Car Rental in Greece

Why rent a car in Greece?

Greece is a great country to visit by car. From historical landmarks and beautiful cities to endless beaches and untamed nature areas, it is a special place with a lot to offer. Having your own car is the best way to experience all of it.

If you want to know more about renting a car in Greece, don't miss our complete guide.

Top ways to enter Greece

• Athens Airport. Serving the national capital and being by far the busiest in the country, Athens–Eleftherios Venizelos handles close to 30 million travelers annually. The airport, which is a relatively short drive east of the city center, is served by dozens of airlines, including a number of low-cost carriers, that provide direct connections with destinations across Europe and the rest of the planet.
• Heraklion and Chania Airports. The two international airports on the island of Crete handle a combined number of 12 million travelers annually. Serving the island’s capital of the same name and located in the northeast of the island, Heraklion Airport is the largest of the two; Chania Airport is located in the northwestern part of the island. Both airports are significantly more busy during the summer months and both have flights by a number of European low-cost carriers.
• Thessaloniki Airport: The airport in Greece’s second city is the best way to access the country’s north.
• By land: If your rental car provider permits it, it is possible to rent a car in a neighboring country and then drive to Greece. Do keep in mind, however, that different visa requirements may be in place for citizens of different countries. Some large international airports near Greece are Sofia Airport in Bulgaria, Tirana Airport in Albania, and Istanbul Airport in Turkey.
• Hotels: It is also worth noting that rental cars can be picked up at various hotels across Greece. This is a convenient option if you plan to stay at the resort most of the time but would like to make a day trip or two at some point. Examples locations where this is available are the Atlantica Princess Hotel on Rhodes, the Lindian Village Hotel also on Rhodes, and the Grecotel Olympia Oasis Hotel in the Peloponnese.
• Small Airports and Ferry Terminals: As many rental car providers may not allow you to take your rental car on ferries, rental cars a widely available at ferry terminals. In addition, many small airports on the islands also have rental cars available if you chose to fly rather than sail. Mytilene International Airport on Lesbos is a good example. 

Top cities and places to visit

• Athens: The birthplace of Classical Greece, Athens is home to ancient landmarks like the Acropolis, the Ruins of the Temple of Zeus, and the Ancient Agora. At the same time, the city is also a modern metropolis with plenty going on in terms of culture, arts, and entertainment. The top of Lycabettus Hill is the place to get a view of the whole city.
• Crete: Greece’s largest island is both a historic jewel and a popular beach destination. The home of the mysterious Minoan civilization, the island has plenty of impressive historic sites such as the Palace of Knossos. Its two largest cities, Heraklion and Chania, are popular hubs for accessing the island’s 1,050km (650 miles) of coastline, as is the city of Ierapetra, the southernmost settlement in Europe.
• Thessaloniki: The second city of Greece and the largest one in the country’s north, Thessaloniki is primarily known for its historical attractions. These include the old Byzantine walls, the Paleochristian churches, and a relatively more recent Ottoman and Jewish heritage. Thessaloniki also provides access to some of Greece’s wildest beaches and nature areas.
• The Cyclades: From Santorini to Naxos and from Mykonos to Paros, these are among the most picturesque islands in all of Europe. In addition to serene beaches, the islands also offer ancient monasteries, historic sites dating back millennia, and, in some cases, surprisingly high peaks.
• Ionian Islands: Influenced by nearby Italy and once part of the Venetian Empire, the Ionian Islands have a unique culture and atmosphere. Corfu is the largest and most fun, while Zakynthos (also known as Zante) is often claimed to be the most beautiful.
• Volos: The city on Greece’s eastern coast is well dese4rving of a 2-3 day itinerary of its own. It is also a nice place to stop en route to the islands of the Sporades. Follow the seafront promenade from the centre of town to Isalos beach bar and spend a relaxing day by the sea. By night, locals hang out at Agios Nikolaos square. This bustling piazza is surrounded by excellent restaurants and street food eateries where you can sample regional delicacies like peinirli and tsipouro.
• Ionian Islands. Located to the west of the Greek mainland, the Ionian archipelago used to be a part of the Venetian Empire and continues to show a significant Italian influence in its architecture and cuisine, in addition to its own unique culture. Corfu is the largest and most visited island, Zakynthos often considered to have the most natural beauty (some claim in this part of the country), and Lefkada is connected to the Greek mainland to the bridge, being just a very short drive southwest of the city of Preveza.

Most popular rental car

The most popular rental car in Greece is the VW Polo, but travelers also love the Volkswagen Up and the Fiat Panda.

Driver's license requirements

The minimum age at which one can rent a car in Greece is 19 (from Centauro, for example). Some rental companies have a minumium age of 21, though. As in most other countries, drivers are required to have held a license for at least one year. Also, drivers under a certain age are charged a young driver fee. This fee is included in the price in the search results when you indicate your age. 

Since November 2021, the UK, US, Canada, Australia, and Gibraltar do not need an International Driving Permit (IDP) to drive in Greece. Nor do travelers who hold a full driving license from the EU, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, or Lichtenstein Be careful though, some rental companies have not updated their policies and may request that you show one anyway (you can find this in formation in the Rental Conditions before booking).

Crossing borders

Greece is bordered by Albania, North Macedonia, Bulgaria, and Turkey. Greece is a member of the Schengen Area, but none of its neighbors are (even though Bulgaria is a member of the European Union, it is not a member of the Schengen Area).

Each of Greece’s neighboring countries has its own visa policy. Depending on your citizenship, you may or may not need a visa to enter them. We advise getting in touch with your Ministry of Foreign Affairs to find out about the visa requirements in each country that you’d like to visit.

In many European countries, it is almost a given that you can travel from one country to another with a rental car. In Greece, though, this is not the case. Only a few rental companies allow cars rented in Greece to leave the country. Enterprise and Alamo are two of these companies, though they only allow their cars to be taken to countries in the European Union (i.e., only Bulgaria from Greece’s immediate neighbors). For this, they also charge 90 euros for a green card and 10 euros per day. 

Hertz, Avis, and Carwiz also allow their cars to be taken out of the country, though you must arrange this at least five days prior to the start of your rental period. 

Most other rental companies in Greece explicitly state that they do not allow their cars to be taken outside of the country and that doing such will lead to hefty fines and/or void any insurance coverage. 

Another popular question is whether it is possible to take a rental car on a ferry. This is asked time and time again on online travel forums often with no clear answer. Rental companies often respond to the question by stating that renters can take their cars on ferries but that the renter is fully responsible for any damage to the car which occurs boarding, on, or disembarking the ferry. 

Enterprise, Alamo, Sixt, Hertz, Autounion, Carwiz, and Greenmotion all explicitly allow their cars to be taken on ferries. However, all require both advance notice and charge an extra fee (that is either per ferry trip or for the enter rental period). If you absolutely plan on taking your rental car on a ferry, then it is best to rent from one of these companies. Be aware, that, in most cases, you must return to the location where you picked up the car. Even if you were able to take the car to an island (or another island) and drop it off there, you would be charged not only a one-way rental fee but also the ferry fare for the car’s return trip (as the company will have to relocate it). 

Toll roads

There are a number of toll roads, tunnels, and bridges on mainland Greece. Many travelers find them very hard to navigate and some choose to avoid using the toll roads altogether because of the very complex toll system that is in place. Different toll roads are administered by different private companies and so there is not a single, nationwide (or even region-wide) system in place.

For most toll roads, payment can be either made with cash at a toll gate, by a credit card, or with coins at an automatic toll machine. For some roads, an electronic transponder might be used to pay for using the toll road. Some rental cars may be equipped with such an electronic transponder. However, because of the aforementioned different toll systems that are in place, this payment method might work for some toll roads, but not for others. Determine out your route in advance and ask your car rental provider about the best way to pay for all the toll roads that you plan to use.

Find out more about toll roads in Greece on the European toll road website.

Most popular types of rental car

The most popular type of rental car in Greece is a mini, closely followed by economy and compact.

Top driving routes

• Peloponnese. Located just to the west of Athens, the Peloponnese Peninsula is one of the most interesting and least visited regions of Greece. From uncrowded Ancient Greek sites to a more traditional lifestyle and delicious cuisine dominated by the best olive oil in Europe, the region has plenty for the curious traveler to explore.
• Chalkidiki. Also known simply as the Three Fingers because of their peculiar shape, the peninsulas of Kassandra, Sithonia, and Mount Athos together make one of the most interesting destinations in northern Greece. Located just to the east of Thessaloniki, much of Chalkidiki is fully developed for international tourism, but the 500km (310 miles) of coastline ensures there’s also plenty of private spots to explore. The inland parts of the ‘fingers’ are home to some of the best hiking trails in the country snaking through long valleys and past ancient monasteries. 
• Lake Prespa. Home to the largest national park of mainland Greece, Lake Prespa is a scenic mountain region in the far north of the country, on the border with North Macedonia and Albania (in fact, both the Great Prespa and Little Prespa lakes are shared between the neighboring countries). Home to a serene atmosphere and many small villages (some of which are abandoned), the area is also a biodiversity hotspot that’s especially rich in birdlife. The area has a truly remote feel, but for many, that is its main attraction. The trip from the nearest big Greek city, Thessaloniki, takes about four hours by car.

Car rental prices in Greece

• Small cars - from $11 per day
• Medium cars - from $15 per day
• Large cars - from $18 per day
• SUVs - from $20 per day
• Vans - from $40 per day
• Convertibles - from $49 per day
• Station wagons - from $31 per day
• Premium cars - from $83 per day

Money-saving and other tips

You can do a number of things to get a good car rental deal in Greece:

• Compare the rates of different rental car providers
• Book your rental car well in advance
• Plan your route before you go
• Know your fuel and mileage requirements
• Visit during the month when the rental prices are the cheapest. According to our data, visiting Greece is the cheapest in January when renting a car is about 65% cheaper than the yearly average.