Driving in Greece, briefly.

Renting a car at Athens airport

Every major company has a counter at ATH (Hertz, Avis, Sixt, Enterprise, Europcar, Budget) along with several Greek operators that are usually cheaper for equivalent quality — Autoclub, Kosmos, Avance, Centauro, Drivalia. The Greek companies tend to have older fleets but better service and far fewer hidden fees.

What you'll need

• Driving licence. EU / UK / EEA licences are fine on their own. From outside Europe, bring an International Driving Permit alongside your home licence. (You can usually drive on a US/Canadian/Australian licence in practice, but rental companies and police prefer the IDP — and an accident without one might void insurance.)
• Credit card in the driver's name. They'll hold a deposit (€300–800 depending on the car).
• Passport. Always.
• Minimum age is usually 21 (some firms 23); under-25 surcharges of €5–15/day apply.

Insurance

The basic "third-party" cover that comes with every rental in Greece is mandatory. Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) is what reduces your exposure if you damage the car. Greek operators often charge €8–15/day for full CDW (zero excess). Worth it for a week — peace of mind is worth more than the saving. Some travel credit cards include CDW automatically; check yours before paying twice.

The drive from the airport to the villa

Roughly 18 km, 20 minutes outside rush hour. The simplest route: exit the airport, take Attiki Odos westbound for one junction, then exit at Markopoulo and follow the signs to Porto Rafti (Πόρτο Ράφτη). Single carriageways the rest of the way, decent surface, no tolls.

If you'd rather skip the small bit of Attiki Odos (€2.80 toll at the airport exit), you can take the local roads — adds 10 minutes and a few traffic lights.

Speed limits & rules

• 50 km/h in built-up areas (including Porto Rafti town centre)
• 90 km/h on country roads
• 110 km/h on dual carriageways
• 130 km/h on motorways
• 0.05% BAC for normal drivers, 0.02% for new drivers (under 2 years' experience) and commercial. One beer over dinner is fine; two beers is risky; anything beyond — taxi.
• Seatbelts mandatory for everyone in the car.
• Mobile phones hands-free only.
• Children under 135 cm need an appropriate car seat. Rent at the desk (€5–8/day; book ahead).

Tolls

The main motorways (Attiki Odos, Egnatia, Olympia, Aegean Motorway) charge tolls — usually €2–4 per segment. Cash and credit card both work at every booth. If you're doing a lot of motorway driving, ask the rental company about an electronic toll tag — saves time at busier toll plazas.

Fuel

Stations are everywhere on main roads. Self-service is rare; an attendant pumps for you. Pay by card or cash, no tip expected. Petrol = βενζίνη (venzíni), diesel = ντίζελ (dízel). Amólyvdi (αμόλυβδη) is unleaded. Prices in 2026 are roughly €1.80–2.00 per litre.

Parking

Free at the villa, free in most of Porto Rafti, free near most rural archaeological sites. In central Athens, use one of the underground car parks — Syntagma, Plaka, Monastiraki — for around €10–15 per day. Street parking in central Athens is generally a bad idea (zones, residents-only sections, towing).

Things to know that aren't in the rulebook

• Greek drivers signal less than you'd expect and tailgate more. Stay calm, drive predictably, leave space.
• Motorbikes will pass on either side on country roads. Check both mirrors before changing lanes.
• Country drivers will sometimes drive on the shoulder to let you overtake. It's a courtesy, not a hazard.
• The hard shoulder of a motorway is a slow lane in practice — locals use it routinely. Don't, but expect to see it.
• Roundabouts in Greece are a coin flip. Some give priority to the car already on the roundabout (EU norm); some give priority to the car entering. Look at signs and other cars.
• Diesel cars aren't allowed in central Athens on certain "alternating odd/even" days when pollution is high. Rental cars usually have a sticker indicating their status. The villa is outside this zone.

If something goes wrong

• Roadside assistance: every rental car comes with it. The number is on a sticker on the dashboard. They'll send a tow truck and either fix it or swap the car.
• Accident: ring 100 (police) and stay put. Take photos of all positions before moving anything.
• Minor scratches: note them on the rental sheet at pickup (or photograph them yourself) to avoid surprises at return.

One rule that saves your week: don't drive in central Athens. Park at the edge or at a metro station and take the train in. The villa is a 40-minute drive from Syntagma, not from the rental car.