A vacation on the Greek islands worth its salt involves using a means of transport to get around and visit as many places as possible. It would be a real shame not to explore at least part of the territory: monasteries, villages, beaches, taverns, cliffs, and beautiful sunsets await you. And consider that the wind often blows on the Greek islands, and waiting for it to stop could take a while; better to move to the opposite side of the island or to a sheltered cove. If the island is very small, you can get around on foot or by bicycle, but if you’re lazy or the island is medium-large, it's much better to have a means of transport (if you haven't brought one from home, of course). Some islands also have shuttles and buses or taxis that take you to the beaches or popular spots, but wouldn't it be better to stop wherever you want? Plus, buses don’t always run frequently, and taxis sometimes take a while to arrive.
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In general, the rental operators, often small local operators, are very welcoming towards tourists and the rates are not excessive. Year after year, it becomes easier to book directly online as rental companies often have their own website. On some very popular islands, especially among young people, like Mykonos, for example, vehicles for rent may be in short supply, especially in high season: online booking is therefore recommended.
It goes without saying that if you are on a small island, a scooter rental is more than sufficient, while for islands like Crete and Rhodes, you definitely need a car. Your vacation style can also influence your choice. If you love bringing a beach chair, umbrella, cooler, ball, fins, and more to the beach, you might struggle with a scooter. Similarly, you might not be able to easily handle some of the steep climbs on the more mountainous islands. But if you’re always on the lookout for hidden beaches, keep in mind that not all dirt roads are accessible by car: a scooter or motorcycle is better. The quad, which is a bit of a middle ground between a scooter and a car, allows you to carry more luggage, travel rougher roads, but costs almost as much as a car.
Let’s add some more specific information about car rentals, scooters, and quads.
Starting with car rentals on the Greek islands, you need to have a category B driving license for at least one year and be 21 years old. The rental procedures are the same as almost everywhere: a contract to sign indicating the deductible amount (if any), vehicle inspection for scratches or bodywork damage, fuel information, areas of the island not accessible by car, etc. If you reach your vacation island by plane, it’s worth renting a car directly at the airport to be immediately independent, perhaps booking it directly from home.
🚗 Want to compare car rental rates in Greece? Click here!
For renting scooters on the Greek islands, a category B license is sufficient for scooters up to 50cc, an A1 license for scooters up to 125cc, and a specific motorcycle license for higher displacements (in this case, you must be an adult). If you’re not experienced in driving a scooter, remember that there will almost certainly be some dirt roads to travel, so go slowly until you get more confident with the vehicle. Falling on stones in a swimsuit might not be a happy experience. Helmets are mandatory and always provided at rental: wear it, even if it’s hot!
For quad rentals on the Greek islands, you just need a category B license. If you’ve never driven one, know that it’s a bit different from a scooter, because of the four wheels, so don’t start off too fast but get used to it gradually. Flipping over on vacation is no fun at all!
