The fabled Greek capital is not for the faint-hearted. Fascinating, frustrating, and very hot in summer, Athens acts like a intense caffeine dose to the senses. The cradle of modern Western civilisation, this sprawling metropolis is dominated by the spectacular Acropolis with its Parthenon crown. Rent a car in Greece and visit the beautiful beaches nearby, making time to enjoy the hedonistic spirit of the Athenians.

A sophisticated and cosmopolitan capital, Athens offers Europe’s longest and most magnificent pedestrian walkway, lined with a vast array of ancient sites. Past and present come together in modern Athens, where the city’s cultural and social scene once again revolves around the historic monuments and adjacent districts. You will love the energetic street life and leisurely lifestyle, defined by evening strolls, unlimited coffee breaks, and dinners that continue long into the night.

The guidebooks are not lying when they gush about Santorini, the Greek island with some 16 km of colourful cliffs rising up from a vast sea-covered volcanic crater. You cannot fail to be impressed by the sight of snow-white Cycladic houses clinging to the cliff tops and scattered across the rock terraces. Santorini car hire will help you to escape the crowds who flock to the island virtually all-year round.

Despite the blatant tourist buzz, you’ll find a fascinating archaeological legacy, superb food, significant wineries, and sunsets that will live in your memory for ever. When it comes to beaches, the multi-coloured volcanic sand creates coastal idylls that recall one of the biggest volcanic eruptions in recorded history.

Ignore Corfu’s package-tour image, and you will discover a lush island distinguished by dramatic coastlines to the east and west and pastoral landscapes in the interior. Regal cypresses (which the Venetians used for masts) soar from rich olive groves, and the fine (albeit largely crowded) beaches dominate the coastline north of Corfu town.

With Corfu car rental, you are well-equipped to discover an island celebrated as a centre of European learning in the early stages of modern Greece and continuing that legacy today with exceptional museums and cultural institutions. You will eat well in Corfu too, with its tradition of first-rate, Italian-flavoured cuisine.  

The biggest of the Dodecanese Islands, Rhodes is a paradise of beaches, lush valleys, and powerful history. Hire a car in Rhodes and enjoy everything from diving in pristine seas, to indulging in the vibrant nightlife, and exploring the ancient world of Greece. It also makes the ideal base for day trips to other islands in the Dodecanese, such as Kos and Patmos.

Amble along the labyrinthine cobbled streets of Rhodes’ old town to experience what life may have been like in the time of the Byzantine empire. If you drive further south, you’ll discover the idyllic town of Lindos, a storybook jumble of pretty houses trickling down to an azure bay. 

The largest and most intriguing of all the Greek islands, Crete has the feel of a small country. Its diverse history is written large across the landscape, from Rethymno’s Venetian forts and the Minoan palace at Knossos to Byzantine monasteries and the birthplace of Zeus. Hire a car in Crete and travel to the evocative Venetian port of Chania and the dynamic capital, Heraklion.

You will be astounded by the beauty of the landscape on all sides, with dramatic, cave-pocked mountain ranges pierced by spectacular gorges, Europe’s sole palm forest beach, huge plateaus in the centre of the island, and breath-taking beaches in the south. Crete has a strong cultural heritage, with a powerful musical tradition and a unique (and, apparently, life-lengthening) cuisine.