About Your Destination
Looking to discover Crete? Here you'll find info on excursions, local transport, taxi fares, car and bike rental, shopping tips and more. For bookings and assistance, just visit Help Desk.
RENT A CAR
Download our car guides below to help navigate around the area.
Car Rental Information
We work together with AVIS to offer quality cars at special rates. Please contact Help Desk for reservation and more information.
Included:
Delivery and Collection
Unlimited mileage
Roadside Assistance
Local taxes
Optional:
Super Collision Damage Waiver and Super Theft Protection (SCDW and STP) (i.e., zero Excess in case of damage to, or theft of, the car)
Special Offers
- Rent a car for 4 days and pay for 3 days
- Rent a car for 3 days and pay for 2 days
- Weekend offer: From Friday morning - Sunday 20:00
- Weekly offer: Rent a car for 7 days and pay for 5 days
Shopping
Ordinary opening hours of shops are Monday to Saturday 9am–2 pm. Most shops re-open from 6pm till 8pm on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays as well. Tourist shops are usually open all day, every day. Supermarkets stay open from 8 am to 8 pm. Closed on Sundays.
Things worth buying on Crete
Shoes, leather articles and jewellery are examples of things worth bringing home from Crete. The price of gold is often lower than in the UK. In Rethymnon there are many jewellers, but prices and quality vary greatly. If you want to buy a piece of jewellery for someone you like, or perhaps have a personalized ring made, we recommend Aperitton, a store run by Anne Marie from Sweden and her Greek husband. They guarantee good quality at a reasonable price. You will find Aperitton in the center, close to the Town hall.
Markets
Why not visit one of the traditional markets? Everything from live chickens to shoes is for sale. And even if you are not in a shopping mood, it is worth a visit for the spectacle.
Sitia
Tuesday 8.30 am to 1 pm.
Ierapetra
Saturday 8.30 am to 1 pm.
Agios Nikolaos
Wednesday 8.30 am to 1 pm.
Heraklion
Thursday & Saturday 8.30 to 1 pm. The market is down in the harbour, several kilometres long. Walk or take a taxi from the bus station. The easiest way of getting to Heraklion is by car or local bus.
Shopping in Makrigialos
In Makrigialos, there are lots of tourist shops where you can buy anything from clothes, shoes and accessories, to leather, silver- and gold jewellery, books and souvenirs. All shops stay open from around 10 am to 11 pm. In the two closest towns; Ierapetra and Sitia, there are even more shops, which however, stay closed on Sundays. Several days every week you can also go bargain hunting in the markets! In Makrigialos there is one on Friday mornings, in Ierapetra on Saturday mornings and in Sitia on Tuesday mornings.
Venus Shop
A clothing store offering well-made fashion for women, men, and children. You'll find clothes, shoes, bags, and jewelry – all produced in Greece or Spain. The shop is located just across from OBC and is a familiar stop for many of our guests.
Opening Hours: Monday–Saturday, 09:00–21:00
Phone: +30 2843 051595
Beware of what you bring home, especially souvenirs made of plants or animals and pirate copies. Learn more here.
Tourist Tax in Greece
The authorities in Greece impose a tax on hotel stays. The tax varies depending on the official hotel or apartment classification and the length of stay, and must be paid directly to the hotel at check-in.
Please note that our classification of hotels and apartments may differ from the official classification, which is the basis for the tax amount.
Tourist tax:
2 stars: € 2.00 per room or apartment per night
3 stars: € 5.00 per room or apartment per night
4 stars: € 10.00 per room or apartment per night
5 stars: € 15.00 per room or apartment per night
