VRENTY CAR is an independent comparison service. The search above is provided by our partner Localrent and lists local agencies side by side; you book directly with the provider. Always confirm the price, insurance and deposit before you pay.
📍 Athens International Airport (ATH): at Spata, in the east of Attica, roughly 30–35 km from the centre of Athens and linked to the capital and the ports by the Attiki Odos toll motorway.
Why Rent a Car at Athens Airport
Athens Airport is built for onward travel: the motorway network starts at the terminal, and the Peloponnese, central Greece and the northern route to Thessaloniki are all reachable without entering the city. Buses and the metro cover the centre well, but they do not reach ancient sites, mountain villages or quiet beaches on your schedule.
Our advice: if you plan to stay in Athens first, do not collect the car on arrival day. Take the metro or a taxi to the hotel and book the car from the day you leave, or ask the provider to deliver it to your hotel outside the busiest hours.
Drive Times from ATH
Times are approximate and change a lot with the hour and the season; use a live navigation app for the real figure.
| Destination | Approx. distance | Typical drive |
|---|---|---|
| Athens centre | ~30–35 km | about 40–60 min, longer at rush hour |
| Piraeus port | ~45 km | about 1 hour |
| Rafina port | ~25–30 km | about 30–40 min |
| Cape Sounion | ~65–70 km | about 1–1.25 hours |
| Corinth | ~100 km | about 1–1.25 hours |
| Delphi | ~180 km | about 2.5–3 hours |
| Nafplio | ~150 km | about 2–2.5 hours |
Picking Up at ATH: Meeting Points and Late Arrivals
How the car is handed over depends on the agency: some meet you in the arrivals area, some in a car park, some at a nearby yard with a shuttle, and many deliver to a hotel in Athens or on the coast. Use the "Specify location" option in the search to choose, and do not rely on a named counter unless it is written on the car card. If your flight arrives late, give the provider your flight number.
Late arrival? Many international flights land late at night. Give the provider your flight number, confirm the meeting point and any out-of-hours fee, and check that the phone number on your voucher answers messages.
Documents and Age
- Valid driving licence, usually held for at least a year; minimum age is typically 21 (23 or 25 for larger or premium cars)
- Valid driving licence; drivers from outside the EU/EEA are generally advised to carry an International Driving Permit (IDP) with their national licence — rules differ by nationality, so ask the agency what it requires before you travel
- Passport and the booking voucher
- A payment method that matches the offer: many agencies block the deposit on a credit card; use the No deposit or No credit card filter if you need an alternative
What Affects the Price of a Rental at ATH
We do not quote a fixed price here, because rates for the same car change with dates and availability. Look at the live search for your exact days. The main factors:
- Season: July and August, and the Easter and early-September weeks on the islands, are the busiest and dearest; spring and autumn are calmer and usually cheaper, and winter rates are lowest but some island agencies close
- Car class: an automatic SUV or pick-up costs clearly more than a compact car
- Rental length: weekly and longer rentals usually lower the daily rate
- Insurance level: full coverage adds a daily amount but often removes the deposit
- Pick-up and return place: airport and out-of-hours pick-up, delivery and one-way returns can carry fees
When you compare, look at the total with full coverage, not the base rate alone.
Greece Insurance and Deposit Explained
With basic insurance the excess — your share of any damage — can be large and the agency blocks a deposit. Full coverage brings the excess close to zero and, with many local agencies, means no deposit. Typical exclusions are tyres, glass, the underbody, interior damage and lost keys, and the cover is not valid off-road. Motorway tolls, fines, parking and ferry costs are billed separately. Photograph the car with the agent at pick-up and return and make sure all damage is in the acceptance document.
Attiki Odos, Tolls and the Athens Ring
The Attiki Odos toll motorway links the airport with the western and northern suburbs and the road to Corinth, and the Olympia Odos and national motorways continue west and north. Tolls are charged on these roads, so ask the agency whether a transponder is fitted or how tolls are billed afterwards. Central Athens has traffic restrictions and limited parking, and rules for access can change, so ask the agency and your hotel before driving in.
- Ask how motorway tolls are charged to you
- Avoid driving into central Athens at rush hour
- Fines and unpaid tolls are billed to you after the rental
Leaving Attica for the Ports and Islands
Many visitors fly into Athens and sail to the islands from Piraeus or Rafina. A rental car usually cannot go on the ferry unless the agency allows it, so plan to drop the car before the crossing and rent another on the island. Check where the agency accepts returns and allow time for traffic around the port.
Driving Near ATH: Roads and Habits
Athens drivers are fast and assertive, scooters weave between lanes, and motorway exits can come up quickly. Outside the city, mountain roads in the Peloponnese and central Greece are winding and often lack barriers. Fuel stations are frequent on motorways but thinner in the mountains, so fill up before long climbs.
- Traffic drives on the right; give way to traffic already on a roundabout unless signs say otherwise
- Speed limits are signed — typically 50 km/h in towns, around 90 km/h on open roads and up to 110–130 km/h on motorways; cameras and police checks exist, so follow the signs
- Seatbelts are compulsory for all passengers and children need a suitable seat; no handheld phone while driving
- Drink-driving limits are low and penalties are heavy — the safest rule is zero alcohol before driving
- On many main roads slower drivers move onto the hard shoulder to let others pass; do not assume it is always safe to overtake or to stop there
- Parking: white lines usually mean free or allowed, blue lines paid or restricted, yellow lines no parking; fines are charged to the renter
- Do not take the car on unpaved beach tracks or dirt roads: insurance is generally not valid there
- A rental car usually cannot go on a ferry or leave the country unless the agency agrees in writing
Best Day Trips from Athens Airport by Car
Car Rental at Other Greece Pick-Up Points
If your trip starts elsewhere, pick up closer to your first night and save a long drive after landing.