Car hire in Athens
Explore the classical world in modern comfort with Avis
Architecture, history, sport, beaches … there’s so much to see and do in and around Athens. Make the most of your visit with a hire car from Avis, the perfect way to explore at your own pace.
Avis car rental in the city
Our city office is conveniently located just minutes from the Akropoli Metro station. Services provided include Avis Preferred and breakdown assistance, plus optional extras such as child seats and satellite navigation systems.
Popular car hire locations in Athens
Explore Athens with Avis
Athens, capital city of modern Greece, is also recognised as the oldest city in Europe and the birthplace of civilisation. That’s quite a lot to live up to, but you won’t be disappointed: this metropolis is jam-packed with ancient history and culture. There are so many old monuments and works of art from days gone by it’s hard to know how to fit them all in to your visit. Book an Avis car rental using the booking tool on this page, though, and you can tick off all the top destinations at your own pace.Acropolis
One of the main landmarks is the Acropolis, the ancient citadel situated on a hill overlooking the city. Of the many architectural remains within it the most significant is the Parthenon, a temple to the goddess Athena, completed in 438 BCE. There’s also the Theatre of Dionysus, a timber theatre dating back to the 6th century dedicated to the god of wine and the patron of drama. Not far from the Acropolis is the old Roman Agora, centre of Athenian democracy in the 6th century BCE.
Plaka
Under the Acropolis, Plaka was built by the first construction workers that came from Anafi cycladic island and built Athens main buildings.
Panathenaic Stadium
The Panathenaic Stadium is also well worth a visit for anyone interested in sport, history or both: originally used as a sporting arena in around 330 BCE, it hosted the first modern Olympic Games in 1896. If the Arts are more your cup of tea, there aren’t many places that can beat the Municipal Art Gallery, housing over 2000 works by significant Greek artists of the 19th and 20th centuries.
Poseidon Temple
The sanctuary of Poseidon at Sounion is one of the most important sanctuaries in Attica it was inhabited in the prehistoric period but there is no evidence of religious practice in such an early date.
Vouliagmeni
Vouliagmeni is a beautiful and picturesque peninsula, situated on the eastern edge of Athens (just 20km from the centre of Athens), known from the famous lake with the mineral water spa and an outstanding mild climate that makes all year round holidays possible.
Beyond the city
Toll Motorways
Getting in and out of the capital has been made much easier thanks to Attiki Odos, a privately owned toll motorway, as well as by improvements carried out on Ethniki Odos, the national motorway. So why not explore beyond the city and head into the scenic hills and small villages scattered around the outskirts and along Greece’s southern coast?
Delphi
Our weekend car hire or longer term services are at your diposal. One very popular destination is Delphi, an archaeological site and modern town to the northwest of the capital. It is situated on the southwestern edge of Mount Parnassus, from the top of which you get stunning scenic views of the countryside all around.
Hiking
Athens and the surrounding areas have a lot to entice the more nature-minded visitors as well, such as hiking into volcanoes, strolling along the warm beaches, spotting dolphins and sea turtles, or trying out some less conventional sports like rock-climbing, diving and even kitesurfing.
The Mainland
Alternatively, you could drive down to the southern coast and take a ferry over to one of the many islands. If you can only fit in one Greek island during your visit, Santorini in the southern Aegean Sea is the one to go for. Part of a group of islands known as Cyclades, one of its main attractions is the beautiful black beach, Perissa.
Wherever you are, make sure you sample the cuisine
The key elements of Greek food are fresh ingredients, olive oil, a sensible amount of herbs and spices, and simplicity. Expect to dig in to local seafood, meat or vegetarian dishes accompanied by cheeses and mountain greens you may never have heard of. You’re guaranteed to be well-fed and satisfied.
Athens festivals
August Moon FestivalDuring the August Moon Festival, held on the night of the full moon every August, various sites like the Acropolis and the Agora are open to the public for free. Enjoy operatic performances, Greek dance and classical music recitals amongst the stone and columns. A wonderful way to soak up the ancient atmosphere of this awe-inspiring city in a different way. Getting involved with the classical culture doesn’t stop there.
Athens-Epidaurus Festival
The Athens-Epidaurus Festival takes place between May and October each year and, among many other things, gives you a chance to experience theatre just like the ancient Greeks did. Plays are performed in the old theatre at Epidaurus (across the Saronic Gulf from the city), where the acoustics really are amazing.