A Crete segway tour is a guided ride on a self-balancing, two-wheeled segway through the old towns of Chania or Rethymno. Riders glide past Venetian harbours, Ottoman mosques and narrow lanes. Tours across the rest of the country are listed on Greece Tours.
The sections below cover the tours, the Chania and Rethymno routes, how a segway works and who can ride. They also cover durations, timing, what to bring, meeting points and booking, with links into the Crete pages. The tours shown are checked on GetYourGuide.
What is a Crete segway tour?
A Crete segway tour is a guided ride through an old town on a two-wheeled electric transporter. Small groups follow a local leader past harbours, forts and mosques. Tours run in Chania, Rethymno and Heraklion, and each ride starts with a short practice.
The old towns of Chania and Rethymno are large mazes of narrow lanes. A Crete segway tour covers more of them than a walk in the same time. Riders stand on a platform between two wheels and hold a handlebar.
Groups stay small. Each Chania tour on GetYourGuide takes up to 7 riders, and the Rethymno tour takes up to 10. Every rider wears a helmet. On a Crete segway tour in Chania, a headset plays recorded history in up to eight languages.
Which Crete segway tour can you book?
Three Crete segway tour listings on GetYourGuide cover the two old towns. Two run in Chania and last 1.5 and 2 hours. One runs in Rethymno and lasts 3 hours. Two local firms, Chania Segway Tours and Bestride, run them.
The 1.5-hour Discovery tour covers the old city, the Venetian port and Splantzia. The 2-hour Exploration tour crosses the old city from east to west.
The Rethymno: Old Town Segway Tour lasts 3 hours with a personal guide. Bestride also runs a 2-hour Grand Tour and a 90-minute sunset ride. Its 2-hour night ride and 1-hour beach ride complete the list.
In Chania, the operator’s own site adds a 3-hour Combo Tour that reaches Halepa, once the rich district. Bestride adds a 3-hour Crete segway tour in Heraklion’s old town.
What does a Crete segway tour of Chania old town cover?
A Crete segway tour of Chania old town rides along the Venetian harbour and its back lanes. Riders pass a Venetian fortress, an Ottoman mosque and the old Turkish quarter. The longer route also reaches two seaside districts.
- Venetian harbour and lighthouse: the 21-metre lighthouse, built by the Venetians, was later restored by Egyptians.
- Firkas: a Venetian fortress at the west end of the harbour, now home to the Maritime Museum of Crete.
- Kucuk Hasan mosque: a 17th-century Ottoman mosque with pink domes, now used for art shows.
- Splantzia: the old Turkish district, once the main gathering place of the Turkish population.
- Nea Chora: a sandy beach beside a small port lined with tavernas.
- Kum Kapi: its Turkish name, Kum Kapisi, means Gate of the Sand, after a Venetian gate in the walls.
On the 1.5-hour Crete segway tour, the leader is not a licensed guide. The history comes through the headset instead. The leader shows the route and shares local tips. A Chania walking tour covers the same sights on foot.
The 1.5-hour route also passes the Municipal Market, the Trimartiri cathedral and the old synagogue. It rides past dig sites of Cydonia, the ancient city beneath Chania old town.
What does a Crete segway tour of Rethymno old town cover?
A Crete segway tour of Rethymno old town links the seafront and the Venetian harbour. It then winds through the lanes around the Fortezza. Bestride’s Grand Tour also rides along the palm-lined town beach. The 3-hour GetYourGuide route also passes the Mitropolis church.
- Fortezza: a 16th-century Venetian castle on the site of the ancient acropolis, built against pirate raids.
- Venetian harbour: a small port guarded by its own Egyptian lighthouse.
- Rimondi fountain: water runs from three stone lion heads into basins framed by Corinthian columns.
- Neratze mosque: once the church of Santa Maria, now a music school with the old town’s tallest minaret.
- Narrow lanes: the ride passes the Venetian Loggia, the Catholic church of St Francis and the Guora Gate.
The Guora Gate is the only part of the 16th-century town walls still standing. The Rimondi fountain dates from the early 17th century. Alvise Rimondi, the Venetian rector or city governor, built it to bring the town drinking water.
The Grand Tour route also crosses the New Town and the Kallithea area. Riders on this Crete segway tour stop for photos and videos along the way.
How does a segway work on a Crete segway tour?
On a Crete segway tour you ride a self-balancing two-wheeler. Sensors keep it upright while you stand on the platform. Lean forward to move ahead and lean back to slow down or reverse. A short practice comes before the ride.
The two wheels sit side by side, not one behind the other. Gyroscopes, which are small sensors that feel tilt, check your balance about 100 times a second. Motors then move the wheels to keep you upright.
Training on a Crete segway tour is short. Chania Segway Tours runs 5 to 10 minutes of practice before each ride. Bestride lists a 2-minute session for its Grand Tour.
A standard Segway reaches 20 km/h, about three times walking pace. A beginner mode cuts the top speed to 9 km/h and slows the turns. Chania Segway Tours uses the Segway i2 model.
Who can ride on a Crete segway tour?
A Crete segway tour in Chania takes riders who weigh between 30 kg and 120 kg. Rethymno sets its own limits, with a lower top weight. Pregnant women cannot ride, and small children in Chania travel only on the leader’s segway.
- Chania Exploration Segway Tour: riders from 30 kg to 120 kg.
- Chania Old City Discovery: riders from 30 kg to 110 kg and at least 1.30 m tall.
- Chania children: under-8s cannot ride a segway of their own.
- Chania small children: a child under 110 cm and up to 25 kg can ride on the leader’s segway.
- Rethymno 3-hour tour: no children under 6 and no riders over 118 kg.
- Bestride Grand Tour: riders from 25 kg to 100 kg.
The Segway i2 carries up to 118 kg, counting the rider and any bags. Riders need normal fitness, since the whole ride is done standing up.
Rethymno lists the ride as not recommended in pregnancy. On a Crete segway tour in Chania, alcohol, drugs and smoking are banned. Disabled riders can join an accessible Chania tour on an Addseat, a seat linked to a segway.
How long does a Crete segway tour last, and what is included?
A Crete segway tour lasts from 1.5 to 3 hours. The Chania old city ride takes 1.5 hours. The Chania Exploration ride takes 2 hours. The Rethymno old town ride takes 3 hours. Each one includes a helmet and a guide.
Both Chania rides come from the same local firm, Chania Segway Tours. Each group holds up to 7 riders. A headset, or small earpiece, plays the audio guide in up to 8 languages.
Every Chania Crete segway tour on GetYourGuide includes these items:
- a Segway to ride, listed as the i2 model
- a helmet for every rider
- a headset for the audio guide
- a bottle of water
- a tour leader for the whole route
On the Rethymno Crete segway tour, a live guide speaks English and Greek. Helmets and a short safety lesson come with it. Hotel pickup is not part of the three listings.
Bestride’s own 3-hour Golden Tour adds a reflective orange vest, a bright jacket for safety. Halfway round, riders stop for a soft drink or coffee in a traditional shop.
When does a Crete segway tour run?
A Crete segway tour runs in the morning, the afternoon, at sunset and after dark. Start times change from month to month. Evening rides avoid the strong midday heat and the thickest crowds in the old towns.
In Chania, the Exploration ride leaves at 9 am, Monday to Saturday. The shorter old city ride runs in late morning and afternoon slots. A separate 90-minute night ride also tours the harbour and Kum Kapi.
In Rethymno, Bestride runs a 90-minute sunset Crete segway tour. Its 2-hour Rethymno by Night ride starts after 7 pm. Riders stop at a bar for a shot, a small drink, during that ride.
The midday sun is strong on the open waterfront. A morning or evening Crete segway tour keeps riders cooler. For weather and crowds by month, read about when to visit Crete.
What do you wear and bring on a Crete segway tour?
For a Crete segway tour, wear flat shoes and comfortable clothes. Bring a passport, ID card or driving licence, because the Chania firm asks for one on the day. A phone or camera is fine for photos.
The Chania Crete segway tour listings rule out these four things:
- drinking alcohol before the ride
- carrying a backpack
- wearing high-heeled shoes
- smoking on the tour
The Chania firm calls its dress code smart casual, which means neat everyday clothes. Riders stand for the whole ride, so shoes with a firm, flat sole matter more than style.
Riders on a Crete segway tour keep both hands on the handlebar while moving. Photos happen at the stops, where the guide pauses the group.
Where does a Crete segway tour start?
A Crete segway tour in Chania starts at 25 Episkopou Chrisanthou Street. This office sits a 3-minute walk behind the Municipal Market. In Rethymno, the meeting point is Sofokli Venizelou 4, on the main waterfront street opposite the marina.
Chania riders arrive 15 minutes before the start, in time for the practice session. A late arrival means a missed ride and no refund. For the night ride, the firm sends the exact start time by message after booking.
Bestride’s 90-minute Crete segway tour leaves from the Square of the Unknown Soldier. From there, riders cross the coast road to reach the Venetian harbour.
Staying close to the old town keeps the walk to the Chania start short. Compare areas on the page about where to stay in Chania.
How do you book and cancel a Crete segway tour?
You book a Crete segway tour on GetYourGuide or straight with the local firm. Every listing named here offers free cancellation, with a full refund, up to 24 hours before the start. A later cancellation brings no refund.
On GetYourGuide, the Crete segway tour ticket appears in the app and on the website right after booking. Riders show it on a phone at the meeting point. The Rethymno listing also lets you reserve now and pay later.
The Chania firm’s own rules add these points:
- bookings go through its online form or its shop
- rain lets you move or cancel the ride for a full refund
- changes inside 24 hours are not accepted
- a lone booker on a quiet day gets an alternative ride or a full refund
- staff can turn away a rider for safety reasons
Visitors heading on to the capital can ride again on an Athens segway tour. For other ideas near the harbour, see things to do in Chania.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Fortezza entry ticket part of a Crete segway tour?
No. Bestride lists the Fortezza ticket as not included on its 3-hour ride. The stop below the castle hill lasts about 10 minutes, for photos and a chat. For a slower look at the old town on foot, try the Rethymno walking tour.
Can cruise passengers join a Crete segway tour in Chania?
Yes. Cruise ships dock at Souda Bay. The bus stop, signed City bus, is right outside the dock. A city bus leaves the port every 10 to 15 minutes. The ride to the Municipal Market takes 15 to 20 minutes. From there, the segway office is a short walk away.
Is there a Crete segway tour along the beach in Rethymno?
Yes. Bestride runs a 1-hour ride along the town beach, starting from the coastal road. Riders can stop for a quick swim in the sea. The route also takes in the old town. For more family beach days, see Crete with kids.
Does a Crete segway tour in Chania go beyond the old town?
Yes. The Chania firm also runs a Halepa ride. It passes outside the east Venetian walls and the sandy beach near Kum Kapi. It then reaches Halepa, a wealthy old residential district. Photos of the ride come free with this route.