Car rental in Athens airport

Car rental in Athens is the best way to make your vacation in Greece unforgettable! With a car, you'll not only see all the iconic places in the capital, but you can also deviate from your route at any moment. For example, visit an authentic seaside taverna or have a picnic overlooking olive groves. No crowds in the metro, waiting for buses, or searching for available taxis.

Athens is not just the Acropolis and Plaka! Within an hour's drive from the city, you'll find Cape Sounion with ancient ruins, ancient Eleusis, and the thermal lake Vouliagmeni. And if you want to relax by the sea, in just 40 minutes you'll be swimming on the golden beaches of Lagonissi or strolling along the waterfront of the port town of Rafina.

Where to Rent a Car in Athens: Advantages of Localrent Service

In Athens, you can find hundreds of rental companies, but comparing their terms and reviews takes time. Localrent will help you save time — here we've gathered verified local companies. Advantages of booking a car in Athens through Localrent:

1. Down payment of only 15–20% — you'll pay the rest on-site when receiving the keys.
2. Convenient filters for personalized search — immediately choose transmission type, deposit size, insurance, or even the needed brand.
3. Fair price — you immediately see the final rental cost, no hidden fees or surcharges.
4. Support service — the Localrent team is available until the end of your trip to resolve any car rental-related issues.
5. Excellent car fleet — most cars are no older than 5 years.

Your ideal car will be waiting for you in Athens. With Localrent, you spend minutes booking, not hours searching.

What You Need for Car Rental in Athens

To rent a car in Athens, prepare:

1. Passport.
2. National driver's license, valid at the time of rental.
3. International driving permit.
4. Bank card for online car booking.

Driver requirements:

• Age 21+ years, 1+ year driving experience — minimum requirements, limited car selection available;
• From 23 years old with 3+ years driving experience — most cars available for rental.

Each car has its own rental conditions, even if they're two identical models. Requirements are always specified in the car card.

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.

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 Features in Athens and Main Rules

Here are the main traffic nuances in Athens that will make your trip safer:

• In the center and old districts, there are many one-way streets where passing is difficult. Local drivers often gesture — pay attention to their signals.
• City speed limit — 50 km/h, on highways — 130 km/h, outside populated areas — 90 km/h.
• Outside the city, serpentines await you. Don't descend mountains using brakes only — engage lower gear for engine braking, using the brake pedal directly before turns.
• There are many motorcycles and mopeds in Athens, and their drivers often ignore rules. Look in mirrors twice before turning and changing lanes, especially on streets in Plaka and Monastiraki districts near the Athenian Acropolis.

Drivers may be surprised by traffic lights in Athens. Yellow arrows in place of additional sections allow right turns on red signals. But only after yielding to pedestrians and cars going on green. About 100 meters before traffic lights, there are lights similar to traffic lights but with only 2 yellow sections. They light up if the nearest traffic light already shows red or yellow, after which a prohibiting light will appear.

There are almost no main road signs in Athens. If there's a STOP sign at an intersection, it's used as an alternative to "Yield" sign, although formally it has the usual meaning. No signs on the road? Most likely, you're on the main road.

Many highways in Greece are toll roads. Payment is collected before entering the toll section, toll booths accept cash and bank cards. If you plan to explore Athens' surroundings, you'll likely use the toll highways Olympia and Attiki. There are no toll roads inside Athens.

Gas Stations in Athens

In Athens, there are no fuel problems: there are many gas stations, and gasoline and diesel quality is controlled. Some gas stations operate 24/7, some close between 8 PM and 12 AM, and open at 6-8 AM.

On highways, there are large distances between gas stations, and prices are slightly higher than on regular roads. Therefore, before trips to distant attractions, it's better to fill up the tank in advance.

Many gas stations have attendants who will approach your car, ask for fuel type and amount. Often you don't even need to get out of the car — the attendant will connect the nozzle, take cash, and bring change.

If you're going outside Athens, it's better to have cash with you: in small towns, gas stations may not accept cards.

Parking in Athens

All parking spaces in Athens are paid. There are 3 types of street parking:

1. Residential with blue markings — only for district residents. Don't occupy them, fines are quite high.
2. Paid with white markings — for everyone, but you can leave your car for no longer than 3 hours. At night, on Sundays and holidays, parking is free.
3. Special with yellow markings — for emergency services and municipality.

How to pay for parking:

1. Ticket. You need to buy them at newspaper kiosks in advance. Mark the start and end time of parking on the ticket, place it under the windshield. If you need more than 2 hours, use several tickets.
2. Parking card. Also sold at newspaper kiosks and stores. Insert into the parking meter, select end time. Also place the receipt under the glass.
3. In the My Athens Pass app.

If you want to walk around central Athens, you need to arrive early in the morning — usually all parking spaces are occupied by 9-10 AM. It's better to leave your car at one of the covered parking lots: parking price is usually slightly higher, but there are almost always free spaces.

Step-by-Step Instructions for Booking a Car in Athens

To book a car for your Athens vacation, specify rental dates, and use filters to configure your search. You can choose, for example, car brand, rental payment methods and deposit, car year, and other criteria. Then:

1. Open the selected car card. It shows technical specifications, driver requirements, insurance type.
2. In the car card, you can select additional services and also see the full rental price, deposit amount, and available payment methods.
3. Proceed to booking by clicking "Continue". Choose pickup/return location and time, specify main driver details and contact information.
4. Pay the advance on the website. Down payment doesn't exceed 20%.
5. After payment, you'll receive booking confirmation (voucher) by email. Save it on your phone or print it.

When picking up, inspect the car: photograph scratches, dents, interior. Make sure all damage is recorded in the inspection report.

Where to Go with Your Rental Car

Car rental opens access to the most picturesque corners of Attica — from ancient ruins to bays with azure water. Here are 5 places you can reach in 1–2 hours on good paved roads:

1. Cape Sounion, 70 km from Athens. Here awaits the legendary Temple of Poseidon on a cliff above the sea, written about by Homer, Euripides, and Sophocles. Along the way, visit Lavrio beaches with clear water, especially good tourist reviews for Paralia Souniou beach.
2. Lake Vouliagmeni. In this thermal lake, water temperature stays at +24°C even in winter. After swimming, stroll along the waterfront or dine at a taverna overlooking the bay.
3. Eleusis Archaeological Museum. In ancient Eleusis, you can see ruins of the Demeter sanctuary, where Eleusinian Mysteries took place — the main ancient Greek ritual. Perfect place to admire ancient monuments without tourist crowds.
4. Dafni Byzantine Monastery. The monastery was founded in the 6th century, but only one column from that era remains. However, there are 12th-century Byzantine mosaics that are still in excellent condition.
5. Vravrona Archaeological Reserve. Ancient Artemis sanctuary with well-preserved ruins and a small museum. Recommended if you love mythology and leisurely walks.

Fill up your tank before departure — gas stations on highways are less frequent. And don't forget your swimsuit: even if you didn't plan seaside relaxation, you'll encounter beautiful beaches along the way where you'll definitely want to stop.

Where to Pick Up Your Rental Car

You can rent a car at three main locations: Eleftherios Venizelos Airport, city offices, or with delivery to your address. Availability of these options depends on the specific car — check them in the selected model card before booking.

Car Rental in Athens: Tips and Recommendations

To ensure car rental brings only positive impressions, use these recommendations:

1. If most of your plans involve city trips, prefer a compact car. For example, Renault Twingo, Nissan Micra, or Skoda Citigo. Driving on narrow one-way streets and parking is much more convenient with such cars.
2. You can take rental cars to islands, but this must be agreed with the rental company before booking. If you want to go to Salamis, Aegina, Kea, Hydra, or other islands, write to our support service.
3. Covered parking is the best choice if you want to walk around central Athens. It costs slightly more, but saves you time searching for a spot and you won't return to a sun-heated interior.
4. Most cars in Athens have manual transmission. If you need automatic, it's better to book a car as early as possible.

With a car, you'll reach quiet bays like Lehao or ancient ruins of Rhamnous, where instead of crowds — only the rustle of olive branches and the sound of the Aegean Sea.

Questions and Answers about Car Rental in Athens