Picking up a rental car from Athens International Airport is the perfect place to start your own Greek odyssey. History is everywhere in Athens so why not plan your journey through Athens past and present with a car rental from Avis.

You’ll find our Avis location at Athens International Airport located within the arrivals area, on the north side of the main terminal building.

The drive into the centre of Athens from Athens International Airport is just 21 miles (34km) and will take around 50min depending on traffic conditions and the time of day. You’ll find road signs are written in both Greek and English. Setting off from the parking area opposite the terminal building, head northwest on Attiki Odos 62 merging onto the A6, and joining the A64 ring road leaving at exit Y1 for Athens Centre.

If you are planning a road trip from Athens International Airport you will find so much to explore within easy reach. Head south of the airport down to beautiful Cape Sounion, a 40km (24 mile), 40min drive and arrive in time to see the sun set at the Temple of Poseidon. Head west along the coast road taking in the 59km (37-mile) long Athens Riviera, sometimes called the Hamptons of Greece, with its pine-fringed beaches and luxury hotel resorts. Alternatively, dive deep into the history of the country with a 40km (24-mile) road trip north to the ancient site of Marathon and the Battle of Marathon, in Attica.

While there is a good public transport connecting Athens International Airport with the centre of Athens, for more flexibility and the chance to explore the surrounding regions of Spata and Attica along with popular destinations around Athens like Delphi, hiring a car is the best option.

In Athens, Greece as in the rest of Europe you will be driving on the right-hand side of the road. When you are driving in Greece, you always need to carry a full valid driving licence and proof of ID (passport). For detailed information before you travel, we’ve created a handy guide to the driving rules you need to know in Greece.

Before you leave the airport in your rental car, it’s helpful to find out about parking in Athens. The city centre is divided into parking zones which you will see signposted with the letter P and corresponding lines on the edges of roads. Parking is allowed in the white zones for a maximum of 3 hours. Blue parking zones are reserved for residents while yellow parking zones are reserved for emergency vehicles.

Why not also take advantage of one or more of the following services and additional options?

Avis Preferred: Members of our Customer Loyalty Programme can take advantage of upgrades, free additional drivers, car hire vouchers and many other benefits.

Out-of-hours return: Flying home in the middle of the night? Not to worry, this Avis branch is open 24 hours a day, so you can return your vehicle whenever you need to.

Breakdown assistance: We hope you won’t need to use it, but if you do there’s a toll-free number included in your rental agreement or displayed in your vehicle for 24/7 emergency roadside assistance. If necessary, we’ll give you a replacement so you can get back to enjoying your trip as soon as possible.

Satellite navigation: Negotiating unfamiliar routes, especially on the “wrong” side of the road, can be a fraught business. A car rental with GPS navigation can take the hassle out of getting from A(cropolis) to B(each), leaving you free to enjoy the drive.

Snow chains: Remember, it’s not always hot and sunny in Greece. If you’re driving between November and March, particularly in the mountains, we recommend hiring some snow chains to take with you, just in case.