The Greek island of Crete is famously beautiful, with a landscape of picturesque little white-washed towns topped by blue church domes and ancient ruins, rugged mountains traversed by climbers and goats alike, lush green valleys cut through by impressive gorges and silver rivers, picture-perfect beaches framed by dramatic cliffs and lapped by sparkling azure waters, and much more besides. It is a place where immense natural loveliness and impressive manmade feats live in perfect harmony to produce scenes almost too cinematic and remarkable to believe are real. Those who find a villa in Crete might choose to go to various nearby tourist attractions, explore the town or village in which they are based, seek out neighbouring resorts to see what they have to offer, or go on a tour of some of the gorgeous beaches nearby but doing even all of these things will likely only give you a tiny taste of all that Crete has to offer. If you really want to come and see all that makes the island so unique and to really immerse yourself in the distinct atmosphere of this magical part of Greece, then we recommend hitting the road on a motorcycle or scooter!
Lots and lots of companies based all over the island offer both motorcycle and scooter rentals and, as a form of transport, both really are idyllic options with lots of bonuses. Some of these selling points include that:
- You can choose to travel at your own pace in order to truly take things in but you don’t have to power it for yourself (as you would if you were cycling - though cycling enthusiasts will also find that there are some excellent bicycle routes to tackle in Crete while on vacation in Crete).
- It is really easy to stop and pull in if you want to take a moment to admire a view or take some photos.
- You get to feel the sun on your skin and wind in your hair.
- You can navigate through traffic if you encounter it and it’s also really easy to find parking for smaller vehicles.
- It lends an especially romantic atmosphere to the experience!
However, it is worth bearing in mind that roads in Crete can be difficult to navigate. Some roads are not particularly well-kept and can have winding gravel stretches with lots of bends. There are also some other things to carefully consider and keep in mind if you want to do a tour like this safely and enjoyably. So, here are some important things to think about if you want to enjoy this most romantic way of seeing more of the island while you are on holiday in Crete:
- Plan your routes, do your research, and drive with caution – certain roads have poor reputations and especially mountainous routes, smaller gravel roads between towns, and many stretches on the northern coast are known for having difficult or bad inclines, bends, or road finishes (or all of the above). If you want to tackle different routes, we highly recommend looking them up online beforehand, asking locals when you are renting the bike or scooter, and then proceeding carefully when you are actually on the road. Some especially steep roads or mountainous routes and bigger roads and highways will not be suitable for scooters so, again, the route you want to take needs to be considered in advance.
- Safety first – this may seem terribly obvious to most people, but it is worth saying that you should always, always have a helmet on while on a bike or scooter of any kind!
- With over 300 days of sunshine per year, Crete is a place with perfect weather for heading out on a bike or scooter and taking in the most extraordinary scenery all throughout your travel, not just when you arrive at different attractions. However, it is also worth bearing in mind that the sun and the method of transport both need to be dressed and prepped for accordingly. If you are on a proper motorcycle, leathers are important for preventing potential injuries. As these can be heavy and hot, off-season motorcycle tours of Crete might be a better idea. If you are taking the scooter option and you plan to be out all day at any time of the year (but especially during the summer months) then you will need to ensure you are wearing sunscreen and that you are diligent about topping up throughout the day. It is really easy to get burned so don’t expose too much skin and make sure you bring plenty of sunscreen along with you! If you do all of these things properly, then you will definitely be able to enjoy that sunshine and wind on your skin as you hit the road on holiday in Crete!
So, while there may be a few things that need to be considered if planning a two-wheel tour of Crete and it might not be the best option for absolutely everyone, if you can be prepared and are capable of doing it then it is an absolutely unforgettable way to experience this gorgeous part of Greece! Browse our selection of incredible vacation rentals in Crete and then set aside a day or two or more to head out, see the island, inhale the scents of the countryside, take in its beauty, and soak up the unique atmosphere of this magical place.