Rental Cars
A rental car is the best and most flexible way to explore islands and the mainland in Greece — especially on Crete, the Peloponnese, and the larger islands. The main roads are mostly well developed, the scenery breathtaking at every turn, and many of the most beautiful beaches, monasteries, and mountain villages are only accessible by car. However, there are a few Greek peculiarities you should know.
Prices & Booking
| Period | Small Car/Day | Compact/Day | SUV/Day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Off-season (Nov–Apr) | 15–25€ | 20–35€ | 30–50€ |
| Shoulder season (May, Sep–Oct) | 25–40€ | 35–55€ | 50–80€ |
| High season (Jun–Aug) | 40–80€ | 55–100€ | 80–150€ |
Providers
International: Sixt, Europcar, Hertz, Avis, Enterprise — available at all airports and in larger cities. More expensive, but better for one-way rentals (e.g., pick up in Heraklion, drop off in Chania), complaints, and insurance cases.
Local (often cheaper and more personal): On Crete e.g., Autoway, Blue Island Rentals, Crete Rental; on the Cyclades, there are often only local providers. The owner personally stands at the port or airport, brings you the car, explains the best beaches, and gives you his phone number for emergencies. That's Greek hospitality on four wheels.
Comparison portals: CHECK24, billiger-mietwagen.de, rentalcars.com, discovercars.com — here you find the best prices and can book full insurance without excess directly.
⚠️ Greek Driving Style — An Honest Warning
Let's put it diplomatically: Greeks drive creatively. Very creatively. This is not a cliché but lived reality. Overtaking maneuvers in blind curves are the order of the day, motor scooters without lights at night are not uncommon, stop signs are more like friendly suggestions, red lights in the province are decoration, and on narrow mountain roads, you'll encounter goat herds, oncoming traffic in your lane, and trucks reversing. It sounds more dramatic than it is — after a few hours you get used to it, and the accident rate is lower than you might think. But:
- Drive defensively. Always, without exception, expect the unexpected.
- Mountain roads: Honk before blind curves. No joke, but standard and expected.
- Let others overtake: Slower vehicles move onto the shoulder (or verge) to let faster ones pass. This is also expected of you — signal right and move aside if someone is pushing.
- At night: Extra caution — unlit parked cars on the roadside, motor scooters without lights, potholes, and on islands also donkeys on the road.
- Alcohol: 0.5‰ limit. Checked, especially on islands in high season.
Islands: Car, Scooter, or Quad?
- Small islands (Koufonisi, Folegandros, Hydra, Symi): No car needed or possible. Hydra is completely car-free! On foot, by boat, donkey, or local minibus taxi.
- Medium islands (Naxos, Paros, Milos, Zakynthos, Tinos): A small car (Fiat Panda, Hyundai i10, Suzuki Jimny) is completely sufficient. Many roads are narrow, parking spaces tiny. SUV only needed if you want to go off-road to secret beaches.
- Large islands (Crete, Rhodes, Corfu, Kefalonia, Lefkada): Car strongly recommended. Crete without a car is almost impossible if you want to see the south coast or the hinterland — the distances are much larger than you think (Heraklion → Chania = 170 km!).
- Scooter (50-125ccm): From 15-25€/day the most popular and cheapest option on many islands. Perfect for Naxos, Paros, Milos, Santorini. BUT: Scooter accidents are by far the most common tourist injury in Greece! Only with experience, always with a helmet, never on gravel, never drunk. An international driver's license may be required for 125ccm+.
- Quads/ATVs: Popular on Mykonos, Santorini, and Kos. Honestly overrated and more dangerous than they look (high center of gravity, no crumple zone). Better to take a small rental car — more comfortable, safer, and often hardly more expensive.
Important Tips for Rental Cars in Greece
- Full insurance without excess: Definitely take it! Gravel roads to dream beaches, narrow alleys with mirrorless oncoming traffic, and creative Greek drivers take their toll. Many travel credit cards (Barclays Visa, DKB Visa, Advanzia Mastercard Gold) include rental car full insurance — check your card!
- Ferry crossing with a car: Not every rental company allows taking the car on island ferries. Clarify contractually beforehand! Local island renters are more flexible here than international chains. For some, the island ferry is automatically allowed.
- Refueling: 1.60-1.80€/liter (more expensive than in Germany!). On small islands, there are often only 1-2 gas stations that close at 8 pm and are closed on Sundays. Never set off with an empty tank!
- Parking in Athens: Forget it. Absolute madness. Take the metro and rent a car only when you leave Athens.
- Unpaved roads: On many islands, the most beautiful beaches are accessed via gravel roads. Drive very slowly and carefully in a normal small car. Tire damage and underbody damage on gravel are NOT insured in most rental contracts!
- Scratch protocol: When taking over, photograph and document EVERY existing scratch and dent. Greek renters are sometimes ... creative at return.
💡 Tipp
Best to book rental cars on islands directly with local providers at the port or airport — they are often cheaper, more personal, more flexible with ferry crossings, and give you the best insider tips for beaches and tavernas. Still book in advance during high season, otherwise, there might literally be no car available on popular islands!
Achtung
Scooter accidents are the number one tourist injury in Greece. Several hundred German tourists end up in the hospital each year due to scooter accidents — often with severe abrasions, broken bones, or head injuries. Always wear a helmet, never ride without experience, never on gravel roads, and never after alcohol. The insurance at the scooter rental usually covers almost nothing.