Compare cheap 7 seater car hire at Heraklion Airport. Crete’s new traffic fines, 30 km/h town limits, the BOAK road, child seats and the Kastelli airport.
Greek town speed limits changed in January 2026, and fines rose sharply under a new traffic code. Read the rules section below before you drive off.
Heraklion passed 10 million passengers in a year for the first time in 2025, with 10.03 million, and the UK is one of its leading international markets (Argophilia).
Crete is the biggest Greek island, and the sights are spread out. Knossos is on the edge of Heraklion, but Elounda and Matala sit on opposite coasts, about two hours apart. A 7 seater means the whole family can get to all of them.
The new traffic code
Greece brought in a new Road Traffic Code in September 2025. It raised fines and penalises repeat offences more heavily (Capital.gr).
Some of the new penalties (CNN Greece, To Vima):
- Up to 20 km/h over the limit: €150, about £128
- Hand-held phone: €350, about £298, and a 30-day licence suspension
- Driver without a seatbelt: €350 and 30 days. A passenger without one costs €150, and the driver is fined too
- Red light: €700, about £595, and 60 days
That seatbelt rule matters in a 7 seater. Check the third row before every trip, because children slip out of belts on long drives.
Speed limits since January 2026
Since 1 January 2026, the default limit in Greek towns is 30 km/h, about 19 mph (To Vima). Some main roads and avenues keep 50 km/h, so watch the signs.
Outside towns, cars are limited to 90 km/h on ordinary roads, 110 km/h on expressways and 130 km/h on motorways. Crete has no motorway yet, so most of your driving will be at 90 km/h or less.
The drink-drive limit is 0.5 g of alcohol per litre of blood, and 0.2 g for new and professional drivers (ETSC). Under the new code, a reading of 0.5 to 0.8 g costs €350 and a 30-day suspension.
The BOAK, Crete’s main road
The North Road Axis of Crete, known as the BOAK or VOAK, runs along the north coast past the airport. It links Heraklion with Hersonissos and Malia to the east, and with Rethymno and Chania to the west.
It has a grim safety record. More than 110 people have died on it in the past decade, and the Greek Prime Minister has called it a “blood tax” (Proto Thema).
GOV.UK warns that local drivers in Greece regularly ignore speed limits (GOV.UK). With seven on board, keep your speed down and let faster cars pass.
A new motorway on the way
A 157 km motorway between Chania and Heraklion is on the way. Parliament ratified the concession in May 2025, and the deal allows five years for design and construction (iefimerida).
There are no motorway tolls on Crete today. Tolls are planned once the new road opens, capped at about 5 cents per km at 2022 prices (ered). Until then, expect roadworks in places.
Heraklion 7 Seaters for eastern Crete
Compare the hire firms at Heraklion side by side, with fuel policy and excess for each.
Where Heraklion families drive
Approximate road distances from Heraklion (Discover Greece, Visit Heraklion):
- Knossos: about 5 km south of the city
- Hersonissos and Malia: about 25 km east
- Agios Nikolaos: about 60 km, 45 minutes, with Elounda 11 km further on (Discover Greece)
- Matala: about 69 km south (Discover Greece)
Inland, the roads narrow and twist. Discover Greece says roads can be narrow and winding, especially in the mountainous interior (Discover Greece). A long 7 seater needs care on hairpins, so allow more time than the satnav suggests.
Licences and child seats
GOV.UK says you can drive in Greece on a UK photocard licence. Hire firms can set stricter rules, such as asking for an International Driving Permit, so check the terms (GOV.UK).
Children aged 12 or under must use a child seat or restraint suited to their size and age. If a rear-facing seat goes in the front, the passenger airbag must be switched off (IOAS).
Greece is in the Schengen area. GOV.UK says the Greek authorities have indicated they will not collect fingerprints and photos from UK travellers as part of the EU Entry/Exit System (GOV.UK). Check the latest advice before you fly.
A new airport on the way
Heraklion’s current airport is short of space. A new airport at Kastelli, southeast of the city, was 67% complete in January 2026 and is expected to open in 2028 (Greek Reporter).
For now, everything still runs from the current airport, on the coast just east of Heraklion. When Kastelli opens, we will update this guide.
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. For mountain villages, a slightly smaller car is easier on the bends.
Picking up at Heraklion Airport
Greece’s civil aviation authority lists several international and Greek hire firms with desks at Heraklion (HCAA). Other firms meet customers in the car park or take them to a depot nearby.
Your voucher will say where to go. In peak summer the terminal is busy, so a meet-and-greet firm can save a queue, while an off-airport depot is often cheaper.
Staying in the west of Crete, around Chania or Kissamos? Chania Airport is closer, and our Chania Airport guide covers Balos and Elafonisi. For the national rules and the other Greek airports, see our Greece guide. Island hopping further east? Our Kos Airport guide covers the Dodecanese.
Getting a better 7 Seater deal in Crete
- Compare the total, not the daily rate. Fuel policy, deposit, insurance excess and extra driver charges all sit outside the headline price.
- Respect the new fines. One phone or seatbelt offence costs €350, more than many weeks of insurance upgrades.
- Price child seats per day. Hire firms usually charge per seat, and three seats over a fortnight add up. Bringing your own is often cheaper.
- Book early with free cancellation. 7 seaters on Crete go first in July and August. Lock in a cancellable rate, then search again nearer the date and rebook if prices fall.
Price a Heraklion 7 Seater for your holiday
Put in your dates to see low-cost rates before Crete’s summer stock runs low.
Questions people ask
What is the speed limit in Greek towns?
Since 1 January 2026, the default is 30 km/h. Some main roads keep 50 km/h, so follow the signs.
Are there toll roads on Crete?
Not today. Tolls are planned for the new north coast motorway once it opens.
Do I need an International Driving Permit in Crete?
Not by law with a UK photocard licence, says GOV.UK. Some hire firms ask for one, so check your terms.
When does the new Heraklion airport open?
The new airport at Kastelli is expected to open in 2028. Until then, flights use the current airport.
How do I find a cheap 7 Seater at Heraklion Airport?
Compare several hire firms at once. Our search shows 7 seaters from firms in the terminal and off the airport, with the total price for each. Summer stock goes quickly, so the earlier you search, the more choice you get.
