Which Road Trip from Rethymno Is Worth Hiring a Car For?
Updated October 19, 2026 · 5 min read
Drive the Arkadi–Margarites loop yourself only if you want to decide how long to stay at each stop. For everyone else the 10-hour guided tour is the better buy: 4.9 stars from 266 reviews, €35 per person. Three day trips from Rethymno cover the same villages, so the real choice is how long a day you want and whether you want to be the driver.
Compare rental cars for the Arkadi and Margarites route
Three guided ways to see Arkadi, Melidoni and Margarites
| Tour | Duration | From (per person) | Rating | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arkadi, Melidoni, Margarites and olive oil mill | 10 hours | €35 | 4.9 (266) | The fullest day, including an old olive oil mill |
| Arkadi Monastery, Melidoni Cave and Margarites | 3.5–6 hours | €25.08 | 4.4 (181) | A half day; Margarites is optional |
| Melidoni, Margarites, olive oil factory and Arkadi | 7.5 hours | €25.14 | 4.8 (128) | A full day with free time at each stop |
The 10-hour tour is a group tour through small villages and rural landscapes, with a visit to an old olive oil mill and to what the listing calls the island’s oldest monastery. It is the long, complete version.
Check availability for the 10-hour tour
The shortest tour is a guided outing to Melidoni Cave and Arkadi Monastery. Margarites, with its traditional pottery-making demonstration, is listed there as an option, so it is the one to skip if pottery is why you want to go.
Check availability for the 3.5–6 hour tour
The 7.5-hour tour is a full-day trip with free time in Melidoni, Margarites, at Arkadi Monastery and at the olive oil factory. It is cheaper than the 10-hour tour and almost as well rated.
Check availability for the 7.5-hour tour
When the car earns its price
Two stops are enough: Arkadi and Margarites. Driving yourself pays off when one of them deserves half the day, which a fixed tour timetable does not allow. Margarites is known for its pottery, and the shortest tour treats it as an extra; if the workshops are your reason to go, a car lets you stay as long as you like.
Melidoni Cave is on all three tours but is a separate stop if you drive, with its own access arrangements. We give no opening hours or admission fees, because none of the listings states them. Check the official visitor information for Arkadi before you leave.
Who should skip the car
If nobody in your party wants to drive on unfamiliar roads, the car has already lost its main advantage. Ten hours is also a long day for a group tour: if you want a morning only, take the 3.5–6 hour option. Check the booking page for meeting point and pickup rather than assuming your hotel is served.
Our recommendation: book the 10-hour tour, the best rated and most reviewed of the three. Rent a car only if Arkadi or Margarites should get half your day.
See dates and prices for the 10-hour Arkadi, Melidoni and Margarites tour
