How to Rent a Car in Santorini

Greece › Santorini › Airport Rental Cars
Updated: June 6, 2025
By Santorini Dave

See Also
• Where to Stay in Santorini
• Santorini Airport
• Santorini Ferry Port
• Santorini to Mykonos Ferry
• Santorini to Athens Ferry
• Best Santorini Tours

If you reserve a rental car in advance getting your car at the Santorini airport is quick, easy, and hassle-free.

Santorini Airport Car Rental

My recommendation: If you need a rental car for exploring the sights then reserve a vehicle in advance at the Santorini airport. If your plan is to sit by the pool or beach, do a few tours, and then ferry to another Greek island, then you probably don’t need a rental car.

Tip: If you need a large family-friendly minivan or a car with automatic transmission (most rental cars in Santorini are manual) then definitely book in advance.

Rental cars available at the Santorini airport: Sixt • Volta4u • Europcar • Drive S.A. • Surprice • Caldera • Carwiz • Yours Car Rental • Goldcar

Renting a Car in Santorini

• The Santorini bus system is excellent for the main towns. But for the smaller villages, hotels a little off the main track, or attractions outside of Fira and Oia the bus is not that practical. Renting a car is a great way to see the whole island. About half of the best things to do in Santorini are made easier by having a rental car.
• Booking a car in advance is not absolutely essential but for peace of mind, probably best.
• Most rental cars in Santorini have a standard transmission. If you only drive automatic then definitely reserve in advance.
• Visiting the best Santorini wineries is best done by tour if you don’t have a designated driver.
• If arriving by plane pick up rental cars at the Santorini Airport to avoid the long lines for a taxi. (Airport pick up is easier than pick up in Fira or Oia).
• If arriving by ferry, you have a couple of choices. #1: Pick up at the ferry port. It’s the quickest way to get a rental car but the port is busy and hectic. Plus you’ll need to drive up the caldera cliff on a narrow switchback. Not for everyone. #2: Take a taxi or bus from the ferry port to the town you’re staying in and then pick up your car there (Fira, Imerovigli, and Oia have the most options). There is always a direct bus from the port to Fira (and then from there to all other towns). #3: Or take a taxi or bus to the airport and then get your rental car at the terminal. It’s easier doing car pick up at the airport than finding the individual rental car companies in Fira or Oia, but the airport is a little out of the way and there isn’t always a direct bus from the port to the airport.
• When picking up your rental car, take pictures of the vehicle (inside and out) before driving away from the parking lot.
• Driving in Santorini is fairly easy (just drive slowly and never drink alcohol and drive). I do not recommend ATVs or motorcycles – too dangerous.

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The switchback road down to the Santorini ferry port is twisty, tricky, and often very busy. (It’s much easier to pick up your rental car at the airport or in Fira, Imerovigli, or Oia.)

How do I rent a car in Santorini?

Booking.com searches all the big car companies and finds the best price. Don’t be put off by the site’s simple layout – it’s all about finding the best rates. The most common pick up points are Fira and the Santorini airport. Under Pick up Location select either Santorini Airport or All Locations (which will usually mean Fira).

I prefer picking up my rental car from the Santorini airport even if arriving by ferry. The airport is smack in the center of the island and a short taxi or bus ride from the port and all towns. All the airport rental car desks are within a few feet of each other. It’s easy to get your car, walk across the parking lot, and drive away. On the other hand, rental car pick up at the ferry port and in Fira can be busy and chaotic (though obviously more convenient in terms of location).

Driving Map of Santorini

Car Rental at the Santorini Airport

The recently refurbished Santorini Airport is the best place to get rental cars.

For airport rental cars you can reserve through Booking.com and pick up from one of the kiosks at the Santorini airport. The airport is very small and it’s quick and easy to get your car. From the Santorini airport, it’s a short 10-minute drive to Fira. About 15 minutes to Imerovigli. And 25 minutes to Oia. Renting a car from the airport will save you the hassle of getting a taxi. When flights arrive taxis are in short supply and waits can be long. Rental car companies that offer cars from the Santorini airport include Sixt, Europcar, Volta4u, and Goldcar. Their desks are located just outside the arrivals hall of the airport terminal. The desks are well-staffed and there’s almost never a lineup for car pick up or drop off. The airport has the largest variety of rental cars including small, medium, and large sedans; family-sized mini-vans; and large SUVs.

The rental car parking lot is a 30-second walk from the airport terminal (which you can see in the background).

What Rental Car Companies Rent Cars at the Santorini Airport?

Sixt • Volta4u • Europcar • Drive S.A. • Surprice • Caldera • Carwiz • Yours Car Rental • Goldcar

Car Rental at the Santorini Port

The Santorini ferry port can be chaotic when a ferry arrives. My recommendation: take a bus or taxi to Fira, Imerovigli, Oia, or the Santorini Airport and pick up your rental car there (much quieter and easier to navigate).

The Athinios ferry port in Santorini is chaotic when a ferry arrives. I would not advise doing a rental car pick up at the port. For one, it’s very busy, and meeting your contact person will not be straightforward. And two, the winding snaking crazy road up the caldera cliff is damn scary and packed with large tour buses, trucks, cars, and motorbikes. It’s not easy or relaxing for a tourist to deal with. (Whenever I’ve booked a rental car for pick up at the port they’ve actually driven me to an inland customer service center, which is fine too. You’re just never certain what the process will be.) First-timers should consider reserving a rental car at the Santorini airport.

Car Rental in Fira & Oia

There are several small local rental car agencies in Fira and Oia. They’re located on the busy main roads in both towns.

There are car rental agencies in all the main towns: Fira, Oia, Imerovigli, Firostefani, Akrotiri, Kamari, and Perissa. In Fira and Oia most are located on the busy road in and out of town. It’s not an ideal place to pick up or return a car. The roads are narrow and busy, and are the main routes for the local buses. I prefer picking up and dropping off at the Santorini airport. If you do rent from one of the local agencies ask about returning the car to the airport or ferry port. They’ll sometimes let you park it and toss the keys under the seat. It will save you a bus or taxi trip and allow you to skip the return on the busy roads of the main towns.

Should I Rent a Car In Santorini?

A rental car pick up spot in the village of Imerovigli.

It definitely makes getting around the island much easier – especially if you’re not staying in Fira. Fira is the hub of the bus system on Santorini and there are direct buses from Fira to pretty much every corner of the island. But if you’re staying in Imerovigli or Oia, then you need to take a bus to Fira and then another bus to Kamari Beach or Akrotiri or Perissa. So, that’s 4 buses to and from your destination. If you wanted to go from Oia to Kamari and then to Akrotiri on the same day you’d be looking at 6 bus trips. However, if you’re most interested in staying at your hotel, sitting by the pool, enjoying the caldera views, eating at local restaurants, and doing the occasional bus ride to Oia or Fira, then you’d get little benefit by renting a car.

4 Reasons to Not Rent a Car on Santorini

The highlight of visiting Santorini: the walk along the caldera from Fira to Oia. You don’t need a rental car for this.

Sitting in your private plunge pool and staring out into the caldera. You definitely don’t need a rental car to enjoy this.

A boat tour of the caldera and volcano is a must for Santorini. You don’t need a rental car to jump into the hot springs. (Hotel pick up and drop off are included with pretty much every tour.)

The best bar in Fira – the Kira Thira Jazz Bar. Having a car is more of a hassle if you’re going out drinking.

13 Reasons to Rent a Car on Santorini

There are definitely places you’ll see and things you’ll do with a rental car that you wouldn’t if getting around by bus or taxi.

One of my favorite restaurants in Santorini. Cava Alta in Pyrgos. You can get here without a rental car … but you probably won’t.

The awesome village of Emporio in southern Santorini. You likely won’t get here without a rental car.

A line-up for a bus in Santorini. I like taking the bus – it’s a fun experience. But let’s be honest: it says express but it sure don’t feel like one.

The bus schedule for Santorini. It changes all the time. On the plus side: for the main caldera towns they run pretty often. But for getting anywhere else they’re less reliable.

The beach road on the east coast of the island. You’re not getting here unless you rent a car.

The best restaurant in Santorini is Metaxi Mas in Exo Gonia. Very difficult to get here and get back home by bus (presumably at night). Getting here by taxi is easy, getting a taxi to come back late in the evening is a challenge.

Great views from the mountain south of Kamari (that’s the airport out by the water). You can certainly get here by a combination of bus and hiking but much easier with a rental car.

Lots of good beaches and great swimming on Santorini. This is Perissa and it would take 2 buses and 1 hour to get here from Oia (at the opposite end of the island). So, this is one example where renting a car makes things a lot easier.

Wine for sale on a roadside in Santorini. You won’t be stumbling upon this if you don’t get away from the crowds and explore the island on your own.

One of my favorite things to do on Santorini is the open air cinema in Kamari. So much fun. But tricky to get to and from without a rental car. (Not impossible but just takes some planning.)

How you gonna get your meat home without a car? Can’t take this slab of cow on the bus.

Tips for Renting a Car on Santorini

• All local and big-name car companies will do airport pick up and drop-off.
• If you’re arriving at the airport then it’s best to book in advance and do airport pick up. This way you avoid the sometimes-dreadful taxi line.
• If you’re arriving at the ferry port I’d recommend taking a taxi or bus to the relative calm of the Santorini airport – whether you booked in advance or not.
• Booking in advance is not absolutely necessary but if you require an automatic transmission during June, July, August, or September then you have to reserve it (most cars on Santorini are standard). You’ll also get a better rate by booking in advance.
• If you need an automatic and you’re booking through Booking.com be sure to select Transmission: Automatic.
• I do not recommend renting scooters or ATVs. Over all my years of traveling this is the number one way that people end up in the hospital: riding a scooter, motorbike, or ATV when they don’t usually do it at home. Also, they’re fine for short trips but going from one end of the island (say, Oia) to the other (Akrotiri or the beaches) on an ATV or scooter is a long ride – at least I don’t enjoy it.
• If you have a young child it’s best to bring a car seat from home – some rental agencies do have a few child seats but they tend to be older and not up to British or American standards (though they’ll do in a pinch).
• If you need a larger car for a family of 4, 5, or 6 then I’d recommend booking in advance.
• Before you leave the rental company take pictures on your phone of every corner of the car (inside and out).

Driving on Santorini’s narrow roads can be challenging and comical. Once again: be patient.

If you arrive by ferry it’s going to be busy and crazy at the ferry port. Take a bus or taxi to the airport and pick up your rental car there.

The winding road from the ferry port up to island’s towns. Scenic and beautiful but sort of scary to drive. (It’s actually a lot steeper than it looks here.)

The airport parking lot for rental cars is just a 30 second walk from the terminal.

The rental cars at the Santorini airport. You can see the arrivals door in the background.

The bus from the Santorini ferry port to the Santorini airport. The airport is the first stop the bus makes but be sure to get on the right bus.

The taxi line at the Santorini airport. It can be busy and in short supply of taxis. If you rent a car in advance you won’t have to wait for a taxi (which can take up to an hour in the morning or evenings). And if it’s late at night some taxis will not drive to any town except Fira.

Parking on Santorini is always an adventure. This is the “parking lot” in Imerovigli. Just have lots of patience and know you’ll always be able to find something.

I love Greek people but they’re terrible drivers. And in all honesty, crazier than the donkeys.

Car rental prices at local rental car companies in Santorini. There will also be some additional charges (insurance, transfer, taxes).

Parking can be difficult to find in Fira. This is consistently the best parking space to find a spot. It’s just south of Fira and about a 3-minute walk to the center of town. The easiest way to find it is to search Google Maps for “Nemesis Hotel Santorini”. The parking lot is directly beside it.

The best parking lot in Oia is directly across from Agios Georgios church. It’s on the right as you enter Oia. When you see Anemomilos Hotel keep your eyes open – it’s about 200 meters to the north.

Another good parking spot in Oia is down near the Post Office (follow the signs). There are a couple different areas and you can usually find a spot.