Europe > Greece > Athens
| Please note that Carornocar.com is currently being revised and updated in preparation for the Summer 2021 (northern hemisphere) tourist season. It is expected that some social distancing rules will still apply. For additional Athens car hire advice, please use the comments form below. |
Quick Ratings
Price band:
Athens is in car rental price band: 2/10 (1 = cheapest car rental location)
General comment - based on price alone, is it worth renting a car in Athens?
Yes. Very cheap car rental by global standards.
Volatility:
Can you expect big swings in car rental prices in Athens between the peak and the off peak season?
8/10 (0 = stable prices)
Driving score: 5/10
Non car score:2/10
Balance: 7
(0 = car hire not advised / 10 = rental car essential)
General comment -
This Athens car hire guide looks at whether or not to get a car either for a short break or for a slightly longer holiday involving travelling around between different places. For visitors from elsewhere in Europe, it can be just as easy to fly to one of the Greek islands and then to either stay locally or island hop without needing to get a car. Travellers from further afield will almost certainly head through or to Athens International airport.
This page is aimed at visitors who want to get out of the city of Athens.
Why? Visiting Athens using a hire car
Why do you need a car in Athens ?
Reasons why you should rent a car in Athens
- If you rent a hire car in Athens, you will be exempt from the restrictions for 40 days, which should be more than enough to explore the city and the local area.
- Meteora – the stunning monasteries of the Meteora region should be the highlight of any trip to Greece, and if you need a preview, just watch the closing scenes of the James Bond film For Your Eyes Only. Naturally, given how these monasteries perched high on top of rocky promontories, this is a place to go hiking to take advantage of the rudimentary lift systems that operate in some of the monasteries.Yet there is still the small question of getting to Meteora. The train ride from Athens to Kalambaka goes through some pretty impressive scenery and over one or two great bridges, but there are only three trains each day, and only one of these is direct. So for even a brief excursion to Meteora by train, you will probably have to spend two nights there, whereas you could visit this area as part of a long day excursion in a hire car.
- Rattling railways – Greece could never really claim to be one of Europe’s great Railway destinations, given that the population is relatively sparse and the terrain is unforgiving, yet even on those lines that do remain open following budget cuts, service is slow and sporadic. Unless you are someone who loves train travel, sticking to the roads is going to be the easiest option.
- Central what? If you are going to travel from Athens by train, bear in mind that not all surface train services run through the main Athens station (often called Larissa station after its original name, and the name of the adjacent metro station).
There’s no direct metro connection from the airport to here either.Surface trains from the airport will take you to the new Athens Archarnes Railway Centre (SKA), which is being billed as a new “central” station, although it is out in the suburbs and has no metro station.
Trains from the airport continue from here towards Kiato on the Peloponnese peninuslar, but the line goes nowhere near central Athens.
Peloponnese
- Peloponnese – there are lots of great driving opportunities around the Peloponnese peninsula, including the Corinth canal and the engineering marvel of the Rio-Antirio bridge to complement the natural splendours. I’d like to say that this is also a great area to explore by train, but sadly, the narrow gauge Peloponnese railways have fallen victim to Greek austerity cuts. There is little chance of them being reopened any time soon. You can at least take the train as far as Kiato, but from there you’d have to go to Patra and beyond by bus.
- Corinth canal – if there’s one particular piece of engineering which demonstrates Greek maritime prowess it must surely be the Corinth canal. Perhaps not as famous as its sticky Panamanian brother, nor anything like as timesaving, the Corinth canal still looks far more impressive than any other as it has been cut into its own deep but narrow canyon. This has been done without the need for any locks. Although there are hourly trains, and plenty of coach tours from Athens which will give you a view of the canal, visiting this location in a hire car will let you see things in your own time. You can also use the canal is the starting point for a driving tour around the Peloponnese.
- Rio Antirio bridge – this should be the highlight of any tour around the Peloponnese, or possibly of a circuit including the Peloponnese and Delphi on the other side. You can walk or cycle across the bridge and you can also get buses to and from Patra, but the most obvious way to appreciate it is still to drive.
Island hopping
Hopping between the different Greek islands in a hire car is always going to give you that little bit more flexibility than travelling as a foot passenger, although this flexibility does come at a cost.
At the end of the day, the decision whether or not to pick up a hire car in Athens might boil down to which islands you want to visit – for an island the size of Crete, a hire car is extremely useful, but most visitors to this island would fly direct into Heraklion or Chania. For medium-sized islands like Zakinthos (Zante) or Lesbos, then a hire car can be a benefit, whereas for the smaller islands like Santorini, you may well find that a hire car is more trouble than it is worth.Note that despite the need for ferry connections, it can be possible to get one way car rental deals between Athens and other Greek islands – budget for around £100 on top of the hire cost for one week.
Why not? Visiting Athens without a car
Why don't you need a car in Athens ?
Reasons to visit Athens without a car
- Odd and even Number plate rules – in 1982, Athens introduced a restriction banning cars from the city centre according to whether their number plates were odd or even. Since then, the number of cars in the city has grown fourfold. The legislation has had little effect, especially as some houses have got round the legislation by owning two cars, one with an odd and another with an even plate.
- Even with a 40 day exemption from the odd/even numberplate rule, driving on congested Athens city centre is still a nightmare.
- You still have to find somewhere to park.
- As with any major city, we would always advise walking or using public transport to visit all the major sites within Athens.
- Congestion in Athens is a city wide / all day problem – this isn’t just about the city centre, nor is it just about rush hour. Within the European Union (as of 2017 at least), only Bucharest and London have higher congestion levels than Athens – and we wouldn’t recommend trying to drive in either of those cities either!
- Athens Metro – in the run-up to the 2004 Olympics, Athens invested heavily in an underground system, and this itself was halted many times due to archaeological digs along the route. This has resulted in many displays in the major city centre stations, making this sleek and modern transport network a destination in its own right as well is a way of getting around.
The underground network is also supplemented by a network of local trains and buses. This includes the historic train link down to the port of Piraeus, where a lot of budget accommodation is available.
There is no obvious centre of the metro network, with a number of stations being on two lines. The natural social and cultural centre is the area around Syntagma Square, and its metro station is on lines 2 and 3. This is also where many urban bus routes congregate, and where the tram route from the coast terminates. - Ancient treasures – need we go say any more? Athens is one of the most historic cities in the world and beyond the indelible impression the Parthenon is going to leave you from its perch at the top of the Acropolis, there are plenty of other places waiting to be explored well within the city boundaries and easy to reach on foot.
Beyond the Athens area without a car
- Further afield, there are plenty of places which can be visited on historical tours, or on day excursions by scheduled bus.
- Delphi is certainly well worth a visit, and once you get there, you will be walking around the main points of interest anyway, so there isn’t a huge time advantage in having a hire car. However, a group of people sharing a car might be better value. Allow around 3 hours each way by bus.
- Island hopping on foot – a hire car might give you a little bit more flexibility when you arrive on each island, but it is a deadweigh just sitting on the ferry, and a very expensive deadweight at that.
- Why fork out for the cost of a hire car and then for the cost of ferry passage on top, when you can just travel as a foot passenger on the ferry and use local buses for getting around each island? Even if you have to shell out for a few taxis, they are unlikely to break the bank on any of the smaller islands.
Ratings: How does Athens compare?
Is it worth hiring a car in Athens? TBC
This is based on a rough consideration of the costs of renting a car in Athens, and how this compares with the costs of using public transport. The answer to this varies hugely from one destination to the next, based on a wide range of factors. It's based on renting a car at the airport (TBC), and driving for an average of 2-3 hours on open roads on most days.
How does this compare if:
You are travelling:
Solo / As couple / small family / larger family / senior couple etc
Does car rental make sense on different budgets?
Do you need to hire a car in Athens? TBC
This is based strictly on whether or no we think it's possible to visit Athens (and the surrounding area) without using a car. Of the three key questions, this one is the most likely to be a "no".
Should you rent a car in Athens? TBC
This is a balance of all factors. Remember this is an answer to the question for people who are already asking it. That's why the answer might still be a "yes", even when public transport is good.
See global comparisons
Hiring | Driving | Parking
Trains | Buses | Local travel
Car hire basics:
Public transportation basics:
Regular bus services: YES
Coach (inter-city): YES
Tram: NO
Metro: NO
Commuter Rail:
High Speed Rail:
Rail type (end stub / through / junction / hub):
As you start ....
Does Athens airport have a direct rail link?
(Yes - within terminal / adjacent / short walk) (Yes - bus transfer / other) No
Changelog
Has our advice for Athens car rental changed over time, or has it been pretty constant?
2017 - 4
2019 - 8
2021 - 7
Average score - 7
Notes:
Summary
Anyone simply thinking about taking a city break in Athens is very unlikely to even consider getting a hire car, but after a few days Athens can start to become quite overbearing on the novice visitor. So whether you get a hire car or not, there’s a good chance you’ll want to get out of the city, and unfortunately, public transport in Greece leaves a great deal to be desired. Should you rent a car in Athens, and then use it for a trip outside the city? This is really going to depend on where you are most interested in visiting from the long list of places mentioned above. Is it worth hiring a car in Athens just to use within the city – no, never, that bit should be clear enough! But you really don’t have to get far out of the city for public transport to become worth it.
For a country with such a rugged coastline and so many ancient treasures, there’s a good chance you’ll be happy to take things at a slower pace anyway. Yet getting a hire car in Athens is still going to take away a lot of the hassles of planning and executing a holiday when you are dealing with so many different transport companies, all of which operate from their own separate hubs in their own different ways. Public transport integration in Athens is very poor – whether you are trying to change from bus to metro, to get to the Peloponnese by train, or simply if you are trying to find the right berth for your onward sea connection in Piraeus, nothing is particularly well connected.
So even though a hire car in Athens remains strictly optional, if you are already considering getting one, then you will probably find it beneficial.
Useful Athens travel links:
- Athens metro & map
- Meteora
- Athens area car hire / transport map
Summary
Do you or don't you need a car in Athens ?
Europe > Greece > Corfu
| Please note that Carornocar.com is currently being revised and updated in preparation for the Summer 2021 (northern hemisphere) tourist season. It is expected that some social distancing rules will still apply. For additional Corfu car hire advice, please use the comments form below. |
Quick Ratings
Price band:
Corfu is in car rental price band: 2/10 (1 = cheapest car rental location)
General comment - based on price alone, is it worth renting a car in Corfu?
Yes. Very cheap car rental by global standards.
Volatility:
Can you expect big swings in car rental prices in Corfu between the peak and the off peak season?
5/10 (0 = stable prices)
Driving score: 5/10
Non car score:4/10
Balance: 6
(0 = car hire not advised / 10 = rental car essential)
General comment -
For independently minded travellers, Corfu is also a natural place from which to start a trip onto the Greek mainland and beyond by ferry. This sort of journey might mean you will already be continuing onwards from Italy and elsewhere in Europe.
Why? Visiting Corfu using a hire car
Why do you need a car in Corfu ?
Firstly, there’s always the complex question of congestion – at busy times do you want to be rammed into a bus that is standing room only, or would you rather be sitting and choking traffic, but within the space of your own rented car?
Corfu fuel notes
Think how much you are going to use first, then worry about the price!
There is a small difference in fuel cost over mainland cities like Athens. in July 2018, this was around €0.03 per litre. Fuel costs are unlikely to be a major concern when driving on Corfu, as driving distances are still low.
It’s far more important to get a good car rental deal, if you feel you need one at all, and to watch out for return empty fuel polices. These are becoming less common, but they are still the norm with some providers. If you have to start with a full tank, you may well find that you don’t end up returning it empty, so the rental company keeps the fuel – watch out for this one, given the small size of the island!
[james]
My personal view is that I’d take the bus any time, but many people would prefer to sit in their own private metal box. Then there is the reality that as with many Greek islands, the buses are almost completely focused on going in and out of Corfu town. This means that to get between any other points on the island that aren’t on a direct line in or out of Corfu town, you will probably have to change bus. Soon this starts to mean a lot of hanging around.
If your accommodation is situated anywhere other than on the routes the buses serve, then you will also need to add time to walk to and from the bus stop, and they tend to be much further spaced apart in Greece than they are in many northern European locations. You can also forget about real time running information when taking Greek local buses anywhere outside major cities like Athens or Thessaloniki.
[jamesend]
Why not? Visiting Corfu without a car
Why don't you need a car in Corfu ?
Corfu is absolutely not the sort of location where a hire car is strictly necessary, nor is it particularly desirable to have one if you think you can do without. It’s also the sort of destination where if you are just sticking to the island itself, you’d be unlikely to save any money by getting a rental car and splitting the costs between even a group of even five people, because the buses will usually be a great deal cheaper. If you are in a large group anyway, it would be quite easy to make a few taxi rides and split the costs – then at least, parking isn’t your problem.
Corfu driving problems
Buses in Corfu
Visiting islands off Corfu or the mainland by ferry
Other notes
However, when it comes to convenience, a car still might be worth considering, especially for a family, and especially if you are staying in a villa outside the main towns in Corfu. It’s also possible to pick up a hire car in Corfu and then start a road trip into mainland Greece.
A car makes a lot of sense for heading towards the spectacular rocky outcrops of Meteora, but only if you return it to the place where you hired it from.
What about one way car hire from Corfu?
Is it worth hiring a car in Corfu and then dropping it off somewhere else?
Corfu one way car hire price sample was looked up by comparing low season prices between different pick up and drop off points, where the rental company would allow a one way rental to or from Corfu. Corfu one way rental prices are compared using Avis, due to their simplicity of pricing. You may find better deals through firms who specialise in dealing with a lot of one way rental traffic.
The problem with any kind of one way rental deal from Corfu is that because you will be picking the car up on an island, the rental company is going to incur a substantial cost to get it back to the original car hire office, unless they can match your Corfu car rental up with someone coming back the other way.
Corfu one way rental sample prices
- The base price for a one week car hire in Corfu was £152.
- Even if you just wanted to drive around the mainland, and drop your car back at the mainland port of Igoumenitsa, your car rental cost increases to £270.
- This price shoots up to £348 if you want to drop the car off in Thessaloniki. This would be an ideal place to head out from if you wanted to visit Meteora.
- A one way car hire from Corfu to Athens would cost only a little more at £370.
Clearly, one way rentals in Corfu are not particularly good value, and this is a combination of Greece not being a particularly good place for one way rental deals in the first place, and the extra costs of Corfu being an island added on top of that.
Ratings: How does Corfu compare?
Is it worth hiring a car in Corfu? TBC
This is based on a rough consideration of the costs of renting a car in Corfu, and how this compares with the costs of using public transport. The answer to this varies hugely from one destination to the next, based on a wide range of factors. It's based on renting a car at the airport (TBC), and driving for an average of 2-3 hours on open roads on most days.
How does this compare if:
You are travelling:
Solo / As couple / small family / larger family / senior couple etc
Does car rental make sense on different budgets?
Do you need to hire a car in Corfu? TBC
This is based strictly on whether or no we think it's possible to visit Corfu (and the surrounding area) without using a car. Of the three key questions, this one is the most likely to be a "no".
Should you rent a car in Corfu? TBC
This is a balance of all factors. Remember this is an answer to the question for people who are already asking it. That's why the answer might still be a "yes", even when public transport is good.
See global comparisons
Hiring | Driving | Parking
Trains | Buses | Local travel
Car hire basics:
Public transportation basics:
Regular bus services: YES
Coach (inter-city): YES
Tram: NO
Metro: NO
Commuter Rail:
High Speed Rail:
Rail type (end stub / through / junction / hub):
As you start ....
Does Corfu airport have a direct rail link?
(Yes - within terminal / adjacent / short walk) (Yes - bus transfer / other) No
Changelog
Has our advice for Corfu car rental changed over time, or has it been pretty constant?
2017 - 6
2019 - 6
2021 - 6
Average score - 6
Notes:
Our Corfu car hire advice is based around people who are asking the question “should we hire a car in Corfu” rather than at looking at what we think the majority of people would do, Hence the chances are, if you are thinking about getting a car here, you will probably still find it’s best to do so, but it really would be a very marginal choice.
Summary
Do you or don't you need a car in Corfu ?
Europe > Greece > Heraklion
| Please note that Carornocar.com is currently being revised and updated in preparation for the Summer 2021 (northern hemisphere) tourist season. It is expected that some social distancing rules will still apply. For additional Heraklion car hire advice, please use the comments form below. |
Quick Ratings
Price band:
Heraklion is in car rental price band: 1/10 (1 = cheapest car rental location)
General comment - based on price alone, is it worth renting a car in Heraklion?
Yes. Amongst cheapest in world during off-season, still good value year round.
Volatility:
Can you expect big swings in car rental prices in Heraklion between the peak and the off peak season?
8/10 (0 = stable prices)
Driving score: 6/10
Non car score:3/10
Balance: 9
(0 = car hire not advised / 10 = rental car essential)
General comment -
Crete is the largest of the Greek islands, but public transport here is poor.
Do you need a car in Heraklion?
Why? Visiting Heraklion using a hire car
Why do you need a car in Heraklion ?
- There is no rail service of any kind on Crete.
- Bus services are relatively poor, and unreliable.
- A hire car will let you explore all parts of the island on your own terms.
Why not? Visiting Heraklion without a car
Why don't you need a car in Heraklion ?
- You cvan still get by on Crete without a car.
- For historic sites, you can use local tour bus services, as a rental car will just remain parked on the edge.
Ratings: How does Heraklion compare?
Is it worth hiring a car in Heraklion? TBC
This is based on a rough consideration of the costs of renting a car in Heraklion, and how this compares with the costs of using public transport. The answer to this varies hugely from one destination to the next, based on a wide range of factors. It's based on renting a car at the airport (TBC), and driving for an average of 2-3 hours on open roads on most days.
How does this compare if:
You are travelling:
Solo / As couple / small family / larger family / senior couple etc
Does car rental make sense on different budgets?
Do you need to hire a car in Heraklion? TBC
This is based strictly on whether or no we think it's possible to visit Heraklion (and the surrounding area) without using a car. Of the three key questions, this one is the most likely to be a "no".
Should you rent a car in Heraklion? TBC
This is a balance of all factors. Remember this is an answer to the question for people who are already asking it. That's why the answer might still be a "yes", even when public transport is good.
See global comparisons
Hiring | Driving | Parking
Trains | Buses | Local travel
Car hire basics:
Public transportation basics:
Regular bus services: YES
Coach (inter-city): YES
Tram: NO
Metro: NO
Commuter Rail:
High Speed Rail:
Rail type (end stub / through / junction / hub):
As you start ....
Does Heraklion airport have a direct rail link?
(Yes - within terminal / adjacent / short walk) (Yes - bus transfer / other) No
Changelog
Has our advice for Heraklion car rental changed over time, or has it been pretty constant?
2017 - 9
2019 - 7
2021 - 9
Average score - 9
Notes:
Summary
Do you or don't you need a car in Heraklion ?
Europe > Greece > Kos
| Please note that Carornocar.com is currently being revised and updated in preparation for the Summer 2021 (northern hemisphere) tourist season. It is expected that some social distancing rules will still apply. For additional Kos car hire advice, please use the comments form below. |
Quick Ratings
Price band:
Kos is in car rental price band: 2/10 (1 = cheapest car rental location)
General comment - based on price alone, is it worth renting a car in Kos?
Yes. Very cheap car rental by global standards.
Volatility:
Can you expect big swings in car rental prices in Kos between the peak and the off peak season?
5/10 (0 = stable prices)
Driving score: 2/10
Non car score:3/10
Balance: 4
(0 = car hire not advised / 10 = rental car essential)
General comment -
The Greek island of Kos is generally somewhere that we wouldn’t advise visitors to get a hire car, and there are two main reasons for this. The first and the most obvious reason is that this is one of the smaller Greek islands, where all of the towns and villages are relatively close to each other, and there are plenty of buses and taxis available, including between the airport and Kos town.
The second reason is simply because Kos is so close to mainland Turkey, and because it is also so well-connected with other nearby Greek islands by ferry, that if you’re planning to visit this part of the world, we would far rather recommend hopping onwards and seeing multiple destinations, rather than sticking in just the one. This naturally leans towards visiting places by bus, and taking advantage of the much cheaper foot passenger ferry rates.
Needless to say, we would advise strongly against even trying to take a Greek hire car into mainland Turkey.
However, moving around between islands isn’t necessarily going to appeal to everyone, and a hire car might still be useful if you are staying in a villa or other resort that isn’t near any bus stop, although that again is going be down to how far you are prepared to walk and how long you are prepared to wait for a bus with no definite idea about when it’s going to turn up. For many, this is part of what Greek life is all about, so this really might not be a problem.
Why? Visiting Kos using a hire car
Why do you need a car in Kos ?
Why not? Visiting Kos without a car
Why don't you need a car in Kos ?
Ratings: How does Kos compare?
Is it worth hiring a car in Kos? TBC
This is based on a rough consideration of the costs of renting a car in Kos, and how this compares with the costs of using public transport. The answer to this varies hugely from one destination to the next, based on a wide range of factors. It's based on renting a car at the airport (TBC), and driving for an average of 2-3 hours on open roads on most days.
How does this compare if:
You are travelling:
Solo / As couple / small family / larger family / senior couple etc
Does car rental make sense on different budgets?
Do you need to hire a car in Kos? TBC
This is based strictly on whether or no we think it's possible to visit Kos (and the surrounding area) without using a car. Of the three key questions, this one is the most likely to be a "no".
Should you rent a car in Kos? TBC
This is a balance of all factors. Remember this is an answer to the question for people who are already asking it. That's why the answer might still be a "yes", even when public transport is good.
See global comparisons
Hiring | Driving | Parking
Trains | Buses | Local travel
Car hire basics:
Public transportation basics:
Regular bus services: YES
Coach (inter-city): YES
Tram: NO
Metro: NO
Commuter Rail:
High Speed Rail:
Rail type (end stub / through / junction / hub):
As you start ....
Does Kos airport have a direct rail link?
(Yes - within terminal / adjacent / short walk) (Yes - bus transfer / other) No
Changelog
Has our advice for Kos car rental changed over time, or has it been pretty constant?
2017 - 4
2019 - 4
2021 - 4
Average score - 4
Notes:
Europe > Greece > Rhodes
| Please note that Carornocar.com is currently being revised and updated in preparation for the Summer 2021 (northern hemisphere) tourist season. It is expected that some social distancing rules will still apply. For additional Rhodes car hire advice, please use the comments form below. |
Quick Ratings
Price band:
Rhodes is in car rental price band: 2/10 (1 = cheapest car rental location)
General comment - based on price alone, is it worth renting a car in Rhodes?
Yes. Very cheap car rental by global standards.
Volatility:
Can you expect big swings in car rental prices in Rhodes between the peak and the off peak season?
5/10 (0 = stable prices)
Driving score: 4/10
Non car score:2/10
Balance: 6
(0 = car hire not advised / 10 = rental car essential)
General comment -
The Greek island of Rhodes is just large enough for a hire car to be useful, although it’s far from essential.
Why? Visiting Rhodes using a hire car
Why do you need a car in Rhodes ?
Bearing mind that if you are planning on getting around Rhodes by bus, buses on Greek islands only tend to operate between the major towns, in what might be described as a matchstick network, so the chances are that to get anywhere else you would have to go into Rhodes town and then out again, rather than to take a direct route. The same challenge also applies on islands like Corfu, and also on smaller Santorini, although our car hire advice there is slightly different.
Why not? Visiting Rhodes without a car
Why don't you need a car in Rhodes ?
Independent minded travellers might be looking at travelling around Rhodes and then heading onward into mainland Turkey, and needless to say, we do not recommend trying to get a one-way Rhodes car hire deal with a drop-off in Turkey, that’s just not going to happen!
Ratings: How does Rhodes compare?
Is it worth hiring a car in Rhodes? TBC
This is based on a rough consideration of the costs of renting a car in Rhodes, and how this compares with the costs of using public transport. The answer to this varies hugely from one destination to the next, based on a wide range of factors. It's based on renting a car at the airport (TBC), and driving for an average of 2-3 hours on open roads on most days.
How does this compare if:
You are travelling:
Solo / As couple / small family / larger family / senior couple etc
Does car rental make sense on different budgets?
Do you need to hire a car in Rhodes? TBC
This is based strictly on whether or no we think it's possible to visit Rhodes (and the surrounding area) without using a car. Of the three key questions, this one is the most likely to be a "no".
Should you rent a car in Rhodes? TBC
This is a balance of all factors. Remember this is an answer to the question for people who are already asking it. That's why the answer might still be a "yes", even when public transport is good.
See global comparisons
Hiring | Driving | Parking
Trains | Buses | Local travel
Car hire basics:
Public transportation basics:
Regular bus services: YES
Coach (inter-city): YES
Tram: NO
Metro: NO
Commuter Rail:
High Speed Rail:
Rail type (end stub / through / junction / hub):
As you start ....
Does Rhodes airport have a direct rail link?
(Yes - within terminal / adjacent / short walk) (Yes - bus transfer / other) No
Changelog
Has our advice for Rhodes car rental changed over time, or has it been pretty constant?
2017 - 6
2019 - 6
2021 - 6
Average score - 6
Notes:
Summary
Do you or don't you need a car in Rhodes ?
Europe > Greece > Santorini
| Please note that Carornocar.com is currently being revised and updated in preparation for the Summer 2021 (northern hemisphere) tourist season. It is expected that some social distancing rules will still apply. For additional Santorini car hire advice, please use the comments form below. |
Quick Ratings
Price band:
Santorini is in car rental price band: 2/10 (1 = cheapest car rental location)
General comment - based on price alone, is it worth renting a car in Santorini?
Yes. Very cheap car rental by global standards.
Volatility:
Can you expect big swings in car rental prices in Santorini between the peak and the off peak season?
5/10 (0 = stable prices)
Driving score: 2/10
Non car score:4/10
Balance: 3
(0 = car hire not advised / 10 = rental car essential)
General comment -
Why? Visiting Santorini using a hire car
Why do you need a car in Santorini ?
Why not? Visiting Santorini without a car
Why don't you need a car in Santorini ?
Ratings: How does Santorini compare?
Is it worth hiring a car in Santorini? TBC
This is based on a rough consideration of the costs of renting a car in Santorini, and how this compares with the costs of using public transport. The answer to this varies hugely from one destination to the next, based on a wide range of factors. It's based on renting a car at the airport (TBC), and driving for an average of 2-3 hours on open roads on most days.
How does this compare if:
You are travelling:
Solo / As couple / small family / larger family / senior couple etc
Does car rental make sense on different budgets?
Do you need to hire a car in Santorini? TBC
This is based strictly on whether or no we think it's possible to visit Santorini (and the surrounding area) without using a car. Of the three key questions, this one is the most likely to be a "no".
Should you rent a car in Santorini? TBC
This is a balance of all factors. Remember this is an answer to the question for people who are already asking it. That's why the answer might still be a "yes", even when public transport is good.
See global comparisons
Hiring | Driving | Parking
Trains | Buses | Local travel
Car hire basics:
Public transportation basics:
Regular bus services: YES
Coach (inter-city): YES
Tram: NO
Metro: NO
Commuter Rail:
High Speed Rail:
Rail type (end stub / through / junction / hub):
As you start ....
Does Santorini airport have a direct rail link?
(Yes - within terminal / adjacent / short walk) (Yes - bus transfer / other) No
Changelog
Has our advice for Santorini car rental changed over time, or has it been pretty constant?
2017 - 3
2019 - 3
2021 - 3
Average score - 3
Notes:
Summary
Do you or don't you need a car in Santorini ?
Europe > Greece > Zante
| Please note that Carornocar.com is currently being revised and updated in preparation for the Summer 2021 (northern hemisphere) tourist season. It is expected that some social distancing rules will still apply. For additional Zante car hire advice, please use the comments form below. |
Quick Ratings
Price band:
Zante is in car rental price band: 1/10 (1 = cheapest car rental location)
General comment - based on price alone, is it worth renting a car in Zante?
Yes. Extremely cheap car hire, if booking economy vehicle outside peak holiday period.
Volatility:
Can you expect big swings in car rental prices in Zante between the peak and the off peak season?
7/10 (0 = stable prices)
Driving score: 3/10
Non car score:3/10
Balance: 3
(0 = car hire not advised / 10 = rental car essential)
General comment -
Why? Visiting Zante using a hire car
Why do you need a car in Zante ?
Why not? Visiting Zante without a car
Why don't you need a car in Zante ?
Ratings: How does Zante compare?
Is it worth hiring a car in Zante? TBC
This is based on a rough consideration of the costs of renting a car in Zante, and how this compares with the costs of using public transport. The answer to this varies hugely from one destination to the next, based on a wide range of factors. It's based on renting a car at the airport (TBC), and driving for an average of 2-3 hours on open roads on most days.
How does this compare if:
You are travelling:
Solo / As couple / small family / larger family / senior couple etc
Does car rental make sense on different budgets?
Do you need to hire a car in Zante? TBC
This is based strictly on whether or no we think it's possible to visit Zante (and the surrounding area) without using a car. Of the three key questions, this one is the most likely to be a "no".
Should you rent a car in Zante? TBC
This is a balance of all factors. Remember this is an answer to the question for people who are already asking it. That's why the answer might still be a "yes", even when public transport is good.
See global comparisons
Hiring | Driving | Parking
Trains | Buses | Local travel
Car hire basics:
Public transportation basics:
Regular bus services: YES
Coach (inter-city): YES
Tram: NO
Metro: NO
Commuter Rail:
High Speed Rail:
Rail type (end stub / through / junction / hub):
As you start ....
Does Zante airport have a direct rail link?
(Yes - within terminal / adjacent / short walk) (Yes - bus transfer / other) No
Changelog
Has our advice for Zante car rental changed over time, or has it been pretty constant?
2017 - 3
2019 - 4
2021 - 3
Average score - 3
Notes:
Summary
Do you or don't you need a car in Zante ?