Europe > 🇬🇷Greece
Should You Hire a Car in Greece? This can be broken down into two similar questions - do you need a car in Greece (in other words, will your holiday be ruined without one), and is it worth hiring a car in Greece - i.e. is a car better value than using public transport? We'll weigh up both questions and give you a response generated by Chat GPT, together with our own curated opinion before finally giving a yes or no verdict at the end.
| CITY | IATA | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Athens | ATH | |
| Chania | CHQ | |
| Chios | JKH | |
| Corfu | CFU | |
| Heraklion | HER | |
| Karpathos | AOK | |
| Kastoria | KSO | |
| Kavala | KVA | |
| Kefalonia | EFL | |
| Kos | KGS | |
| Lemnos | LXS | |
| Mykonos | JMK | |
| Mytilene | MJT | |
| Naxos | JNX | |
| Paros | PAS | |
| Rhodes | RHO | |
| Samos | SMI | |
| Santorini | JTR | |
| Skiathos | JSI | |
| Thessaloniki | SKG | |
| Volos | VOL | |
| Zakynthos | ZTH |
Let’s make it simple.
🏛 When You Don’t Need a Car
If you’re planning to stick to major cities and popular islands, you can relax—no car needed. Ferries, buses, metros, and taxis will do all the work.
✅ Best No-Car Destinations
| Place | Why a Car Isn’t Needed | How You’ll Get Around |
|---|---|---|
| Athens | Metro + taxis | Acropolis, Plaka, museums |
| Santorini | Small, busy roads | Buses, ATVs, taxis |
| Mykonos | Compact + very walkable | Bus network to beaches |
| Hydra | No cars allowed | Boats, donkeys, walking |
| Crete (if staying in one town) | Local buses | Chania, Heraklion, Rethymno town centers |
➡ In these areas, parking is a headache, and public transport is easy.
🚗 When a Car Is a Game-Changer
Once you head into the mainland or less-touristy islands, Greece becomes a land of mountains, hidden villages, remote beaches, and ancient ruins scattered far apart. This is where a car becomes golden.
✅ Best Regions for Driving
| Region | Why Driving Helps | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Peloponnese | Stunning coastal and mountain drives | Nafplio, Mycenae, Olympia |
| Mainland road trip | Flexible access to archaeological sites | Delphi, Meteora |
| Crete (road trip style) | Large island with remote beaches | Balos, Elafonissi, Samaria Gorge |
| Naxos & Paros | Villages + mountain roads | Traditional Greek life |
| Rhodes (beyond Old Town) | Scenic drives and castles | Lindos, butterfly valley |
➡ With a car, you can stop in olive groves, pull over at viewpoints, and find tavernas with zero tourists and 100% flavour.
🚦 Driving in Greece – Fast Facts
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You drive on the right-hand side
-
Roads can be narrow or steep, especially in villages
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Mountain drives offer incredible views (and hairpin turns 😅)
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Avoid driving in central Athens – it’s chaos
-
Automatic cars are limited, so book early if you need one
🏁 Final Verdict
| Traveller Type | Car Needed? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Athens city break | ❌ No | Metro & taxis are easy |
| Island hopper (Mykonos, Santorini, Hydra) | ❌ No | Buses & boats cover all routes |
| Scenic explorer | ✅ Yes | Freedom to reach hidden gems |
| History lover (Mainland temples & ruins) | ✅ Yes | Sites are spread apart |
| Beach and village road trip | ✅ Yes | Best way to experience authentic Greece |
| Resort-style relaxer | ❌ No | Transfers already arranged |
✨ Final Takeaway
🔹 No car needed if you stick to Athens and ferry-friendly islands
🔹 Car highly recommended if you want to explore mainland Greece or venture beyond the tourist town on any large island
🔹 The best trips to Greece often mix both – city + ferry + self-drive freedom
Should You Hire a Car in 🇬🇷 — or Not? Advice on this page has been written using Chat GPT, backed up by 20 years experience in the travel industry. This site is planned for full launch on 1st January 2026. Full terms, advice, FAQs, disclaimer etc to follow. UN flag is a placeholder
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