Pick up your car at CHQ terminal and drive west to Chania, Balos or Elafonissi the same day.
Chania International Airport (CHQ) Ioannis Daskalogiannis sits 14 km east of Chania town on the Akrotiri Peninsula. After you land and clear the single terminal, our local rental partners meet you in the arrivals hall or direct you to their desk. The airport handles mainly charter flights from May to October, with quieter periods outside the season. You sign the rental agreement at the desk, collect the keys and walk to the car park.
Exit the terminal and follow signs west toward Chania town via the coast road or through Souda. The drive takes about 20 minutes on wide, well-marked roads. Some travellers skip the town altogether and turn north for Balos or southwest for Elafonissi, covering those distances before sunset. Others spend a night in Chania before heading to remote beaches and gorges. Either way, picking up at the airport saves the transfer into town and back.
This page covers the airport pickup process, parking, routes departing from CHQ and the steps between landing and driving. For information about the town itself, vehicle choice for old-town streets, harbour parking and multi-day itineraries starting from the centre, visit our Chania page. That page also explains the difference between coastal hire and mountain access. Here we focus on the terminal, the flight arrival, the contract handover and the first stretch of road after you leave the airport perimeter.
The process starts when your flight lands. Give your flight number during booking so the rental company can track delays and adjust the meet time accordingly.
Walk through the single terminal at CHQ, collect your luggage and pass customs. The arrivals hall is small, and all rental desks or meet points cluster near the exit.
Check your voucher for the exact meet location. Some companies have a counter inside the terminal; others hold a sign with your name. The voucher lists the contact number if you cannot spot the desk.
Present your driving licence and the card you will use for any balance or excess-waiver payment. The staff member walks you through the contract, marks existing scratches on a diagram and hands over the keys. Fuel policy and return time are printed on the form.
Drive out of the short-term parking area and follow signs toward Chania or your first destination. The main road west runs parallel to the coast, and the airport junction is clearly marked. In the search widget above, use the "Specify location" field to select Chania Airport CHQ and confirm the time that matches your flight arrival plus 30 minutes for clearance.
Once you leave the airport, several roads branch toward beaches, mountain villages and ferry ports. Below are five common routes with distances and typical drive times.
We work with local rental companies at CHQ that supply a range of models. The table below shows examples across three categories. Actual availability depends on season and booking lead time.
| Model | Category | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Kia Picanto | Mini | Solo drivers, short trips to Chania town, tight parking near the harbour. |
| Hyundai i10 | Economy | Two passengers, one suitcase each, coastal drives on paved roads. |
| Fiat Panda | Economy | Similar to i10, slightly taller cabin for rear-seat comfort on longer journeys. |
| Opel Corsa | Compact | Three adults, medium luggage, day trips to Elafonissi or Rethymno. |
| Hyundai i20 | Compact | Families with one child, extra boot space for beach gear and coolers. |
| Fiat Tipo | Standard | Four adults, full-size suitcases, week-long touring around western Crete. |
| Nissan Pulsar | Standard | Similar to Tipo, comfortable rear legroom for tall passengers. |
| Fiat 500X | Crossover | Gravel roads to Balos, higher clearance, steeper tracks to mountain villages. |
| Citroen C3 Aircross | Crossover | Same use case as 500X, slightly larger boot for camping equipment or sports kit. |
These models are examples. The search widget above displays live inventory with exact specifications, photographs and the terms that apply to each car. Some models appear only at certain times of year; others sell out weeks before high season. Book early to secure the category and features you need.
A few practical points make the collection and drop-off smoother, especially if your flight arrives late or you leave on an early morning departure.
Many cars at CHQ are available without a deposit hold and without requiring a credit card. These conditions vary by model and rental company, so every search result shows the exact terms for that specific vehicle.
Run a search in the widget above with your dates and airport pickup location. Each result card displays icons or text indicating "No deposit required" and the accepted payment methods. If a car asks for a deposit or credit card only, that information appears before you proceed to booking. Filter or scroll to compare options.
Remember that "no deposit" means the rental company does not block funds on your card as security. The excess or deductible amount still applies if the car is damaged; the two concepts are independent. Choosing a car with no deposit does not change the liability printed in the rental agreement.
When you book online, you pay a booking advance by card to secure the reservation. The remaining balance is due when you collect the car at Chania Airport. Some suppliers accept debit cards or cash for that balance; others require a credit card. The voucher and the search result both state which methods the specific company allows.
If you do not have a credit card, look for cars marked "Debit card accepted" or "Cash accepted" and confirm your card has a sufficient limit if any hold is mentioned. For more detail on how the advance works and what you pay at each stage, see our payment and advance guide. That page also explains the difference between the booking advance, the rental balance and any optional extras such as child seats or additional driver fees.
Answers to common queries about collecting and returning a car at CHQ, based on questions we hear from travellers flying into western Crete.
Yes, if the car you choose accepts debit cards or cash for the balance payment. Each listing in the search shows the payment methods that specific supplier allows. Select a car marked accordingly, pay the booking advance online by card, then settle the rest with your debit card or cash at the CHQ desk.
After signing the contract at the desk or meet point in arrivals, the staff member either walks you to the car in the adjacent short-term lot or gives you a map showing the bay number. The distance is under 100 metres in most cases. Some companies park cars in a dedicated compound 200 metres from the terminal and provide a shuttle van.
If you entered your flight number during booking, the rental company tracks the arrival and adjusts the meet time automatically. If the delay is significant, they send a message to your phone or email. Should you forget to provide the flight number, call the contact in your voucher as soon as you know about the delay.
The closest station is approximately 3 km west on the road toward Chania town. Most contracts require a full tank at drop-off, matching the level at pickup. Fill up there, keep the receipt and return the car within the agreed window to avoid refuelling charges.
Driving to another island or to the mainland requires written permission from the rental company and often a fee for ferry tickets and additional insurance. Mention this plan when you book so the supplier can add the note to your contract. Without permission, taking the car on a ferry breaches the agreement.
The final 8 km to the Balos trailhead is unpaved, steep and rutted. A crossover such as the Fiat 500X or Citroen C3 Aircross offers higher ground clearance and better grip than a city hatchback. Check the rental terms to confirm gravel roads are permitted; some economy cars restrict use to paved surfaces only.
Land at CHQ, sign the papers, load your luggage and point the car toward Balos, Elafonissi or the Samaria trailhead before the sun sets. No queues for shuttle buses, no shared transfers. Just the open road and the freedom to stop wherever the view demands a photograph.