Scooter Rentals in Chania, Greece

Park the bus timetable and rent a scooter instead: Chania rewards you for going off script. One morning you're weaving along the Old Venetian Harbour, past the Egyptian lighthouse and the arched Venetian arsenals with a coffee in hand, and by afternoon you're climbing into the White Mountains toward Omalos, or chasing the turquoise shallows of Balos Lagoon out on the Gramvousa peninsula. This is a place built for two speeds — slow old-town wandering and long open-road exploring — and a scooter lets you switch between them whenever you like.

Chania's old town wasn't designed with cars in mind: the lanes are narrow, parking is scarce, and a scooter threads through both without a second thought. Once you're outside town, the real prizes — Balos, Elafonisi, Samaria Gorge, the hidden cove at Seitan Limania — sit anywhere from 40 to 75 kilometres out along winding coastal and mountain roads that no bus schedule covers well and no pair of feet can manage in a day. A scooter gives you the range for that and the ease of parking right at the trailhead or viewpoint when you get there.

Top 10 things to see in Chania by scooter

1. Chania Old Venetian Harbour — the classic starting point, with its Egyptian lighthouse, Venetian arsenals and waterfront cafés, just minutes from most rental shops.
2. Samaria Gorge (Omalos entrance) — a scenic mountain drive up to the Omalos Plateau, gateway to Europe's longest gorge, with the White Mountains rising around you the whole way.
3. Balos Lagoon viewpoint — a rugged coastal road out to the Gramvousa peninsula, ending at a clifftop view over turquoise water and white sand shallows.
4. Elafonisi Beach — a longer ride south across the island to the famous pink-tinted sand and its shallow, lagoon-like water.
5. Falassarna Beach — an easier westward ride to one of Crete's best sunset beaches, known for its long sandy stretch and surf.
6. Agia Triada Monastery — a short, easy ride through olive groves on the Akrotiri peninsula to a well-preserved 17th-century Venetian monastery.
7. Seitan Limania (Stefanou) Beach — a dramatic drive out to the Akrotiri cliffs, finishing with a short hike down into a narrow turquoise cove.
8. Chania Archaeological Museum — an easy in-town stop for historical context before you head out toward the coast and mountains.
9. Rethymno Old Town — a longer coastal trip east along the national road to another beautifully preserved Venetian town with its own fortress and harbour.
10. Therisso Gorge road — a winding inland route through a narrow gorge to the village of Therisso, known for its tavernas and place in Cretan revolutionary history.

What do you need to rent a scooter in Chania?

For mopeds up to 50cc, an AM category licence is enough, and the minimum age is 16. Anything 125cc or larger requires the matching motorcycle licence — A1, A2 or A — and riders must be at least 18; a standard car licence does not substitute for this in Greece. Non-EU visitors should carry an International Driving Permit (IDP) alongside their home licence. Rental shops will usually hold a deposit, either as a card pre-authorisation or in cash, with the amount depending on the vehicle and operator.

How much does it cost to rent a scooter in Chania?

Prices in EUR shift a lot with the season, roughly 5–10 EUR per day in low season and 15–25 EUR per day in high season, with premium or larger-cc models running 25–40 EUR per day.

• Cheapest: November–March, when many shops also reduce hours.
• Priciest: July–August, when demand and heat both peak.
• Shoulder months (April–June, September–October) fall comfortably in between.

When to book a rental scooter in Chania?

High season runs July–August, when scooters sell out fast and prices sit at their highest — book well ahead if you're travelling then. Low season, November–March, brings the cheapest rates but also sees many island rental shops close for the winter. The sweet spot is May–June or September–October: pleasant riding weather, lighter traffic, and prices well below the summer peak.

Local traffic rules in Chania

Greece drives on the right. Helmets are compulsory for every rider and passenger, and enforcement on the islands is strict, with real fines behind it. Speed limits are 50 km/h in town, 90 km/h on the open road and up to 130 km/h on motorways, though smaller-engine scooters won't get near that. The blood-alcohol limit is 0.5 g/l generally, tightening to 0.2 g/l for motorcyclists and new drivers — so it's simplest to treat any drinking and riding as off the table. Keep your licence, IDP, rental agreement and insurance papers with you, and remember that leaving paved roads typically voids your cover, so save the dirt tracks for walking.

Types of scooters available

On our website you can rent the following types of scooters: classic scooter, Vespa, moped, motoroller, motoscooter, with a sidecar, with automatic or manual gears, three-wheeled scooters, large, maxi-scooter, touring, scooters with a windscreen and a roof, underbones, electric scooters.

Models of scooters available

On our website you can hire scooters from the following manufacturers: Adly, Aeon, Aprilia, Piaggio, Bajaj, Benelli, Beta, BMW, Derbi, Gilera, Honda, Kawasaki, Kymco, LML, Malaguti, Peugeot, PGO, Suzuki, SYM, TVS, Vespa, Yamaha.

Which insurance is provided with my rental scooter?

Usually basic third-party insurance is included in the rental price. If you wish to have more protection you can purchase additional CDW insurance, which limits your risk to the amount of your deposit. If you wish to rent a scooter without a deposit and with zero risk, you will need to add full insurance to your reservation.

Extra services available

When you make an online scooter reservation you can also order the following extra services and equipment: integral helmet, GPS navigation, intercom, unlimited mileage, top case, side cases, boots, jacket, gloves, individual guide or tour, map, full insurance, one-way rental, delivery to your hotel, delivery to your address, delivery to the arrival point of your choice.

Why use BikesBooking.com?

• Find the best deals for scooter hire;
• Compare prices of scooter rental companies;
• Read reviews of previous customers;
• Reserve a scooter online with the Best Price Guarantee!

Most of our local moped rental companies have many years of experience and will provide you with a well-kept scooter, helmet, lock, top case, GPS, insurance and friendly service. The number of companies we work with is increasing every day, so if you want to rent a scooter, just use the search form at the top of the page. Have a nice trip!