Car Rental in Athens: Combine It with a Trip to the Peloponnese

Athens is a popular destination for a city trip, but the Greek capital is also a great starting point for a road trip through the Peloponnese. This southern peninsula of Greece is an archaeological treasure trove, and its mountainous landscape, with peaks exceeding two thousand meters, is impressive. Plus, there are stunning beaches to explore. Rent a car in Athens and go enjoy it!

Renting a Car at Athens Airport

Renting a car at Athens Airport is usually the easiest option. There’s plenty of availability, the process is smooth, and it’s ideal if you’re heading out on a road trip directly from Athens.

When picking up your rental car, a staff member doesn’t always accompany you to the parking lot. Inspect the car thoroughly, both inside and out, and take photos and/or videos. Make sure any damage not listed on the rental agreement is noted. Be sure to take photos or videos again when returning the rental car at Athens Airport.

Which type of rental car should you choose?

First and foremost, the type of car you want to rent depends on the number of people you’re traveling with. If you’re traveling solo or as a couple, a small car will suffice, but make sure there’s enough room for your luggage. If you’re traveling as a family or a group, you’ll likely end up choosing an SUV or similar rental car, which has enough space for both passengers and luggage.

If you plan to drive on steep mountain roads in the Peloponnese, make sure your rental car has enough engine power.

How much does it cost to rent a car in Athens?

Below is a table showing approximate daily rates for rental cars (economy, compact, intermediate, and SUV) in Athens for each month of the year. These are starting prices; rental cars with our Worry-Free label are slightly more expensive.

Driving in Greece

In Athens itself, a rental car isn’t strictly necessary. If you’re staying near a metro station and spending most of your time in the Plaka, Monastiraki, Thiseio, and Syntagma neighborhoods, a car will likely be more of a hassle than a convenience. The center of Athens is easy to explore on foot.

Rental Cars and Greek Toll Roads

If you’re driving from Athens to the Peloponnese, you’ll have to pay tolls on the highways. You can pay with cash or a credit card. Electronic toll devices do exist, but you won’t find them in rental cars, as they require a Greek bank account.

Narrow Roads in Greece

Of course, you won’t be driving only on the highway during your vacation. Keep in mind that secondary roads are often narrow and, in the mountainous Peloponnese, also winding. We recommend that you drive slowly on such roads, observe the speed limits, and give way to oncoming or following local traffic.

Best Routes by Rental Car from Athens

The Peloponnese is separated from the Greek mainland by the Corinth Canal. Don’t just drive across it quickly on the A8 in your rental car; instead, take a detour to the old bridge, where you can get a good view of the deep, dead-straight canal with its steep walls.

Athens → Nafplio

Highlights between Athens and Nafplio:

• Archaia Korinthos – The ruins of this ancient city lie seven kilometers beyond the modern city. It is an extensive complex with buildings from various eras. The nearby high rock with an acropolis, Akrokorinthos, is also worth a visit.

• Mycenae – This prosperous Bronze Age city was protected by walls meters thick, built of enormous stones. The fortress sits high on a steep cliff, from which you can see for kilometers.

• Nafplio – The narrow streets are lively and full of charm, and the Palamidi Fortress towers high above the city. It’s a perfect base for day trips in your rental car—for example, to nearby beaches, the exceptionally well-preserved amphitheater at Epidaurus, or the lava domes, hot springs, and caves on the Methana Peninsula.

Athens → Mani Peninsula

The highway from Athens to Kalamata is a scenic and easy route, although you’ll have to pay tolls fairly often. A detour via Mystras is definitely worth it.

Highlights:

• Sparta & Mystras – Although Sparta captures the imagination, little remains of this legendary city. Many of the stones from ancient Sparta were used in the Middle Ages to build Mystras, five kilometers away. In this walled castle town, you’ll have to do quite a bit of climbing to see everything.

• Taygetos Mountains – Drive through the Taygetos Mountains via the Langada Pass along winding roads lined with traditional villages.

• Kalamata – A perfect base for day trips in the area: the popular Voidokilia Beach, the Ridomo Gorge, and the Polilimnio Waterfalls.

• Mani Peninsula – Kalamata is the starting point for a road trip across the Mani Peninsula. The coastal road to the south is very scenic, and Mani is spectacularly different from the rest of Greece.

Athens → Delphi

A rental car is ideal for visiting the world-famous ruins and the Oracle of Delphi. It’s the most popular organized day trip from Athens, but day-trippers don’t arrive until late in the morning and leave again after just a few hours. If you’ve rented a car, you can drive there at your own pace one day and enjoy the peace and quiet the next day before the tour buses arrive!

There are several options for driving from Athens to Delphi in a rental car. You can take the direct route, via Thebes or Kastro, but the coastal road in the north of the Peloponnese, along the Gulf of Corinth, is more scenic. You’ll come across numerous coves and beaches that make for idyllic picnic spots.

Highlights:

• Voutsimo Gorge – The little road to the gorge near Akrata is a pleasure to drive. Park your rental car just before the bridge and follow a steep footpath downhill. You’ll need to wade through the river to get a good view of the large waterfall.

• Rio-Antirrio Bridge – An impressive cable-stayed bridge spanning the Gulf of Corinth. Not only is it an architectural marvel, but it also offers beautiful views across the water. The toll is quite high, though.

• Pindus Mountains – On the other side of the bridge, you’ll drive through the hilly landscape of the southern Pindus Mountains. Although you’ll encounter stunning views along the way, there are unfortunately few places to stop safely. You can, however, stop in the picturesque villages you pass through.

• Delphi – On the final stretch to Delphi, lovers of winding mountain roads will be in their element. Delphi is not only an awe-inspiring place because of its ruins that capture the imagination, but also because of its stunning natural surroundings.

Rent a car in Athens and explore the Peloponnese

The Peloponnese is a wonderful region— the real Greece —to explore by rental car. Keep in mind, however, that the roads there are often winding and narrow, which means it may take longer to reach your destination than you might expect.

The routes listed above are just examples and cover only a small part of what you can see and experience in the Peloponnese. You can find more detailed tips in our blog about a road trip through the Peloponnese in a rental car.

For a worry-free vacation, book a rental car in Athens with our Worry-Free label. It’s our all-inclusive car rental solution, and you won’t have to worry about a thing, because these rental cars include:

• Full damage coverage

• Unlimited mileage

• The best fuel policy

• No high deposit

• Reliable rental companies