Car rental and driving on Santorini and Mykonos

In April 2016 arrived with my wife and our 2 teenagers on Santorini via ferry and picked up a rental car at the port. We stayed 3 nights in Oia and also explored the island. No problems driving or with crowds or parking in the places we visited. One morning in Oia we could tell a cruise ship had unloaded.

Driving on Mykonos was easier than the twisting roads on Santorini but there is no need for a car with the excellent bus systems. We just did one day rentals with cars delivered to our hotels.

KBK- did you find staying in Oia better than Fira (less crowds etc)? Part of our thoughts on car rental include being able to stay a bit outside the crowds, and also be able to explore the island and stop where and when we want.

To all: Were there any issues with parking a car, eapecially in crowded towns or at your hotels?

Spent 4 nights in Santorini late August 2019 in Fira…. Took bus to Oia ….left after ½ hr …streets were very crowded and if I stepped out of the flow of foot traffic it was difficult to re-enter.

Loved Fira …took bus to Akrotiri…for me a must see. Also spent a day sailing the Caldera.

Never even thought about renting a car.

Hi Kathy. Renting a car will give you the best chance to explore the island at your own convenience without having to wait for buses or pay for expensive taxis. You'll also be able to go where the buses don't. On Santorini in September, the parking situation will be a bit of a challenge since the island will still be busy. It just means that sometimes you will have to find a parking spot further away from your destination than you might like. You can park on the streets as long as you aren't in an obvious no-parking area or if it's too narrow for a large vehicle like a bus to pass by you. Each of the main villages has at least one free parking lot. Oia has a few of them. As for hotel parking, if you plan to stay at a hotel with a view of the caldera, very few of them have actual designated parking close by. Parking in the more popular clifftop villages will pose more of a challenge than hotels in the other villages because everyone wants to explore them. The best thing for you to do is wait until you're there to assess the situation before committing to a car. I always recommend Vazeos in Oia, Tony's in Firostefani, Spiridakos in Fira and Motor Inn in Kamari Beach. Be sure to go to your local AAA office to pick up an International Driving Permit for around $20, no test or membership required. Bring 2 passport photos to save a few dollars.

Lee- Thank you for this info! How do you feel about Mykonos/ same questions?

I will add to the discussion about Santorini. We spent 4 nights in Firostephani. We chose this area because of location, walking distance to Fira, same Caldera view as Oia, excellent restaurants, & less touristy if you want to avoid the crowds. Due to the convenient bus service we did not need a car. We took a wonderful guided tour of the island that included Akrotiri, the beaches and other historical sites. We were there in the month of September and it was lovely. I can’t comment on Mykonos because we chose to spend a week on Naxos. It was our favorite stay in the Cyclades. We felt it was an authentic Greece experience.
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/greece/santorini-hotels-with-caldera-view-in-firostephani

We did rent a car on Santorini from Oia where we stayed. We only had the car for one day and then returned it to where the ferry departs which was convenient. Bus service is not as convenient from Oia as Fira so I was very glad we rented a car as it allowed us to see a lot of the island. There were no issues with parking it in Oia or anywhere else we went including Fira where we had dinner that night.

Hi Kathy S. - Fira seemed more crowded with everyday type traffic/people than Oia - and also a looked a little more lived in. We stayed in a cave house in Oia at Zoe Aegeas (recommend) with parking they arranged just a short walk away. During the time we were there I observed only 1 cruise ship come in on only 1 day. That morning through lunchtime the walkways in Oia were noticeably more crowded than any other time (but still weren't bad). Driving was easy from Oia all the way down to Akrotiri and the nearby Red Beach. Also easy getting over to Perissa, down by the airport area, and back to the port. Roads can wind around some but we never got stuck in a slow snake of traffic. I got the car for convenience and was because there were 4 of us.

Hi Kathy. Sorry, but I don't have any experience with Mykonos.

About Mykonos --- A lot depends upon what you are going there for ... for seeing ancient sights? Shopping? Night life? Beaches? And how long will you be there?

Frankly, if you are staying in Mykonos Town (the port) no point whatever in a car, because u can't drive almost anywhere, most lanes are pedestrianized, and NO parking to speak of. The ancient site is singular -- the isle of Delos, & you get there by ferry from the pier. I suppose if you stay out on one of the beaches, you could have a car, but when to use it? to Drive to another beach maybe... or around the island, but no obvious destinations. Drive into port town, but then, where to park?

As for where to stay, be strategic; if u are at a beach hotel, and plan to stay in port town at clubs or restaurants or bars, you need to be sure u can get back to the beach! Bus service ends about 11 pm, and there are not enough taxis on the island for all the late-nighters. I've heard stories of people wandering around at 2 am, pleading for a taxi. I've never had the problem, since in my 3 visits I've always stayed at a small guesthouse on a hill, near the "bus circle" on the inland edge of Mykonos Town.