- Unleaded 95 now costs around €2.07–€2.10 per litre across Crete, well above the Greek average
- Diesel is also hovering above €2.12/litre in many areas
- Crete remains more expensive than the national average, adding a noticeable extra cost to any trip that involves driving
As the first tourists of the 2026 season start landing in Crete, they’ll get the privilege of filling up their rental cars at prices that cheerfully exceed €2 per litre for unleaded petrol.
According to the latest figures, unleaded 95 stands at €2.079 in Heraklion, €2.096 in Chania, €2.086 in Rethymno, and €2.068 in Lasithi — with diesel moving in similarly painful territory above €2.12 per litre. Crete, as usual, sits comfortably above the national average, which only makes the pain feel more authentic and local.
In a destination where exploring beaches, gorges, villages, and mountains almost always requires a car, the return of high fuel costs brings the question of “how much will this holiday actually cost?” back to centre stage.
The increased expense doesn’t just hit visitors at the pump — it ripples through the entire tourism chain: higher costs for car rentals (as companies pass on their own fuel and operational expenses), organised excursions, transfers, and even trips into the Cretan countryside.
Fuel Prices Impact Local Businesses
Local businesses are already feeling the pressure, as elevated energy costs are passed down the line at a time when everyone is gearing up for Easter and the busy summer months. While prices are relatively uniform across the four prefectures (small comfort), market players admit these levels are unlikely to drop significantly anytime soon.
For tourists, especially those planning self-drive holidays, this means tighter budgets, shorter trips, fewer spontaneous excursions, or simply spending less on other parts of their holiday. In a year when Greek tourism is trying to maintain its momentum amid various pressures, the high cost of fuel quietly adds another challenge to the “total visitor spend” equation.
Nothing quite like starting your dream Cretan summer with a €100+ fill-up, reminding you that even paradise has a price tag in 2026.
