Car rental in
Athens

Our fleet of vehicles caters for a range of transportation needs in and around Athens. For instance, you might want to opt for a compact city car for navigating the narrow streets of the old town. Alternatively, a roomy estate is a good option for family vacations. We also have a selection of sports cars and convertibles, so you can put the roof down and really enjoy the sunny weather in style. Meanwhile, a rugged 4x4 makes sense for tackling the hilly local terrain. With hourly, daily, weekly and monthly hire rates available, a car hire in Athens is a flexible transport option. It's affordable too, simply see the price comparisons online or through our app when browsing through our vehicle ranges. Plus you'll be able to benefit from our list of handy add-ons, such as child seats for customers with young families and SatNav for finding your way through the trickier parts of Athens' winding road system. And as well as being able to book online, you can use our mobile app to cancel reservations without charge and opt for a specific vehicle half an hour before pick-up.

Athens benefits from two major road systems. Skimming the edge of the city on three sides is the Attiki Odos beltway of toll roads, which in turn lead to the Leoforos, two-lane arteries which criss-cross Athens in a rough grid pattern. Most notable of these is Leoforos Kifiso, which runs from Piraeus all the way to the north of the city. Traffic moves fairly rapidly so long as you keep to these systems, so we recommend making the most of them when planning a route around town. Elsewhere, a SatNav is invaluable for negotiating the city's mix of one way streets, pedestrian zones and environmentally restricted areas. Traffic congestion can be a problem, although less so at the weekend and during the Greek holiday month of August. The airport lies 20 miles east of the city, a half hour's drive from the historic sites of the town centre via Attiki Odos E94. The same route takes you to Syntagma Square, the business district of Athens. The busy port of Piraeus, meanwhile is about 15 minutes from the city centre via Leoforos Poseidonos.

Athens is a city where the ancient and modern co-exist. With the mighty Acropolis looming over everything, there's no forgetting its classical heritage, but you'd be hard pressed to find a city more lively and less like a museum. By day, you feel swept up in its bustling street life, whether you're enjoying a frappé at one of the local cafes or people watching in the National Parks. And by night, the party goes on and on. Many Athenians don't dine until around 9 p.m., and districts like Exharia and Gazi are noisy well into the small hours with bustling tavernas, traditional bouzoukia music clubs and popular restaurants such as Yiantes and Rozalia. In Psyrri and Keramikos, you can sip cocktails, nibble tapas and see in the dawn on rooftop bars. Try Point A at the Herodian Hotel and the Hotel Grande Bretagne Roof Garden for their spectacular views of the Parthenon.

Standing 910 feet tall, the lofty Mount Lycabettus (also called Lykavittos Hill) towers over Athens. Although cars can't reach the very summit, there's a road leading most of the way. When you get out, you'll find a restaurant, open-air theatre and observation platform with a magnificent overview of the city and coastline. Alternatively, you can park at the base of the hill and ride the Kolonaki funicular to the top.

• From Athens International Airport: 21 miles, about 36 minutes
• From Athens city centre: 2 miles, about 12 minutes

With its leafy promenades and turquoise waters, the Athenian Riviera offers the perfect escape from the heat and bustle of downtown Athens. The Apollo Coast boasts 30 miles of pristine shoreline. The private beaches set a high standard of chic elegance, but public beaches like Liminakia, Mikrou Kavouri and Thymari are just as beautiful. Further down the coast is the town of Anavissos, known for its windsurfing scene and fresh seafood.

• From Athens International Airport: 14 miles, about 40 minutes
• From Athens city centre: 11 miles, about 43 minutes

Many of Greece's top businesses have their headquarters in Athens. These include Aegean Airlines, Eurobank Ergasias, Galaxias supermarkets, Korres pharmaceuticals and the National Bank of Greece. With Piraeus on its doorstep, shipping and transport is another important industry. The city is also home to venues such as the Megaron Athens International Conference Centre (MAICC). This stages a roster of high-profile business conventions, including many relating to different fields of medicine.

• From Athens International Airport: 26 miles, about 56 minutes
• From Athens city centre: 2 miles, about 11 minutes