Rent a Car in Athens
Renting a car in Athens is the perfect way to customize your journey’s itinerary as it suits and pleases you. Athens’s public transportation system is decent but often not adequate, and using taxis may add a significant amount to the total cost of your trip. Therefore, a rental car allows you to go wherever you want, whenever you want, and is a fairly affordable transportation option. Numerous car hire agencies, every single vehicle type and model, and top deals and prices are at your beck and call when it comes to Athens car rentals!
Do you Need a Car in Athens?
Reaching Athens downtown by car may not be the greatest idea, as the traffic can be annoying – especially during rush hours- and parking can be challenging. However, there are so many other reasons why you should opt for a rental car in Athens. Firstly, the traffic levels may also affect other transportation means (such as taxis and buses). Hence, using your car rental to reach regions outside the city center and continuing from there on foot or by subway is a far better option. Secondly, besides the city center, suburban Athens is also worth your time and interest. Lastly, many areas within the Athens vicinity (Korinthos, Sounio, Mount Parnitha, Nafplio, etc.) should also be on your journey’s to-do list. So, can you think of a more convenient and fast way to reach them than a car rental?
Useful Info 1: The rush hours are from 7:30 am to 9:30 am and from 02:30 pm to 05:00 pm. During peak hours, the traffic in the heart of Athens tends to be really heavy. However, the traffic levels outside the city center are much lower.
Useful Info 2: All the road signs are also written in English. Unfortunately, they are often misplaced.
Useful Info 3: Pay extra attention to pedestrians and motorbikes while driving, as they often don’t respect the circulation code.
How Much Does it Cost to Rent a Car in Athens?
The cost of a car rental is dependent on factors such as the type of vehicle, the length of the rental period, and the time of the year. In general terms, the price for a standard car is approximately 25€/27.50$ per day. On the other hand, if your pick up location is El. Venizelos, in other words, if you opt for an Athens airport car rental, you should expect a slightly higher rental fee of around 27€/30$ per day.
Useful Info: You should prefer renting a small, economy car as you will save money on fuel, and you will also increase your street parking chances.
How to Find a Cheap Car Rental in Athens?
There is a suggested procedure to be followed to secure the best deals and the lowest car hire prices. Thus, if you wish to rent a car in Athens, you should:
- Do your homework, which is searching and comparing all the car hire agencies’ prices. Take a glimpse at all the major car rental companies, but don’t forget to check out the local providers as well.
- Do you have second thoughts about a local car hire agency you’ve never heard of but are also tempted by its special deals? Take a peek at the customers’ reviews to get an idea of the quality of its services.
- Book your car rental as soon as possible. Usually, the sooner you make your reservation, the better prices you can secure.
- If your program is flexible, play with the dates. Use different dates to find the lowest car rental fees, and if re-adjusting your journey’s schedule is possible, plan your trip accordingly.
- Avoid renting your car at the airport. Airport car rentals are usually more expensive than getting your vehicle from another location in Athens.
Useful Info: Extra drivers raise the final price. Thus, if you want to keep your car rental budget to a minimum, you should stick to one driver.
Is it Worth Getting the Insurance for a Rental Car?
Insurance is undoubtedly required in case of an accident or damage. Nevertheless, before agreeing on the car rental agency’s insurance, you should check if your prime car insurance extends to the car rental vehicle. What’s more, many credit cards offer car rental coverage. Hence, if you decide to use one of them, you won’t have to pay the extra insurance fee.
Useful Info: If an accident occurs, you should never leave the place, even if the damages are minor. An incident form needs to be filled out, and a police report must be taken. Thus, you should always either call the police (the police number is 100) or the medical emergency number (112).
Athens Airport Car Rental
Athens airport taxis might be convenient, and public transportation means affordable, yet nothing compares to independent car rentals. Car hire allows you to travel at your own pace. Plan your journey’s itinerary as you want, without having to hail a taxi or search the nearest bus stop or train station to reach your destination. Transferring around Athens city center is convenient via bus or metro. However, there are so many attractions to see besides downtown Athens. With a car rental, you can visit the nearby areas hassle-free. Historic sites, popular tourist towns, and numerous beaches are within proximity of your Athens accommodation and can be easily reached with a car rental.
On the other hand, what happens with the cost? The fare per day of a car rental can be heavy, especially when traveling on a budget. Nevertheless, Athens Airport hosts many car rental companies. Thus, if you take a look at the provided services and the required fees and compare them, you can end up with a top value for money option. Economy cars, compact vehicles, SUVs, and premium and mid-size car rentals are available at ATH Airport. Pick the right vehicle for you and enjoy your transfers!
Which are the Athens Airport Car Rental Companies?
Various car rental companies operate at Athens International Airport, providing premium services and offering appealing deals from time to time. Located on the north side of the main terminal, in the arrivals area, the car rental kiosks are usually open 24/7, arranging the best car rental services for Athens airport passengers. That being said, it’s important to keep in mind that although many car rental companies have their cars parked outside the main terminal, some are located further from the airport exit doors, and transfers to their parking area are handled by a shuttle bus.
Explicitly, the following car rental agencies are to be found at ATH Airport within its terminal building:
- Avance
- Hertz
- Enterprise
- Avis
- Europcar
- Sixt
Optimize your Athens Airport Car Rental Experience
- Parking your car in the heart of Athens is a rather ambitious task. Free street parking is almost impossible, still, there are many parking lots where you can leave your vehicle. However, they are usually quite expensive. Outside the city center, parking is easier and, in any case, more affordable.
- The legal alcohol limit in Athens is 0,05%. Regular breath tests are carried out by the police. Hence, you should never drink and drive.
- The use of mobile phones while driving is strictly forbidden. Nevertheless, you can use Bluetooth or a car kit if you need to make a call.
- Tolls are to be found both within Athens city limits and on the other highways. The toll fee is somewhat affordable.
- Greek drivers aren’t known for their obedience to traffic laws. Hence, you should pay attention during your transfers and respect the road’s legislation at all times.
FAQs
How to rent a car in Greece at Athens Airport?
Car rental companies, six of them to be precise, are operating at Athens Airport. Their desks lie in the Arrivals area, on the north side of the main terminal building. Thus, if you opt for a car rental, you can either address one of the airport car rental offices or book your car in advance and pick it up as soon as you land at ATH Airport.
How old do you have to be to rent a car in Athens?
The legal driving age in Greece is 18 years old. However, you have to be at least 21 years old to rent a car in Athens. Moreover, one year of driving experience is also required to rent a car. Keep in mind that some car rental agencies apply a stricter age policy, while some luxury category vehicles are off-limits for young drivers.
What documents do I need to drive a hire car in Greece?
If you opt for an Athens car rental, here’s what you will have to hand over to the car rental company:
- Your identity and/or passport
- Your driving license
- A valid credit card (a sum may be withheld as a deposit)
- Your voucher, if you have pre-booked your car online
- An International Driving Permit if your driving license hasn’t been issued by a European Union country or by a country member of the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic.
Can you take a rental car on a ferry in Greece?
If besides Athens, your journey plans also include a trip to one of the beautiful and famous Greek islands, you may wonder whether you can take your rental car on a ferry or not. Usually, there are no relevant restrictions. In any case, you should first check with your car rental provider to confirm if there is a potential extra fee.