Gas stations in Crete are plentiful. You can find them anywhere except for the most remote areas of the island. They are run very efficiently and provide a variety of services to travellers. All of them also offer unleaded fuel.
Gas stations in Crete are open for business every day except on Sundays. During the high summer season (May 1 to September 30), they are open from 6:00 am to 10:30 pm, and from 6:00 am to 9:00 pm during winter (October 1 to April 30).
Although gas stations in Crete are mostly closed at night and on Sundays, the law requires that at least one of the gas stations in each area should stay open during these times. This is to prevent travellers who need to refuel from getting stranded out of nowhere. If you are driving through a town desperate for gas at night or on a weekend, just go and ask a taxi driver or a police officer, or any local you may come by. They will point you to the nearest gas station that is open at that time.
Things to expect at Gas Stations in Crete
The majority of gas stations in Crete are “full service.” This means that you can leave it all to the hands of the gas station attendant.
All you need to do is to pull up to the pump and someone will come to fill your tank with gas in a few minutes. Hand the keys to the attendant if the gas tank is locked and tell the attendant how much gas you wish to purchase.
It is also very common for the attendant to provide more service than just filling your tank, but you are not expected to leave a tip.
Every gas station in Crete also offers a free air pump, water and a squeegee for cleaning your windshield. Many gas stations in Crete also have a mini-market in the premises, where you can buy auto accessories, food, drinks or even ice cream.
Many gas stations close at 7pm but stations on the highway close much later usually. In every city there will be at least one gas station which will be open during the night. Ask the locals for information.
All gas stations accept credit cards. Lead-free is everywhere. Regular unleaded petrol has an octane rating of 95; the octane rating of super is 98.
There are no gas stations where you can buy petrol with your credit card automatically after closing times.
Tips for saving gas
The way you drive can save or cost you more gas. Here are some driving tips that can help you reduce the petrol prices you have to pay when you pull up at gas stations in Crete.
Avoid zooming down the highway. As you continue accelerating, the aerodynamic drag on your car also goes up exponentially. For example, zooming at 100 km/h instead of at 120 km/h will reduce your fuel consumption by around 15%.
Do not leave your windows open, especially when driving at highway speeds. This increases the drag on your car and decreases your fuel economy by up to 10%.
Limit the use of the air conditioner only when you need it. When the air conditioner is on, it puts extra load on the engine. Thus, around 20% more fuel is used. The same applies when you use the defrost position since it also uses the air conditioner.
Rent an economy car if you intend to drive in the centre of big towns like Heraklion and Chania during the day. Not only will this save you on petrol prices when you pull up at a gas station in Crete, but you can also take advantage of a cheaper rental agreement with your car rental agency.
