Car Rental at Athens Airport
You can pick up a hire car the moment you land at Athens Eleftherios Venizelos (ATH), and the same rules apply as everywhere in Greece: a full licence held for a year, a credit card in the driver's name and a minimum age of 21. Athens has a fast metro and a walkable centre, so you rarely need a car inside the city itself. A car earns its place on the day trips out of town. This guide covers pickup, whether you need a car and where a car takes you.
- Airport
- Athens (ATH)
- Car in the city?
- Not needed
- Best for
- Day trips
- Drive on the
- Right
Do you need a car in Athens?
You do not need a car for Athens itself. Athens has a fast metro and a walkable centre, so you rarely need a car inside the city itself. What a car buys you is the day trips: the temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion, the ancient sanctuary of Delphi, and the towns and beaches of the Peloponnese. Hiring at the airport lets you drive straight out without returning to the city first.
If you are staying in town before heading off, our Athens hotels guide helps you choose where to base yourself.
Where to pick up a car in Athens
You can collect a car at Athens Eleftherios Venizelos (ATH), where the rental desks sit close to arrivals, and at offices in the city centre. Book ahead for the summer, when demand from both tourists and locals is high, and check the excess and insurance before you pay.
Our car hire requirements guide sets out the documents, deposit and insurance in full, and the same terms apply at the airport counters.
Driving from Athens
Greece drives on the right, and the roads out of Athens are modern and well signed. Driving into central Athens is busy and parking is tight, so many visitors keep the car at the airport or a car park and use it only for trips out of town. The motorways towards Corinth and Sounion are well surfaced and carry tolls.
For the rules, road signs, tolls, fuel and parking across the country, see our driving in Greece guide.