Greece, the country of ancient monuments and modern cities, and its bright, colourful capital — Athens — are at their best when viewed from behind the steering wheel of your car.
Why is car rental service so popular among the visitors of Greece? There are several reasons for this:
- The signs in Athens Metro are often in Greek only, and it’s easy to lose your bearings.
- The bus tours cost €16 per person and will take you only to the main sights strictly following the route you can’t deviate from.
The car will help you see the city of Athens as Greeks see it, with the freedom to visit the places you want to see.
Having a vehicle, you can easily drive to the Monastiraki Square and put your purchases to the trunk. Then you can have a bite at one of the bakeries, see the fountain at Syntagma Square, Iliou Melathron (Numismatic Museum of Athens), and Old Royal Palace, drive to the Arch of Hadrian and the Temple of Olympian Zeus.
If you stay in Athens or the suburbs, the vehicle is of vital importance to you because the best beaches are located 20km from the capital.
The most popular cities for car hire in Greece
Car hire prices in Athens
The average cost of a one-day car rental. The number is calculated based on the bookings of the previous three years. It takes into account the rental of cars across all classes.
Necessary documents and car insurance
Required documents:
- Foreign passport
- Category “B” driving license
- Bankcard
Third-Party Liability Insurance (TPL) is included in the car rental cost in Greece. Many vehicles also come with the Collision Damage Waiver (CDW). All insurance types require a deposit (franchise).
Car rental at Athens airport
You can get your hire car directly at Athens International Airport “Eleftherios Venizelos”. When you arrive, the rent-a-car company agent will meet you, sign an agreement, and give you the vehicle. Just a few formalities, and in 15-20 minutes you’ll be able to start your own journey around Greece.
Benefits of booking on our website
↵You can quickly and safely book a car online on our website.
We offer:
- Car rental at affordable prices of local rental companies
- Transparent pricing policy with the complete cost calculation available on the car booking page
- Rental car delivery to Athens or airport by the time of your arrival.
The demand for car rental services in Athens
The occupancy rate of the car rental fleets by month. For example, most cars are being rented in August, which means that this month has the smallest amount of available vehicles. The higher the percentage of the car fleet workload, the earlier it is worth booking a car to choosing the best option at the best price.
Driving in Athens
In terms of architecture, the capital of Greece is a rather absurd city. It looks like LEGO bricks scattered among the hills, but all the signs leading to the tourist attractions are in both Greek and English, and people will readily answer how to get to where you are going (they speak English). Take a free map from a “FREE” stand that you can find at any place of interest, and you will never lose your way.
It's not very difficult to drive around the city. Heavy traffic, the minimum distance between cars, and omnipresent bikers are, perhaps, the only things that will bug you on the road. Apart from that, the road surface quality is next to perfect, roads are clearly marked, drivers follow traffic rules, and police officers are polite and friendly.
Please read the local traffic rules before driving.
Parking
All parking spaces are always marked with a “P” sign. The on-street parking spaces are marked in white. Don’t park your car in a “blue” or “yellow” zone. The parking areas are usually time-limited to 3 hours and cost from €0.5 to €6. You can buy parking meter cards at any kiosk to pay for your parking.
The underground parking spaces are located near markets and places of interest. You will find a parking attendant who will answer all your questions. It costs €25 per day.
The park and ride facilities are located near metro stations. These are paid secure facilities where you can almost always find an available parking lot. They cost half the price of underground parking.
Filling stations
There are many fuel stations, and you will always find an attendant there. Just say what type of fuel and for how much (in euro) you need, and the attendant will take care of the rest.
Mobile service
The mobile service is excellent. There are three providers: Cosmote, Vodafone, and Wind. Which to choose? There's no difference regarding coverage or rates. However, for some reason, the Greeks prefer Cosmote or Vodafone. So, if you need a card to call local people, choose one of the first two mobile service providers to save on local calls.
Good afternoon. How much is delivery to the airport?
Good afternoon! On our website, we offer cars from various local rental companies. On the “Booking” page, you can select the “Airport” location. If this is a paid option, the system will immediately display the cost of pick-up and/or drop-off for your rental car.
Hello! Can I buy CDW for my rental car, if it’s unavailable in the car’s description?
Hello! Unfortunately, if some type of insurance is unavailable, you can’t add it to your booking.
Can I extend my booking?
Yes, sure (if the car that you booked is actually also available for that dates). Please also contact Localrent Customer Support Team, we will check it, extend the booking or offer alternative solution.
What currency should I use to pay for the car?
To pay for car rental, you use the currency of the country in which you order the car. In Greece it is Euro.
Hello, do you require a deposit to rent a vehicle?
Hello. Yes, for most of the cars, deposits are required. The amount of deposit depends on the car you have chosen, it is specified in the car booking form. There are also some cars that can be rented without a deposit. To find a car without a deposit, use the appropriate filter in the filter panel. The site will automatically show you all cars that are available for rent without a deposit.
Hi! How do I find the rental manager at the airport?
Hi! Car rental company representative will be meeting you at the arrival area of the airport, or at the terminal parking lot - usually they get in touch with customers 1-2 days in advance to inform about the meeting procedure.
Hello! I am only 20 years old, is there is a chance that there is going to be some sort of problem when I book a car?
Hello! In accordance with Terms and conditions of car rental in Greece (https://localrent.com/en/greece/terms/) - the minimum driver’s age should be 25 years plus the minimum driving experience not less then 3 years. Some rental companies offer services at extra price fro drivers from 21 years, but not less. If there are any person travelling with you, of age 25+ and driving experience 3+ years, you can make the booking on his/her name (just bear in mind that payment upon car receipt should be made by this person's card (if cash not allowed for specific car)