A Crete tuk tuk tour is a guided ride in a small three-wheeled vehicle through the towns, villages and coast roads of Crete. Tours run from Heraklion, Hersonissos, Malia and Chania. Tours across the rest of the country are listed on Greece Tours.
The sections below cover the tours, where they run, each route, safety, the tastings, who it suits, inclusions, timing and booking, with links into the Crete pages. The tours shown are checked on GetYourGuide and Viator.
What is a Crete tuk tuk tour?
A Crete tuk tuk tour is a guided ride in a small three-wheeled motor vehicle. The driver is also the guide. Rides last from 45 minutes to six hours. Routes cover north coast villages, beach roads and the old towns of Heraklion and Chania.
Its name, tuk tuk, copies the sound of the small engine. The driver handles the traffic and the parking. Guests sit back and look at the views.
Each Crete tuk tuk tour starts with a pickup from your hotel or a meeting point. Tuk Tuk Kreta Tours keeps each ride for your own group alone. Its drivers guide in English, German and Dutch.
The format is not unique to the island. An Athens tuk tuk tour uses fully electric vehicles around the capital’s centre. A Crete tuk tuk tour adds hill villages, beach roads and honey tastings.
Which Crete tuk tuk tour can you book?
You can book a Crete tuk tuk tour on GetYourGuide or Viator, or direct with local firms. The firms work from Malia, Piskopiano and Heraklion. Each listing gives its own route, length and base town.
Travel in Crete runs the 7 villages and Hersonissos sea view listings on GetYourGuide. A Hersonissos, Stalis and Malia ride is listed there too. Here are the GetYourGuide options with their base towns:
- 7 Villages with Tastings: Stalis, three hours, private group
- Heraklion Electric Tuk Tuk City Tour: Heraklion, two to three hours, private group
- Malia, Potamos Beach and Sissi: Malia, one hour, private group
- Hersonissos Private Tuk Tuk Tour with Sea Views: Piskopiano, one hour, private group
- Malia to Hersonissos with Tastings: Malia, three hours, small group
- Chania Tuk Tuk City Tour with Local Guide: Chania, private group
On Viator, the Eco Friendly Tuk Tuk Tour of Heraklion lasts two hours. Tuk Tuk Lions runs this Crete tuk tuk tour from Heraklion’s old town in fully electric vehicles.
Tuk Tuk Kreta Tours has its office in Malia and runs from March to November. Cretan Tuk Tuk works from Piskopiano, with a second address at Agia Marina near Chania.
Where does a Crete tuk tuk tour run?
A Crete tuk tuk tour runs on the north coast of the island. Coast rides link Hersonissos, Piskopiano, Stalis, Malia and Sissi. City rides cover Heraklion and Chania. Coast routes follow beach roads and climb to hill villages.
The coast rides stay within one short stretch between Hersonissos and Sissi. Pickups for each Crete tuk tuk tour on the coast cover hotels in all five resorts. Each place below gets one line:
- Heraklion: electric tuk tuks cross the old town past museums and historic buildings.
- Hersonissos: rides roll down the main street to the fishing boats at the port.
- Piskopiano: a hill village with narrow stone streets, tavernas and coastal views.
- Stalis: tours drive the beach road lined with bars, cafés and shops.
- Malia: rides start on the beach road and stop in the old town.
- Sissi: tours pause at the small harbour for free time and coffee.
Out west, a Chania city ride with a local guide completes the list of Crete tuk tuk tour options.
What does the 7 villages Crete tuk tuk tour visit?
The 7 villages Crete tuk tuk tour visits Sissi, Malia, Anissaras, Koutouloufari, Piskopiano, Old Hersonissos and Hersonissos. It is a private ride of three hours. The listing names tastings of honey, raki and olive oil, plus free time in Sissi.
The tasting stop takes place in Malia. Guests sample local honey, raki and olive oil there. Raki, also called tsikoudia, is the local Cretan brandy. The ride winds past olive groves, stone houses and churches.
Along the way, the tuk tuk passes the Palace of Malia archaeological site and Potamos Beach. It also passes Star Beach Waterpark and the Malia and Stalis beach roads. The Viator version of this Crete tuk tuk tour lists Stalis in place of Anissaras.
- Length: three hours, about half a day
- Group: private, with 35 pickup points
- Guide: a live guide or an audio guide
- Languages: English, Czech, Danish, Dutch, French and five more
- Ages: 5 to 99 on the Viator version
What does a Heraklion tuk tuk city tour show?
A Heraklion Crete tuk tuk tour shows the old town from an electric vehicle with no exhaust fumes. The GetYourGuide ride lasts two to three hours with pickup. The Viator ride lasts two hours and covers landmarks, museums and local shops.
Tuk Tuk Lions runs the Viator Crete tuk tuk tour through the narrow, busy streets of the old town. Its tuk tuks are fully electric. Guests can follow the set route or plan their own.
Lions also offers a three-hour ride and a six-hour ride. The longer one reaches the ancient site of Knossos, passing Roman aqueducts and Byzantine churches. These old town landmarks stand along the city streets:
- Koules Fortress: the Venetian castle at the old harbour entrance
- Morosini Fountain: four stone lions in Lions Square, a local meeting point
- Venetian Loggia: a Venetian building that now houses the Town Hall
- Venetian Walls: city defences that held out through a 21-year siege
- Archaeological Museum: ancient finds close to Liberty Square
What does the Malia, Potamos Beach and Sissi Crete tuk tuk tour cover?
This Crete tuk tuk tour lasts one hour and starts in Malia. It runs as a private group, and pick-up is included. The route passes Potamos Beach and the ancient Malia Palace, then reaches Sissi and Stalis.
The ride begins on the lively beach road of Malia, with views over the Aegean Sea. Potamos Beach comes next, a calm stretch of soft golden sand. The guide speaks English, German or Dutch.
Behind the coast, the road crosses farmland lined with greenhouses. These grow Malia bananas, a small and sweet local fruit. In Sissi, the tuk tuk winds through narrow streets to the fishing harbour.
Tuk Tuk Kreta Tours, based in Malia, sells other versions of this Crete tuk tuk tour. One is a 45-minute tour from Malia to Stalis. Another is a one-hour non-stop run from Malia to Sissi.
- Malia beach road, the starting point
- Potamos Beach, close to the palace
- Malia Palace, a Minoan archaeological site seen from the road
- Sissi village and its harbour
- Stalis and its lively beach road
What do the Hersonissos Crete tuk tuk tours cover?
A Hersonissos Crete tuk tuk tour links the port and the coast. Two routes also climb to the old hill villages. The private Sea Views ride lasts one hour. The Stalis route takes 1.5 hours, and the Malia route with tastings takes three.
The Sea Views ride passes Star Beach Waterpark and rolls down the main street of shops and cafés. It pauses for sea views at the port, then visits Anissaras Beach. A photo stop comes with a myth about Dia Island.
Next it climbs to Old Hersonissos, Piskopiano and Koutouloufari. These villages have narrow stone streets, small tavernas and wide coastal views. This Crete tuk tuk tour offers 26 pick-up points, with insurance and fuel included.
Cretan TukTuk original runs the Hersonissos-Stalis-Malia ride, which starts in Stalis. It visits the port of Hersonissos, then heads to the cliffs of Sarandaris. The coast road through Anissaras leads to a finish in Old Hersonissos.
What does the Chania Crete tuk tuk tour cover?
The Chania Crete tuk tuk tour runs as a small group for three hours with a local guide. It explores the city’s neighbourhoods, historic landmarks and hidden corners. The guide explains local life, culture and traditions on the way.
Chania lies in western Crete, far from the Malia and Hersonissos routes. A Viator listing, Private Chania City Tour by Tuk Tuk, also lasts three hours. One listed departure for this Crete tuk tuk tour leaves at 9:30 in the morning.
Chania’s old town grew under Venetian and Ottoman rule. Its districts still show both pasts in their streets and buildings. The main districts of the city are these:
- Venetian Harbour, lined with restored old buildings
- Topanas, the old Jewish quarter behind the harbour
- Splantzia, the former Turkish quarter, now busy and bohemian
- Koum Kapi, a coastal strip just outside the Venetian walls
- Chalepa, once home to diplomats and wealthy families
What is a tuk tuk, and how safe is a Crete tuk tuk tour?
A tuk tuk is a small three-wheeled vehicle with an engine. On a Crete tuk tuk tour, the driver sits in front and guests ride behind under a roof. Listings include insurance and a driver who also guides.
Its formal name is auto rickshaw, a motor version of the old pulled rickshaw. Tuk tuks run on petrol, gas or electricity. One row of seats behind the driver holds up to three adults.
Cretan Tuk Tuk in Hersonissos drives the Piaggio Ape Calessino, an Italian model with retro styling. Ape is Italian for bee. The Calessino 200 has a small petrol engine. In Heraklion, Tuk Tuk Lions runs fully electric tuk tuks with zero emissions.
Guests stay seated on a Crete tuk tuk tour. On a Crete segway tour or a Crete e-bike tour, riders steer themselves.
Which food and drink stops come with a Crete tuk tuk tour?
Four listings for a Crete tuk tuk tour include tastings, and all of them run along the Malia coast. Raki, a traditional Cretan spirit, appears on every one. Honey comes with all four, and olive oil with three.
The Malia to Hersonissos Crete tuk tuk tour runs as a small group, with pick-up included. Its route passes the Palace of Malia, Potamos Beach and the Port of Hersonissos.
The Tuk Tuk Sissi Ride gives free time in Sissi for a coffee by the sea. Its tasting follows in Malia’s old town. The Sissi and Beyond tour serves raki with honey, a sweet and strong local drink.
- Private 7 villages tour: honey, raki and olive oil in Malia
- Malia to Hersonissos tour: raki, olive oil and honey
- Tuk Tuk Sissi Ride: honey, olive oil and raki in old Malia
- Sissi and Beyond tour: raki mixed with honey
- Hersonissos Sea Views tour: food and drinks not included
In Heraklion, the six-hour Tuk Tuk Lions tour adds food stops for guests who want them. The city also has a hop-on hop-off bus and a guided walking tour. Full plates of island dishes come on a Crete food tour.
Who suits a Crete tuk tuk tour?
Couples, families and travellers who prefer a seat to a long walk enjoy a Crete tuk tuk tour. The driver does all the driving. The Sissi ride lists an age range of 5 to 99, so school-age children join in.
The Hersonissos ride and the 7 villages tour each take up to two guests. The Malia to Hersonissos tour with tastings runs as a small group. Every other Crete tuk tuk tour listed near Heraklion runs as a private group.
The tuk tuk is not wheelchair accessible. The Hersonissos sea views listing rules out guests with back problems, heart problems or mobility impairments. Infants sit on an adult’s lap.
- Couples booking a private ride for two
- Families with children aged 5 and over
- Cruise visitors fitting a Crete tuk tuk tour into a Heraklion call
- Guests staying in Malia, Stalis or Hersonissos
- Travellers who want local stories from a driver guide
Families planning more days out find ideas on the page about Crete with kids. Guests after rougher off-road tracks look at a Crete ATV quad tour or a Crete jeep safari.
How long does a Crete tuk tuk tour last, and what is included?
A Crete tuk tuk tour lasts from 45 minutes to three hours on the coast. The Heraklion electric city ride runs two to three hours. Private rides include a driver guide, insurance and pick-up from set points.
- Malia and Stalis non-stop: 45 minutes
- Hersonissos sea views, or Malia, Potamos Beach and Sissi: 1 hour
- Hersonissos, Stalis and Malia: 1.5 hours
- Sissi ride or sunset ride: 2 hours
- 7 villages, or Malia to Hersonissos with tastings: 3 hours
The 7 villages listing names 35 pick-up points. They sit in Malia, Stalis, Hersonissos, Anissaras, Old Hersonissos, Piskopiano and Koutouloufari. The resort areas appear on the page about where to stay in Crete.
The Sissi ride and the Hersonissos sea views tour include the fuel surcharge and insurance. The Sissi ride also adds tastings of honey, olive oil and raki. The Heraklion city ride fits inside a Heraklion shore excursion day.
When does a Crete tuk tuk tour run, and what do you bring?
A Crete tuk tuk tour with Travel in Crete runs from mid-March to the end of October. Tuk Tuk Crete runs private tours from March to November. Sunset rides last two to two and a half hours.
Tuk Tuk Kreta Tours lists opening hours of 9am to 10pm. Tuk Tuk Lions in Heraklion works from 9am to 9pm. Exact start times appear when you choose a date.
The evening Crete tuk tuk tour in Malia is the Sunset Tuk Tuk Tour. It ends the day with photo stops. A tuk tuk is an open vehicle, so sun and breeze reach every seat.
- Sunglasses against the glare
- A hat for the open seats
- Sun cream for midday rides
- Bottled water for the heat
- A camera for photo stops
A Crete tuk tuk tour needs good weather to run. A weather cancellation brings a new date or a full refund. Weather by month is set out on the page about when to visit Crete.
How do you book and cancel a Crete tuk tuk tour?
You book a Crete tuk tuk tour on GetYourGuide, Viator or the operator’s own website. Cancelling up to 24 hours before the start brings a full refund. Later cancellations bring no refund, and late changes are not accepted.
The 7 villages Crete tuk tuk tour offers reserve now and pay later. Nothing is paid on the day of booking. Viator sends confirmation at the time of booking.
Tuk Tuk Kreta Tours takes instant online bookings on its own site. Give your hotel name and location at booking. Pick-up time and details reach your email within 24 hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you plan your own route in Heraklion?
Yes. Tuk Tuk Lions lets guests create their own route in Heraklion. Its six-hour tour covers the whole city at an easy pace. Food stops are added for those who wish on this long Crete tuk tuk tour.
Do you drive the tuk tuk yourself?
No. On every guided Crete tuk tuk tour, a local driver guide drives and explains the sights. You only step out at photo stops. Cretan Tuk Tuk Rentals also rents out tuk tuks, besides running guided tours around Crete. Renting means you drive it yourself.
Is there free time during the ride?
Yes, on two routes. The 7 villages tour includes free time in Sissi. The three-hour Sissi to Hersonissos ride picks up in Sissi and gives free time in Old Hersonissos. The shorter non-stop rides keep guests seated from start to finish.
What costs extra on the day?
Tips are not included on the Sissi ride. Personal expenses stay outside the booking too. The Hersonissos sea views ride leaves out food and drinks. Honey or raki bought at a tasting stop is a personal expense. Bring card or cash for extras on a Crete tuk tuk tour.