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Does the Roads of Crete Have too Much Traffic? An Essential Guide for Cyclists
In general, the roads of Crete are very quiet. Many people expect heavy congestion everywhere, but traffic mostly exists inside big cities and a few kilometers outside of them. If you love cycling, the island offers fantastic conditions once you know where to ride.
Here is what you need to know about navigating Cretan roads on two wheels.
Navigating the Main Roads of Crete.
Understanding the road network makes your rides much smoother.
Avoid the Highway: Highway cycling is strictly illegal and unsafe. You must avoid the main highway entirely when planning bike routes.
Most roads of Crete are wide, so there is enough room for 2 cars.
North vs South: All the big cities of Crete are located on the north coasτ. In Heraklion, Chania, and Rethymno live more than 50% of the Cretan population. There are some smaller towns, but the traffic there is much lower. Also, all the famous tourist destinations are located on the north shore. The more that you go south or East and west the lower the traffic.
The EO90 road (the old road as we call it) is perfect to move from East to West (north coast). On the EO90 road, there are more cars at the section from Heraklion to Malia, 2 kilometers east and west of Rethymnon, and from Chania to Platanias. The rest of this road is very quiet and very beautiful.
During the tourist season, the traffic is higher as Crete is the most famous destination in Greece with thousands of visitors. The traffic is higher, but on the same roads that we mentioned above. Inland Crete, where the best routes are, the traffic is low even in the summer. September to October and April-May. The traffic is lower. November to March, the roads are empty.
Time of Day: Early mornings (6:00 AM – 8:30 AM) offer the quietest roads, cool temperatures, and smooth riding before shop owners and tour buses start moving. If you stay in one of the big cities, check the opening hours of the shops. In Heraklion, for example, shops are usually open 9:00-14:00 and 17:30-21:00. These are the hours with the most traffic.
Stay on the Right: Always ride on the far right side of the road. This habit is crucial on winding serpentine roads with low visibility around corners. Cycling is not common in Crete; car drivers are not used to cyclists who go slower than cars.
Tour Buses & Delivery Trucks: near coastal towns and hotels, large tour buses move slowly on tight turns, so giving them extra space is smart.
If you stay in Heraklion, the busiest town in Crete, prefer the Amoudara area. Located on the west side of Heraklion, you have to ride only 1-3 kilometers to where the nice routes with low traffic start. Inside Heraklion, prefer the coastal road, as it is wider.
At Hersonisos where our bike center is located, there are more cars only on the E090. You have to use the EO90 when you start for some kilometers to ride east or west. After 1-10 kilometers (depending on the route), you have to go south where the traffic is less or minimal.
Slow Down in Villages: Bicycles are quiet, so pedestrians often cross village streets without checking for oncoming traffic. Reduce your speed whenever you enter a local village.
Local Farmers in Pickups: In the countryside and mountain villages, you will mostly encounter local pickup trucks and older drivers—they drive calmly, but might stop, turn or enter a road unexpectedly!
Pro Tip:
Download the map of Crete and see all the roads of Crete. The map of Crete uses a unique colour coding to depict all the roads of Crete. It is created especially for cyclists. See where the main roads, the scenic routes, and the roads with more traffic are, which we recommend avoiding.
Tips for off-road cycling
If you choose off-road paths or dirt roads, traffic disappears almost completely. Drivers on dirt tracks travel very slowly.
However, you still need to stay cautious. Pay extra attention on downhill sections through olive groves, where blind corners can hide unexpected obstacles, or cars parked in the middle of the road. Ride smart, enjoy the quiet countryside, and take in the stunning views!
Summary :"Overall Traffic: Roads in Crete are generally very quiet. Heavy traffic is limited to major cities and short stretches leading out of them."
Image: a snapshot of the Map of Crete at the area o Hersonissos - Malia area, that shows where is the most of the traffic. The most of the traffic is on the old road (EO90, the light blue line) from Heraklion until Malia. After Malia the roads are very quiet. There is also some traffic on the road that connects the EO90 with the highway. On the highway (red line) cycling is not allowed.
Image: a snapshot of the Map of Crete at the area o Heraklion area, that shows where is the most of the traffic. The most of the traffic is on the old road (EO90) from Heraklion until Malia. After Malia the roads are very quiet. Also the knossou Avenue until Archanes have some traffic but you can use if you want to follow some routes at this area. On the highway (red line) cycling is not allowed. If you want to ride west choose the coastal road of Heraklion as it is wide. After Amoudara start the best routes and there is no traffic. Except the highway avoid the roas with purle colour as they have more traffic (main roads to go south).
Image: a snapshot of the Map of Crete at the area o Agios Nikolaos area. The most of the traffic is on the road that connects Agios Nikolaos and Elound. This road has more traffic in the summer season as it is a touristic area.
After Istro the national road is not so wide. There is some traffic to ride to Sitia but here you can ride on the hight way (Istro to Sitia) as it is the EO90.
