεριφορά τπτ και δυστυχως κ απο κανονική συμπεριφορά υστερούν. Οποτε άλλος ένας λογος που είμαστε χώρα μπανανία.
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u/toocontroversial_4u Chania 9d ago
Hehe I said it half jokingly but it's not entirely untrue.
In Chania starting from galatas all the way to Agia Marina there's new signs. I heard they'll stay till the new expansion is finished.
Not sure if they'll expand the lower speed limit to the other parts till then though. Probably they just lowered the limit in that part because it was considered dangerous and they didn't want anyone passing other cars.
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u/Ruvio00 9d ago
Oh near Rethymno we just have them where one lane is closed.
I think if they keep them when the roadworks are done, someone will cut them down 🤣
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u/toocontroversial_4u Chania 9d ago
I hope that someone does what he has to do if they really end up installing toll booths as they say.
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u/AlGekGenoeg 9d ago
Nah, they probably forget about them untill they rust away or a local spray paint an 8 over the 5 😅
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u/boburuncle 8d ago
Maybe it's because where I live and traveled in the US I drive in NYC, suburbs, mountains, country and trips to Mt Washington but I found this OP advise to be solid. I was surprised to see people pulling over and driving to what would be the shoulder in the US but once I saw it was the custom I adapted. I did so with other driving customs as well. I even was complimented on Santorini by a local who was in the village I stayed in who saw me many days and he laughed and said you drive like one of us now. Even the horn is used differently in other countries than it is in the US. Look, listen and adapt for the best experience.
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u/NZplantparent 7d ago
Seen enough ghosts on pretty much every single bend on this national road one night to tell me everything I needed to know. Sometimes 20 or 30 people... actual crowds. Just drive on the right shoulder so everyone else can pass, OK?
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u/Appropriate-Car-5708 7d ago
I drove around the whole island recently for a week and a half, and my recommendation is simple: learn how to drive.
Other countries have single lane roads as well, mountains, flat lands etc, I never felt the need to drive on the shoulder of the road, makes traffic unpredictable compared to rest of Europe.
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u/Equivalent-Trip316 6d ago
Never in my life have I seen so many shit drivers. Maybe it’s because I grew up where overtaking at high speed on single-lane highways is common, but damn… pretty pathetic the amount of times I’ve seen a beginner literally defending the road from OTHERS passing…
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u/Donalds_left_ear 6d ago
I only drive Italian supercars in Greece. So frustrating when a Honda or ambulance is slowing me down
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u/blackmafia13 Heraklion 2d ago
Also another problem is tourists thinking they are driving like locals, effectively going 90km on the beach roads, downtown or in areas where they aren't supposed to. Just follow the locals. If the locals go slow, you go slow. AND DONT SPEED INSIDE THE CITIES! Someone almost ran me over with my motorcycle, stopped at a stop sign and he was going too fast to stop, almost took me down.
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u/Consistent_Guava8592 9d ago
Cretan drivers are famous for being the worst drivers in Greece. The fatal accident rate is 3 times more in Crete than the rest of Greece. I recently visited Crete again this summer and while the roads are much better, still the Cretan drivers are shit.
Overtaking 2 cars and a bus on a twisty road and other shit like that.
Better to be safe than sorry. There is a reason why car rental deposits are so high in Crete. Drive safe, don’t be an asshole and expect that 50% of the drivers at night are drunk .
Edit : if the ambulance wants to overtake you, it will and you will let it . So no arguement that slow drivers are causing the ambulances to be late (which are probably going to a car accident …)
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u/mdfrancisco 9d ago
Just take a bus instead.
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u/treadonmedaddy420 9d ago
I'm a big fan of the bus system in Greece and on Crete. Way cheaper than renting a car.
Public transit in general is part of why I like Europe so much.
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u/Hokusaj 8d ago
Driving the same speed as locals in practice means that you need to be constantly 40 or 50 km/h more then the speed limit and eventually get involved in an accident. The solution is not to encourage this behavior. The solution is the state to finally complete the project of the national road… it is taking ages and nobody cares…
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u/MACO-Operator 9d ago
Thank the Gods I’m not living in Crete. It’s probably the worst plot of Greek land when it comes to driving.
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u/nicoletteangel 9d ago
OP if you have that much road rage don't drive
sounds like a personal problem ...
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u/TrellisMcTrellisface 9d ago
You are Cretan and you are criticising other people’s driving ? Πο πο υποκρισία!
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u/WhyWasIShadowBanned_ 9d ago edited 9d ago
There are crazy speed limits on Crete. If you don’t want us tourists drive faster than 40km/h don’t put the 40km/h speed limit, lol. I was constantly driving 10-20 km/h more per speed limit on speedometer and people were constantly blinking on me 😅
It has nothing to do with a car. If you rent a car EACH ticket is 25€ or more on your credit card, doesn’t matter if you end up paying the ticket or not. It’s what car rental charges for receiving the ticket and responding that they weren’t driving a car. This is why almost no one in the rental drives significantly over a speed limit anywhere around the world.
I can barely recall a few places where speed limit was 90. There were plenty of roads that were „in construction”, for example lines werent painted and there was 40km/h for a distance of a kilometre or more. This looks more like an issue with local government and speed limits than Hyundai i10 lol.
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u/Ruvio00 9d ago
That's why I said on the national road. Where the speed limit is constant. I'm asking you to not drive half of the speed limit, not over it.
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u/Omnivirus Heraklion 9d ago
The speed limit is absolutely not “constant” on the national road. It’s 90 for long stretches, goes to 110 east of Irakleio, and there are numerous stretches where it slows for turns, mountainous areas or essentially speed traps with photo radar at the bottom of descents.
If you don’t like people going slow, wait to pass and then pass. Lots of opportunities to do so safely.
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u/Lenkaaah 9d ago
Drove in Crete for 2 days, the speed limit is definitely not constant. Limits drop down to 70/60/50 constantly near bends, 30 during roadworks (with no one in sight but sure) and sometimes it even seems randomized. You can be driving 30 because that’s the speed limit in a place with road works and only 1 lane without shoulder available and you’ll have people behind you blinking and beeping even if there’s no way to go out of the way for them to pass. Maybe there is no speed traps, maybe there is, but if it says 30, then why do other drivers insist on driving 70 through it?
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u/WhyWasIShadowBanned_ 9d ago edited 9d ago
I might be mistaken, but I remember pretty severe speed limits on this road as well.
If we’re talking about national road 90 for sure there were speed limits very often even near Heraklion.
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u/Rude-Bet5659 9d ago
Best advice I received from hotel receptionist was - follow the local, if he speeds, follow him, if he slows down, you slow down and be careful of speedcams and in the mountains. Mountains with crazy turns follow the speed limit or how comfortable you are and let locals pass once you have opportunity to let them.