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Car rental in Athens – Discovering the Heart of Greece
Much more than just a unique travel destination, Athens is a vibrant, cosmopolitan city with a rich history stretching back more than 5,000 years. Generally considered by historians and scholars to be the cradle of Western civilization, it is blessed with warm, year-round sunshine and more than 15,000 kilometres of long, golden, sandy beaches. It is also home to many of the world's most important ancient sites, including the Acropolis, Odeon of Herodes Atticus, cemetery of Kerameikos, Filopappou Hill and the amazing Temple of Hephaestus. Indeed, vestiges of classical antiquity are everywhere in this magnificent city, harmoniously existing alongside wonderful examples of 21st-century buildings and state-of-the-art architecture. Visitors to this remarkable place can immerse themselves in a rich succession of historic landmarks, stunning ruins and the remains of past civilizations, although it must be said that there is so much more to Athens than its fascinating past.
Furthermore, there's no shortage of beautiful beaches with pristine sands and crystal-clear waters on the Attica Peninsula where Athens is located. With a car rental in Athens you'll be able to find the best beach of your choice before exploring the whole area in total comfort and at your own pace. You'll also have the option of venturing across the country to Patras or Thessaloniki, both beautiful places with an abundance of interesting tourist attractions. Besides offering the lowest rates on the market, one of the main benefits of booking with Auto Europe is the solid partnerships we have established with all the world's most prestigious car rental companies. This, in turn, allows us to give our customers access to a comprehensive range of cars, ranging from small, economical cars for a few days' city sightseeing in Athens to large, sumptuous SUVs and luxury-category vehicles for an extended road-trip around Greece.
With more than 70 years of experience in the heart of the international car hire industry, Auto Europe (through its many trusted partners) provides high-quality car hire with plenty of added options for renting top-end vehicles, which are ideal for travelling along the sometimes rugged roads of the mainland and Greek Islands such as Corfu and Rhodes. With our highly-trained rental specialists, we'll always be able to offer you the best car in the best location, and always at the best price! You can book with us online in just a few clicks of the mouse through our high-tech search engine, which gives you a choice of more than 28,000 convenient pick-up locations in over 190 popular destinations worldwide, including Greece.
For more information about renting a vehicle in Athens, click on the car rental related topics listed below:
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Where to Pick up a Car Hire in Athens
Renting a cheap car in Athens gives you the advantage of having access to numerous offers with the best value for money, available not only at the airport but also near the port of Piraeus and within the city itself. This is essential as the demand for car rental in Athens can be very high, particularly in high season. Depending on the time and itinerary you choose, you can decide which pick-up point suits you best and, as an added advantage, you'll also have the possibility of picking up your vehicle in one place and returning it to another by taking advantage of our special one-way car rental service (subject to an additional fee), which means that you are not dependent on returning the vehicle to the same place (or even returning it to Athens) so you can travel freely around Greece in the way that suits you best. Simply choose your preferred drop-off location when making a search in our booking engine and all the available suppliers, prices and car categories will be displayed in a couple of seconds! You'll then be presented with an interactive map showing all the different collection points in Athens.
Should you prefer to pick up your vehicle at the airport or central train station, keep reading!
Athens Airport
Besides being the main hub for Aegean Airlines (the Greek flag carrier), Athens Airport (often referred to locally as Eleftherios Venizelos Airport) is the largest and busiest airport in the country with connections to more than 170 national and international destinations. Located less than an hour's drive from the city centre, it is easily accessible by car along the Attiki Odos motorway. The airport has two terminals and the majority of the car rental companies have their desks directly located in the main Arrivals Hall, while a few suppliers have an off-site pick-up point connected by a free shuttle bus service.
Athens Airport (ATH))
Website: aia.gr
Address: Attiki Odos, Spata Artemida 190 04, Greece
Telephone: +30 21 0353 0000
Book with the Best Car Rental Suppliers in Athens
For over seventy years, Auto Europe has worked tirelessly to establish the strongest-possible partnerships with car rental suppliers around the world, ranging from top international brands to the best locally-operated vehicle providers. When hiring a car in Athens, you'll always be able to find the right vehicle to match your specifications when making a quick search through our easy-to-use and totally secure online booking system.
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Should you have any questions about any of our partners in Athens or their individual policies, please do not hesitate to contact us; our helpful telephone agents will be happy to help answer any questions you might have relating to your low-cost car hire in Athens.
Frequently Asked Questions about Renting a Car in Athens
The following section is dedicated to travellers looking for information about different aspects relating to their car hire requirements, such as what coverage is necessary in Greece and whether or not a credit card is essential to hire a car in Athens. We also provide information on what the traffic might be like in Athens and whether drivers will be required to pay any tolls during their trip, etc. If you feel you need more information or your question isn't addressed below, our phone specialists are just a call away and always happy to help!
Do I need a credit card to rent a car in Athens?
Yes, you will need a valid credit card in the name of the main driver in order to pick up your car rental in Athens. The reason for this is that the local supplier will want to hold an amount on the credit card as a security deposit, which will promptly be returned as soon as the vehicle is returned to the drop-off point in the same condition as before. This means that the credit card you use must also have enough credit to cover the deposit for the duration of the rental period. Please note that cars in the premium and luxury category may require two major credit cards (ie Visa, Mastercard, etc.), both in the name of the main driver.
What insurance do I need for my car rental in Athens?
All vehicles booked on the Auto Europe website with our local partners in Athens already include the minimum amount of legally-required coverage, comprising Civil Liability, Theft, Fire and CDW (Collision Damage Waiver). Please note, however, that this is the most basic third party insurance and subject to the payment of a deductible that's normally included in the security deposit applied to your credit card. Many Auto Europe customers opt for our excellent Full Damage Protection coverage which offers total peace of mind for a few extra euros, the amount of which is determined according to the category of the car you book, the duration of the booking and the pick-up/drop-off location. Some local providers will also offer you additional insurance and other extras when you arrive to collect your vehicle, which are completely optional and you are under no obligation to purchase them because they are their own products and have nothing to do with your original booking with Auto Europe. Please consult our car rental coverage options page for more detailed information.
How is the traffic in Athens?
Driving your car rental in Athens can seem a bit challenging at first but we can't forget that this is an ancient city full of archaeological monuments which means that many of the roads and streets date back a long time! Despite seeming a bit chaotic at first, Athens is actually quite easy to drive around once you get used to the signs and the road system in general, particularly the wide multi-lane avenues that criss-cross the city. You should plan your route in advance and incorporate these lanes as much as possible into your journey in order to ensure a smoother experience. If you're heading for the city centre, there are two main aspects to bear in mind with your car hire in Athens. Firstly, there are a number of dedicated lanes for public transport, which means that using them could result in a fine if caught by the police. Furthermore, certain traffic restrictions apply in the heart of the city centre in order to help reduce air pollution, so it's important to look out for the signs when navigating the city by car.
Where can I park my car rental in Athens?
Street parking in Athens is identified by a blue and white P sign and as a rule there are three main street parking zones in the city which are marked accordingly: blue for paid parking, yellow for parking reserved for commercial vehicles, the police and government vehicles and white for parking that is not subject to any payment (often on Sundays and overnight on weekdays). In addition to street parking, there are also a large number of multi-storey and underground car parks located all over the city, as well as Park and Ride facilities a little further out in the suburbs where no time-limit applies, making them ideal for visiting the main tourist attractions in Athens.
Do I need to pay tolls when driving my car rental in Athens?
Yes. There are a few toll roads in Greece that require payment, including the main road known as Attiki Odos which connects the city of Athens with its international airport. This motorway was created to relieve traffic congestion in and around the city and is one of the safest and most modern thoroughfares in the Greek capital. Tolls are paid right at the entrance to the motorway and can be paid by cash, credit card or an e-pass system (please speak to your local car hire provider for details). Please note that in Greece, the toll amount to be paid only depends on the category of the car and not the number of kilometres being travelled.
Can I pick up my car rental in Athens and travel with it to other islands?
If you rent a car in Athens and want to take it with you on a ferry to visit any of the Greek islands, some suppliers allow you to do so for an extra fee at pick-up. Please note, however, that most rental companies do not allow cars rented in Athens to be taken to the islands, and even those that do, regardless of the amount they charge, must be notified at least 72 hours before the start of your rental period. This is because these rental companies will have to provide written authorisation to Auto Europe and/or to you as the customer when you pick up the car. Without this prior authorisation, any coverage associated with the car will be cancelled from the moment you board the ferry and throughout your visit to the island(s), which will make you solely responsible for the full value of any damage to the car or third parties.
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