Compare Greece car hire

If you’re flying into Athens International Airport (ATH), you’ll have your pick of major rental car companies, including Avis and Sixt. Many of these international brands also have bases at smaller international and domestic airports in Greece. Avis and Hertz, for example, cover Rhodes (RHO), Mykonos (JMK), Chania (CHQ), Corfu (CFU), Zante (ZTH) and Kefalonia (EFL).

There are also plenty of independent companies offering car hire in Greece in 2019. It may be wise to look up online reviews before you book with a brand you’ve never heard of though, even if the deal is cheap.

To secure a car rental deal in Greece at any time of the year, it’s best to always book online in advance and then pick up your wheels once you arrive.

Driving conditions in Greece vary enormously from place to place. Athens and its surrounding region can have quite busy roads, but they are in relatively good condition and well signposted, making getting to the key attractions fairly simple.

On islands like Crete, Mykonos and Santorini, and in more remote areas of mainland Greece, the roads can be much narrower, windier and less well kept, so you’ll need to be cautious. You will also discover that petrol stations are much harder to find outside the main towns, so make sure you fill up your tank before setting out on a longer trip.

The best way to make sure you experience no delays or surprises when travelling by hire car is to map out your route in advance or use an up-to-date sat-nav. These can be expensive if you hire them with your car, so bring your own if you think you’ll need it.

Crete

Crete's beautiful beaches, mountainous backdrops and pretty, traditional towns have made it a prime holiday spot. It’s the largest of the Greek islands meaning that driving is by far the best way to explore. Journey up to the Ideon Cave (the mythical birthplace of Zeus, on a mountainside in the heart of the island) or tour the cities to see Chania's Venetian-style harbour and the Bronze Age palace of Knossos, just outside Heraklion.

Mount Parnassus

If you’re looking for somewhere to go after exploring the treasures of Athens, Mount Parnassus is a good option. There’s tough driving terrain around this huge mountain in winter, but in summer you can get up to its villages with relative ease, and enjoy superb views of the surrounding region. To the southwest are the ruins of Delphi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most influential places in ancient Greek culture.

Peloponnese

You may not think of Greece as one of Europe’s prime wine regions, but you’ll be in for a pleasant surprise if you head to the Peloponnese. It’s located west of Athens, just over the Isthmus of Corinth land bridge, and is blanketed in vineyards. The Nemea area is one of the first stops you’ll come to, and is famous for aghiorghitiko grapes, which produce a rich, velvety red. A little further south is Mantineia, which produces light whites that go down beautifully on a hot day.

1. If you're planning to island hop, there are plenty of car ferries between the mainland and major islands – but check your rental policy, as it may not permit you to take your car over the water.                                                                                                                                                           
   
2. Petrol isn’t particularly cheap in Greece, and petrol stations can be quite hard to come by in rural areas. Many also close on Sundays or public holidays so make sure you have enough fuel in your tank before you set off.                                                                                                                           
   
3. Roads in many parts of Greece have greatly improved over recent years, but caution should still be taken in more isolated areas. Loose gravel, sharp bends and even stray goats are not uncommon.

Fair fuel policy

A fair fuel policy (also known as full-to-full or same-to-same) means you’ll only pay for the fuel you use. All car rental deals compared on TravelSupermarket come with a fair fuel policy, so you can book your hire car safe in the knowledge there will be no nasty surprises at drop-off. More information on TravelSupermarket’s commitment to fair fuel policies can be found here.

No hidden fees

All rental deals compared on TravelSupermarket include mandatory fees (for example, one-way and young driver surcharges) in your rental quote at the time of booking, meaning you’ll know the full price of your car hire upfront.