Greece › Mykonos › Airport Rental Cars
By Santorini Dave
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The rental car parking lot at Mykonos Airport is directly in front of the terminal. Check prices and book a car online then when you arrive your car will be waiting for you steps from the Arrivals exit.
Mykonos Airport Car Rental
My recommendation: If you need a rental car for your time in Mykonos, then reserve in advance at the Mykonos Airport. If your plan is to sit by the pool during the day and then walk or bus to dinner, it’s easy to get by without a rental car in Mykonos.
Tip: If you need a large family minivan or a car with automatic transmission (most rental vehicles in Mykonos are manual), you must book 3 to 5 months in advance for summer travel.
Rental car companies at Mykonos Airport: Budget • Sixt • Hertz • Avis • Wheego • Carwiz • Volta4u • Europcar • Yours Car Rental
Renting a Car in Mykonos
Renting a car is a great way to see the whole island, as not everywhere is well-served by bus and there are very few taxis (only ~35) on the entire island. You do not need a car to get to the most popular Mykonos beaches and beach clubs or to do any of the best Mykonos tours. However, remote northern beaches (like Agios Sostis) are much easier to visit by rental car. Additionally, some of the best Mykonos hotels located north of Mykonos Town can feel isolated without a car.
If you really don’t want to rent a car, stay in Mykonos Town, Ornos, or Platis Gialos – all are well-served by bus (or water taxi) and within easy walking distance of many great Mykonos restaurants.
Mykonos Car Rentals: My Advice
- Book Early: Reserve rental cars 3-6 months in advance for visits from June to September. Prices skyrocket last minute.
- Use Booking.com: It is the best site for reserving cars in Mykonos, comparing international and reliable local brands.
- Automatic vs. Manual: Most rental cars in Mykonos are manual transmission. If you only drive automatic, you must reserve well in advance.
- Airport Pickup is Best: Reserve rental cars at Mykonos Airport. It is much easier than town pickup, has ample parking, and lets you avoid the long taxi lines.
- Avoid Port Pickup: If arriving by ferry, take a bus, taxi, or Welcome Pickups car service from the port to the Airport to pick up your car there. The New Port is chaotic and stressful for car pickups.
- Document Everything: Take pictures of the rental vehicle (inside and out) before driving away from the parking lot to avoid damage disputes later.
Car Rental at the Mykonos Ferry Port (New Port)
The ferry port in Mykonos (New Port/Tourlos) is chaotic when a ferry arrives. It’s stressful and confusing. Instead, take a pre-booked transfer or bus to the Airport (10 mins away) and pick up your car in a much calmer environment. Also far more selection at the airport.
Car Rental at the Mykonos Airport
For airport car pick up, you can reserve through Booking.com and pick up from one of the kiosks at the airport. The airport is small, and it’s super easy to get your car. From the airport, it’s a short 10-minute drive to Mykonos Town and about 15 minutes to the beaches of Platys Gialos, Ornos, Psarou, Agios Ioannis, and Elia.
There are several car companies to rent from at the Mykonos Airport.
Should I rent a car in Mykonos?
For most visitors it’s more of a hassle than a necessity. Renting a car does make getting around Mykonos easier and allows you to explore areas of the island (like the wild northern coast) that you couldn’t reach by bus. But the Mykonos bus system is excellent for Mykonos Town and the main south-coast beaches.
Is it hard to find parking in Mykonos?
Yes. Mykonos Town (Chora) is pedestrian-only. You cannot drive inside the town. You must park on the outskirts.
- The Old Port Car Park: Huge public lot on the northern edge of town. Often full in high season.
- Fabrika: On the southern edge. Very busy.
- Beach Parking: Most beach clubs (Scorpios, Nammos) offer valet parking for a fee (€10-€20). Public lots near beaches fill up by noon in August.
Can I take a rental car from Mykonos to other islands?
In theory, yes. In practice, no. It is a huge hassle and expensive (car ferry tickets cost €80+). Most importantly, almost all rental car insurance policies are voided the moment the car drives onto a ferry. It is much cheaper and safer to rent a separate car on each island.
The entrance to the Mykonos Airport.
Mykonos airport is very small. There’s no getting lost here.
The rental car kiosks are just outside of the arrivals and immigration gates. You can’t miss them.
The public bus stop is just out the doors of the terminal.
The bus schedule from the airport to Mykonos Town and the new ferry port.
The public bus at the Mykonos Airport. There’s always plenty of luggage space in the compartments below the bus.
All buses will stop at the main Fabrika bus station in Mykonos Town. From there you can get a different bus to all the most popular beach towns.
If you’ve booked a pick-up with Welcome Pickups your driver will be waiting at the Arrivals gate with a sign.
There are a few rental car companies just outside the airport. Like this luxury rental car service just across the parking lot at the Mykonos airport.
This one is just down the road from airport – still within walking distance.
There are many places around the island to rent a car if you don’t get one from the airport.
If you don’t rent a car or use Welcome Pickups be prepared for a long line for taxis. There are few taxis on Mykonos and they are in high demand throughout the day and night.
Kapari Beach is one of many Mykonos Beaches that requires a car rental to access easily.
Paradise Beach, Ornos, and Platis Gialos are some of the popular beaches with good bus service and that don’t require a rental car to get to.
The New Ferry Port is just north of Mykonos Town and is where most ferries arrive. If reserving a vehicle on Booking.com select “Mykonos Port” for the New Ferry Port. The “Mykonos Old Port” refers to the much smaller port in Mykonos Town.
If booking on Booking.com select “Mykonos Old Port” to pick-up your car in Mykonos Town. Only smaller ferries arrive here. The rental car companies are just a little back from the water, to the left in the photo above.
Santorini Dave was started in 2011 when I posted a short guide to visiting Santorini with kids. Now, my site publishes regularly updated guides to 
Hey Dave,
Is it possible to rent a car at the Santorini port and return it at Santorini airport?
In theory, yes. In practice, picking up from the ferry port is tricky. And in my experience, they’ll often just pick you from the ferry port and drive you into town or near the airport (which is fine). For me, the easiest way is to take a Welcome Pickup (car hire) to the airport and then rent and return from there.
We are going to be in Mykonos from the 16th August to 19th August. We would like to visit Santorini by ferry on Sunday the 19th just for a day trip. Is this possible? If so, how often and how reliable it is? We have a flight flying to Athens on the 19th at 23:35. Thank you in advance for your advice.
Day trips from Mykonos to Santorini are difficult/impossible and even when possible I don’t recommend doing them. In your case the best ferry times will give you 2.5 hours on Santorini with 6+ hours of ferry time. With bus travel from the Santorini port to Fira you would have about an hour to explore the town before returning to the ferry.
Hello. I will be flying into Mykonos from Athens in September and staying for 5 days in Platis Gialos. Then will leave by ferry to Santorini. Would it be easier to rent a car in Mykonos town vs the Airport since I will be continuing my trip to Santorini? Please advise. Thank you.
Jaime
It’s usually easier to rent from the airport than Mykonos Town. More choice, easier to find the car companies, car is closer to kiosk. But you can pickup from Mykonos Airport and return to town. Within the Rentalcars.com website select “Mykonos All Areas” for dropoff and then choose cars that have an Mykonos Old Port dropoff point. That said, if your ferry is leaving from the New Port and not the Old Port (which is likely) then I recommend dropping off at the airport then taxiing to the New Port.
I am 19 year old and have a driving license only from 10 months. Can I rent a car in Mykonos?
No, sorry. Most places require you to be 25. Some 21.
Staying at Elia Beach (Myconian Utopia Resort) and want to know if we can rent a car from the hotel or area? We already have transfers from the airport. Arriving on Saturday.
By the way, did not see this hotel listed for Elia beach hotels. What is your opinion of this hotel?
Your hotel will be able to arrange a car for you. You might not get the car you want (e.g. automatic) but they’ll be able to get something. Myconian Utopia has great views and hip vibe but long way from Mykonos Town and need shuttle for Elia Beach.
What is the best way to rent a luxury car in Mykonos? Preferably with airport pickup and dropoff as friends have said that is much easier than getting from one of the towns.
Thanks,
Jerry
RentalCars.com is how I book cars in Mykonos.
Yes, airport pickup/dropoff is the easiest way to go. You will end up paying for all your days in Mykonos and perhaps you could rent for fewer days if you did pickup or dropoff in town. But rental cars are pretty cheap in Mykonos (even the luxury ones). And for the hassle it saves probably worth it for most people.