Compare cheap 7 seater car hire at Chania Airport. The planned Balos visitor cap, Elafonisi parking, Samaria Gorge closures and Greece’s new traffic fines.
Heading for Balos or Elafonisi? Both beaches may move to booked time slots, and the Samaria Gorge closes without much warning. Read the sections below before you plan your days.
Chania Airport handled 4,150,829 passengers in 2025. After Greece itself, the UK was its biggest market, with 567,834 passengers (Chania Airport).
The airport sits on the Akrotiri peninsula, about 15 km from Chania town. Discover Greece recommends hiring a car if you want to reach the remote beaches of west Crete (Discover Greece), and the best of them are a long way from any bus stop.
Balos: a cap on visitors is coming
Balos lagoon is about 56 km west of Chania town (Discover Greece). In peak season it gets about 5,000 visitors a day, arriving by boat or down a steep cliffside track from the car park (Greek Herald).
The local council has sent a pilot plan to the Ministry of Environment. It would allow a maximum of 1,200 visitors per three-hour window, with digital booking for ferries and land checkpoints (Greek Reporter). The cap would apply whether you arrive by boat or by car (To Vima).
The plan also covers Elafonisi and Falasarna, with online booking proposed ahead of the 2027 season (Argophilia). It is still a proposal. Check before you travel, and go early in the day either way.
Elafonisi with children
Elafonisi is about 75 km from Chania, around 1 hour 30 minutes by road through the mountains. Its shallow water suits small children, and the beach is a protected Natura 2000 site, so taking sand or shells is not allowed (Discover Greece).
A barrier at the beach entrance keeps vehicles back, and parking areas sit behind it (iefimerida). Expect a short walk from the car with the beach bags.
The Samaria Gorge
The gorge is 16 km long, the longest in Greece (Discover Greece). It reopened for 2026 in mid-May from both entrances (To Vima). Tickets cost about £8.50 (€10) each, or about £5.10 (€6) a person on a family ticket (Argophilia).
It also closes at short notice. In early October 2026, the official ticket site said the gorge was closed from both entrances until inspections were complete (NECCA). Check that site on the morning you plan to go.
The walk is one way, so the car will not be where you finish. Plan the return before you set off.
Chania old town and harbour
Cars have been banned from Chania’s Venetian harbour since 2018, apart from supply vehicles early in the morning (GTP). In February 2025, work began on retractable bollards to control access to the old town as well (Patris).
For dinner by the harbour, park outside the old town and walk in. A 7 seater will not fit its lanes anyway.
West Crete 7 Seaters, compared at Chania
One search lines up the 7 seaters at Chania with the total price for each. Book before the beaches get busy.
Greece’s new traffic code
Greece’s new Road Traffic Code went into full effect on 13 September 2025, with much higher fines (Capital.gr). Since 1 January 2026, the default limit in towns has been 30 km/h, about 19 mph (To Vima).
Speeding up to 20 km/h over the limit costs about £128 (€150) (To Vima). Using a phone at the wheel costs about £298 (€350) and a one-month licence suspension (Argophilia). Our Heraklion Airport guide lists more of the new penalties.
The drink-drive limit is 0.5 g of alcohol per litre of blood, and 0.2 g for new drivers (ETSC).
The north coast road and the new motorway
The north coast road links Chania with Rethymno and Heraklion. GOV.UK warns that local drivers in Greece regularly ignore speed limits (GOV.UK), and this road is busy all summer.
A new motorway is on the way. The concession for 187 km between Heraklion and Chania, including an optional 30 km stretch to Kissamos, was signed in May 2026. Construction should take about five years, and local journeys will be exempt from tolls (Proto Thema).
Paperwork and child seats
GOV.UK says you can drive in Greece on a UK photocard licence. Hire firms often add their own conditions, so check the terms (GOV.UK).
Children aged 12 or under must use a child seat or restraint suited to their size and age (IOAS).
Greece is in the Schengen area, but GOV.UK says the Greek authorities have indicated they will not collect fingerprints and photos from UK travellers under the EU Entry/Exit System (GOV.UK).
GOV.UK also warns that causing a wildfire is a criminal offence in Greece, even by accident (GOV.UK). Do not light barbecues, and take care with cigarettes on dry ground.
Picking up at Chania Airport
The airport lists its car hire desks in the arrivals hall, in the area open to all users. Five firms have desks on the airport (Chania Airport). Others meet you outside and take you to a depot nearby, and your voucher will say which.
Seven people, seven cases
A large suitcase holds 80 to 110 litres. With all seven seats in use, the roomiest common 7 seaters manage about 340 to 350 litres of boot.
For a full family with a big case each, look for the ACRISS FV class, meaning seven or more seats plus more space, or book an 8 or 9 seater. Mountain villages have tight bends, so do not oversize if you do not need to.
Staying in central or eastern Crete instead? Our Heraklion Airport guide covers the other side of the island, and our Greece guide covers the national rules and ferries.
Spending less on a 7 Seater in west Crete
- Compare the total, not the daily rate. Fuel policy, deposit, insurance excess and extra driver charges all sit outside the headline price.
- Ask about unpaved roads. The tracks to some beaches are rough, so read what your cover says before you drive one.
- Price child seats per day. Hire firms usually charge per seat, and two or three seats over a fortnight add up. Bringing your own is often cheaper.
- Book early with free cancellation. 7 seaters go first in July and August. Lock in a cancellable rate, then search again nearer the date and rebook if prices fall.
Check Chania 7 Seater rates for your dates
Enter your times to compare cheap rates from the five desks on the airport and firms nearby.
Questions people ask
Do I need to book Balos in advance?
Not yet. A time-slot system with a cap of 1,200 visitors per three hours has been proposed, possibly from 2027. Check the latest before you go.
How far is Elafonisi from Chania?
About 75 km, around 1 hour 30 minutes by road through the mountains.
Is the Samaria Gorge open?
It opened for 2026 in mid-May, but it can close at short notice. Check the official ticket site on the day.
Can I drive into Chania old town?
No. The Venetian harbour has been closed to cars since 2018, and bollards are being added in the old town. Park outside and walk in.
How do I find a cheap 7 Seater at Chania Airport?
Compare several hire firms at once. Our search shows 7 seaters from firms in the terminal and nearby, with the total price for each. Summer stock goes quickly, so the earlier you search, the more choice you get.
