Car Rental in Mykonos

Why rent a car in Mykonos?

Mykonos is a great place for renting a car. Its capital, Mykonos Town, is a great place to begin your exploration of the island, but with the freedom of your own ride, you’ll also be able to visit its many pristine beaches, beautiful natural areas, and little inland villages that cannot be reached by public transportation.

Top ways to enter Mykonos

• Mykonos Airport: Handling more than 1.4 million travelers every year, Mykonos Airport is one of the fastest-growing airports in Greece. Especially active during the summer months, it offers many flights to continental Greece, as well as to Europe and the Middle East. The airport is located in Mykonos Town, some 3km (1.8 miles) southeast of its center and is easily reached by car.
• By ferry: It is also possible to fly to another international airport on one of the nearby Greek islands and then take a ferry to Mykonos. Some airports near Mykonos include Syros Airport, Naxos Airport, Paros Airport, Milos Airport, and Santorini Airport. You can pick up a rental car at Mykonos Airport after arriving on the island. It’s also important to look up the ferry schedule in advance as the services are much more frequent during the spring and summer months.

City facts

• Mykonos enjoys a typical Mediterranean climate with long, hot summers and very mild winters. Mykonos experiences more than 300 sunny days every year. The average temperature in July is 28°C  (82°F), but thanks to the cooling Meltemi winds characteristic of the region, the island rarely experiences extreme heat. The average temperature is 15°C  (59°F) in January and February, with winters significantly more humid than summers.
• Mykonos has its own unique cuisine that is slightly different from the cuisine of the other Aegean islands. Local specialties include kopanisti mykonou (a type of salty cheese), louza (a type of cured pork), and lazarakia (a sweet spice bread), all of which can be found at one of the island’s many restaurants.
• The island got its name from Mykonos, its mythological ruler. Considered to be the son (or grandson) of the sun god Apollo, he was a local hero who did many famous deeds. According to Greek mythology, the island was also the site of a great battle between Zeus and the Titans.

Top sights and activities

• The Windmills. Although an unusual site for a Greek island, the area of the windmills of Mykonos has been one of its most famous places since the 16th Century. Located on the western side of Mykonos Town, and historically very important for the local economy, nowadays, the windmills are a tourist landmark and a popular place for watching the spectacular Aegean sunsets.
• Little Venice. Also known as Alefkandra by locals, Little Venice is the most picturesque part of Mykonos Town. The area gets its name due to the many wooden balconies that hang over the sea from the area’s residential buildings and family-run hotels. Even if your hotel is not in the area, it’s a great place to explore or have a meal at one of its splendid restaurants.
• Old Port. This part of Mykonos Town is located just behind Little Venice, and is worth a visit! You’ll see fishing boats galore and can get a fresh catch from the daily fish market. Or, enjoy some fresh seafood from one of the great restaurants or a nice drink at a bar as you stroll around in the evening.
• Panagia Paraportiani. One of the most famous (and most photographed) churches in all of Greece, the snow white Panagia Paraportiani is perhaps the most impressive building in Mykonos. Made up of five different chapels, it is fittingly located in the Kastro district of Mykonos Town, the oldest part of the city.
• Museums. Like many other parts of Greece, Mykonos is home to plenty of ancient history, and one of the best places to explore it is the Archaeological Museum — some of its artifacts date back 4,500 years. Concerned with relatively more recent times, but equally fascinating, are the Folklore and Agriculture Museums, while the Aegean Maritime Museum is dedicated to arguably the most important industry of the region.
• This is just a small sample of what there is to do, so be sure to read more about the best things to do on Mykonos. 

Traffic and parking

• There are no highways on Mykonos (nor on any other Greek islands).
• Unless specifically indicated otherwise, the speed limits are 90km/h (56mph) on roads outside populated areas and 50km/h (31mph) in populated and built-up areas.
• Many gas stations might be closed on the weekends and public holidays. 
• It is illegal to use a mobile phone while driving.
• The legal alcohol limit is 0.05% for experienced drivers and 0.02% for novice drivers. Exceeding these limits can lead to steep fines and a license ban. Exceeding the limit of 0.08% is a criminal offense and can lead to up to two years of imprisonment.
• Proof of insurance and the car’s documentation needs to be in the car whenever you’re driving.
• When you are driving, you need to have your passport or ID card with you at all times.
• The general emergency number, like elsewhere in the EU, is 112. The number for the police is 100, the number to call an ambulance is 166, and the number for the fire department is 199. 

Toll roads

There are no toll roads on Mykonos. There are a number of toll roads, tunnels, and bridges on the mainland of Greece. Many travelers find them very hard to navigate and some choose to avoid using the toll roads altogether because of the very complex 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) toll system in place.

For most toll roads, payment can be either made with cash at a toll gate, by 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 might be equipped with such an electronic transponder. However, because of the aforementioned different toll road systems that are in place, this payment method might work on some toll roads but not on others. Plan your route in advance and ask your car rental provider about the best way to pay for the toll roads that you plan to use.  

Ideas for day trips

• Beaches. For all its amazing culture and food, Mykonos is, first and foremost, a beach destination. There’s plenty of beaches to choose from - Psarou Beach and Paranga Beach are the most famous shores on the island’s southern coast, Agios Stefanos Beach and Megali Ammos are the beaches that are the closest to Mykonos Town on the west of the island, Fokos Beach is still something of a hidden gem in the north and Kalo Livadi Beach and Kalafati Beach are two somewhat remote, tranquil spots on the east side of the island. All of them, and many more are easy to reach with a rental car.
• Delos. A small island near Mykonos with no permanent inhabitants, Delos is a world-famous mythological and archaeological site. A place of worship since prehistoric times, it was later considered the birthplace of Apollo and Artemis, two of the most important ancient Greek gods. With countless landmarks and ruins from those times, it is a place like no other. It’s impossible to reach by car, but you can drive to the harbor of Mykonos Town from where there are frequent boats to Delos during the summer months.
• Paros. A Cycladic island a short boat ride away, Paros is something of a more relaxed, quiet version of Mykonos. Famous as a paradise for lovers of windsurfing and kite-surfing, it is also known for its picturesque, but hard-to-reach, lighthouse. There is a ferry service between Mykonos and Paros, but be sure to look up the schedule in advance. If you’d like to bring your rental car on a ferry, first make sure your rental car provider permits it.
• Tinos. Another great island to visit, Tinos is just north of Mykonos. Less touristy and more laid-back than Mykonos, you can enjoy a day on the great beaches, strolling around some of the towns, visiting a vineyard, and eating amazing food at one of the authentic, cozy taverns. You can drive to the port at Mykonos and head over on a ferry.
• East Coast. Mykonos is a small island, and you’re never too far away from anywhere else, but the northeast peninsula is its least crowded part and arguably has the most remote feel to it. There are many lovely beaches to explore, but it can also be fun to explore the inland villages and old mountaintop churches that you can find here.

Most popular cars

The most popular rental car type in Mykonos is a mini, followed by economy and compact. The most popular rental cars are the Suzuki Celerio, the VW Up, and the VW Polo.

Further destinations

• Syros. Another Cycladic island, but slightly different in character and culture, Syros for its Apollo Theater that hosts the International Classic Music Festival, the Vaporia District with its elegant mansions, and the Ano Syros Medieval Quarter. There is a ferry service between Mykonos and Syros, but be sure to look up the schedule in advance. If you’d like to bring your rental car on a ferry, first make sure your rental car provider permits it.
• Naxos. The largest island in the Cycladic archipelago, Naxos attracts visitors with its ancient walled city, the Venetian Museum, and the Folklore Museum that focuses on the traditions, clothing, beliefs of the Cycladic islands. Like with other destinations that can only be reached by ferry, first, make sure your rental car provider permits bringing your rental car along. Alternatively, you can drop one off in Mykonos and pick up a new one in Naxos.
• Santorini. A volcanic island also known as Thira, Santorini is one of the most popular travel destinations in Greece. Famous for its black pebble Kamari Beach, Orthodox Greek monasteries, and plethora of archaeological sites, as well as truly remarkable beaches, it can be reached by ferry from Mykonos, with the service being especially active during the summer months. If your rental car provider doesn’t permit bringing a rental car on a ferry, you can pick up a new one at several points on Santorini.
• Tinos. Sparsely populated even by Cycladic standards, the island of Tinos is home to a population of only 10,000 but is well known for Evangelistria, its beautiful cathedral and pilgrimage site that is often mentioned among the most important churches in all of Greece. Meanwhile, the interior highland area is home to the monastery of Kechrovouni, and the island is also known for its local crafts. Tinos is just a 35-minute ferry ride away from Mykonos, and while not all ferries permit bringing a car, you can’t rent one when you arrive at the port.

Car rental prices in Mykonos

• Small cars - from $5 per day
• SUVs - from $13 per day
• Medium cars - from $12 per day
• Convertibles - from $29 per day
• Vans - from $64 per day
• Large cars - from $13 per day
• Station wagons - from $15 per day

Money-saving and other tips

These are the things you can do to land a great car rental deal in Mykonos:

• 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 Mykonos is the cheapest in March when renting a car is about 65% cheaper than the yearly average and an entire 75% cheaper than renting a vehicle in May.