Should you rent a car in Athens? A practical transport guide

This surprises many first-time visitors in Athens. 

People often assume that travelling to Greece automatically means renting a car from the moment they land. But in fact, Athens works differently. The city center of Athens is one of the few places in Greece where public transport is practical for visitors.
 

The historic center is compact, as most major sights, such as Acropolis, Plaka, Monastiraki, Syntagma Square, Psyrri and Thissio, are within walking distance or connected by metro within minutes. Plus, with taxi apps, you can get around easily without driving.
 

However, Athens is also the perfect gateway to mainland Greece. And this is where the transportation strategy changes completely.
 

What you should remember is that inside Athens city center, you don’t need a car, while for day trips from Athens, rental car is essential.

Athens has many difficulties, but public transport is not one of them.
 

The city’s metro system is modern, air-conditioned and very easy to use. Operated by OASA, the network connects the airport, city center, port of Piraeus and most major neighborhoods, being the fastest option.
 

Plus, the tram is useful if you stay along the Athens Riviera or planning beach days near Glyfada, Voula or Palaio Faliro. Buses cover almost everything else, although traffic can affect journey times during busy hours.
 

Of course, there is also walking. Central Athens is best experienced on foot. Around Plaka, Anafiotika, Thissio and Monastiraki, driving simply creates unnecessary stress. Streets are narrow, parking is limited and traffic can become chaotic, especially during summer.
 

This is the part many car rental companies avoid saying directly, but Abbycar reveals: Driving in central Athens is not recommended for most tourists. Not because it is unsafe, but because it is inefficient. You’ll spend more time looking for parking than enjoying the city.

Everything changes once you leave the city. Some of Greece’s most famous mainland destinations are very difficultly accessible by public transport as it is slow and uncomfortable.
 

A car gives you the freedom to travel at your own pace, stop at seaside spots, viewpoints, archaeological sites and villages that organized tours or buses simply bypass.
 

Plus, by car rental in Greece, you travel much faster, as you can see below.

Cape Sounion is probably the perfect example of why renting a car in Athens makes sense.
 

The coastal drive along Posidonos Avenue and the Athens Riviera is one of the most scenic routes in Greece. You pass marinas, beaches, small coastal towns and endless sea views before reaching the Temple of Poseidon.
 

The journey itself becomes part of the experience.
 

And importantly, the Sounion coastal road has no tolls, making it one of the easiest and most relaxed drives near Athens.
 

Delphi is another case where a car entirely transforms the trip. Public transport exists, but schedules are infrequent and the journey takes much longer. By renting a car, you can stop in mountain villages like Arachova along the way or visit seaside towns, like Galaxidi, instead of going back without having seen anything else.
 

The same applies to Nafplio and the Peloponnese. Once you have a car, your options multiply dramatically. For example, from Nafplio you can go by car in only 1-2 hours to wine-tasting region of Nemea, to the ancient theatre of Epidaurus or sunbath and swim in nearby Tolo.
 

Read more about driving in Greece in our one-stop guide and if you are a non-EU driver, learn here what you need to know.

For most travelers, the smartest pickup location is Athens International Airport. And it entirely makes sense.
 

Collecting your car at the airport allows you to avoid driving inside central Athens. Instead of navigating traffic around Syntagma or Omonia, you can immediately drive to the national road network and begin your road trip to Peloponnese or other destinations in mainland Greece.
 

Renting a car at Athens airport is especially useful if:
 

• you want to make a mainland road trip.
   
• you plan to visit the Peloponnese.
   
• you want to drive directly to Delphi or Sounion. 
   

Many travelers use a hybrid strategy. The stay in Athens without a car, by using the metro to go from the airport to the center, which is around 40 minutes. The, they pick up the rental car later for their road trips.
 

Thus, they save money, stress and parking fees in city center. 
 

Abbycar Athens Airport Station allows travellers to collect and return the vehicle directly at the airport, making this setup especially practical for shorter Greek itineraries.

The good news is that once you leave the city center, driving becomes dramatically easier.
 

Modern motorways connect Athens with most major mainland destinations, and road signage is generally clear in both Greek and English.
 

The best routes are:

The coastal road to Cape Sounion
 

The drive follows the Athens Riviera through Faliro, Glyfada, Vouliagmeni, Varkiza, Lagonissi and Saronida before reaching the Temple of Poseidon. Expect around 90 minutes from city center depending on stops and traffic.
 

No tolls apply on this route.
 

This route is ideal for:
 

• sunset drives 
   
• couples 
   
• beach stops 
   
• slow travel itineraries 
   

The E94 Motorway toward Corinth
 

This is the main route toward the Peloponnese.
 

The road is modern, fast and easy to navigate. Tolls apply, with Attiki Odos and motorway sections costing approximately €2.80 per section depending on the route.
 

If you drive to Nafplio, Epidaurus, Kalamata, Pylos or Ancient Corinth, this is the road you will use as the first part of the route.
 

Bonus tip: Leave Early
 

This makes a huge difference. Athens traffic builds quickly after 8am, especially around Kifissos Avenue, Attiki Odos and central exits toward Piraeus Port.
 

For smoother driving:
 

• leave before 8am whenever possible.
   
• avoid Friday afternoon departures in summer.
   
• use offline Google Maps in rural areas near Delphi.
   

Google Maps is generally reliable throughout mainland Greece, but mobile signal can weaken in mountain regions.

For Athens only? Probably not.
 

The metro, tram and walkable historic center make public transportation the smarter option for most visitors. You will save money, avoid parking stress and experience the city more comfortably.
 

But for day trips and mainland exploration, renting a car changes everything.
 

It gives you flexibility, saves hours of travel time and opens access to places that by organized tours and public transport are inaccessible.
 

If you are planning mainland day trips or other road trips, Abbycar, the worldwide reliable car rental agency, offers convenient pickup options at Athens Airport as well as across Greece.

For Athens only? Probably not.
 

The metro, tram and walkable historic center make public transportation the smarter option for most visitors. You will save money, avoid parking stress and experience the city more comfortably.
 

But for day trips and mainland exploration, renting a car changes everything.
 

It gives you flexibility, saves hours of travel time and opens access to places that by organized tours and public transport are inaccessible.
 

If you are planning mainland day trips or other road trips, Abbycar, the worldwide reliable car rental agency, offers convenient pickup options at Athens Airport as well as across Greece.