For specific distances, see below

Roads on Crete 

The road network on Crete is very dense and basically you can drive anywhere on the island. In the north of Crete there are roads of good quality from the west to the east coast. They are mostly motorways and transport on it is quite fast considering given the local conditions. You can usually drive there at 60-80 km per hour.

On the contrary, the south of Crete is not intertwinned with any quality road. There are mountains almost all over the south coast, with the roads leading from the north ending right there.

This is true especially about the region between the townd of Kissamos/Kasteli and Rethymno. There are two main roads from the main road to the south:

• along the west coast passing through Sfinari up to the resort of Elafonisos and the Elafonisi Beach
• to Paleohora
• to Omalos
• to Hora Sfakion.

You can drive between those regions also using the paths on the south coast, but they are mostly of a poor quality and difficult to pass.

The only exception is the road from Hora Sfakion in the directin of Plakias which is a normal tarmac road.

The average speed on those roads is usually between 30 and 50 km per hour.

Island interior

In Rethymno, there is the second main road on Crete turning to the south, passing through Rethymno – Spili – Mires – Ierapetra – Sitia, connected with the main road in the north throughs roads passing between Heraklion – Gortys, Hersonisos – Kasteli – Martha and Pachia Ammos – Ierapetra. Yet this road doesn´t pass on the coast but through the Messara lowland and the island interior. It only approaches to the coast before Ierapetra, then it turns through the interior to the north coast in the direction of Sitia.

Important distances on Crete (km)

Distances between major destinations

Note

The basic roads are plotted on every map, including the one you will receive for free in your car, scooter or motorcycle rental service.