Naxos has become one of the popular islands in Greece, and for good reason! While it’s perfect for a relaxing beach vacation, there’s so much to see and explore with a Naxos rental car. After several trips to Naxos we’ve had our fare share of experiences with renting a car… So is it worth it? Here’s everything you need to know about getting a car rental on Naxos and tips from our own travels!
Planning Your Trip to Naxos
To figure out if you need a Naxos rental car, you’ll first want to decide what type of holiday you want. Are you looking to simply hang on the beach for a few days, or do you want to see some of the beautiful remote villages around the island? The good news is you can have the best of both on Naxos!
The easiest way to plan your trip to the island is to pick a home base. Staying at the same hotel and renting a car in Naxos will allow you to make fun day trips whenever you wish.
Alternatively, you can use your vehicle to stay in different places for one or two days each and slowly make your way around the island. It really all depends on how many days you have and what type of vacation you want on Naxos!
When to Get a Naxos Rental Car
You’ll also want to consider the best time of year to go to Naxos. If you’re looking to hit the beach, then you may want to go in July and August for the warmest temperatures. However, just know this is also the busiest time to be in Naxos!
We prefer to visit the Greek Islands in the shoulder months of May, June, September, and October. The weather is still great, and you’ll be there without the peak season crowds.
This is also the time of year where rental cars in Naxos Greece will be much cheaper. For more info, be sure to check out our complete guide to the best time to visit Greece below
→ When’s the Best Time to Visit Greece? Month to Month Breakdown
How to Get to Naxos Greece
Before we get started on Naxos rental cars, you should know how to get there! One of the easiest ways is actually by plane. Yet, Naxos airport is small and only caters to a handful of domestic flights.
There are no direct routes available at this time from the United States, United Kingdom, or other countries in Europe. You can only fly here from Athens on a 40 minute plane ride. Check out the popular search engine Skyscanner to find the best deals.
With that said, our favorite way to get to Naxos is by ferry! This is always how we get around the Greek islands and hop from place to place. The ferry is cheap and fast, especially coming from nearby islands like Paros, Santorini, or Mykonos.
You can even rent a car from the mainland and pay an extra cost to take it on the ferries. Honestly, we wouldn’t recommend this at all though.
If you are considering it contact the company and make sure you’re able to take your rental to the islands. As you’ll see, we much prefer to wait until we get there to pick up our Naxos rental car.
→ 13 Stunning Cyclades Islands to Visit On Your Greece Vacation
Different Areas to Take Your Naxos Rental Car
Naxos is a large island with so many coastal towns and mountain villages to discover. Naxos city or “Chora” is the main town and location ferries come into. It’s also where you can find some of the best deals on Naxos rental cars.
The 15th century town is home to Venetian style architecture with streets that wind their way to the top of a hill. Stretching out from Naxos town is the Temple of Apollo. You have likely seen this famous gate in pictures while planning your trip!
Amazing beaches can be found all over Naxos Island, but the most popular strip is along the western coast. Between the towns of Agios Prokopios and Mikri Vigla makes up one long stretch of sandy beaches to explore.
Agios Prokopios is our favorite beach town on Naxos and somewhere we’ve spent a lot of time! There are endless tavernas that dot the coastline serving traditional Greek food.
Either area is a great place to base yourself from and have abundance of car rental companies. Still, remember that Naxos is the largest island in the Cyclades and there are so many more coastal towns to see.
One of our personal favorites was the small village of Apollonas. We stopped here during our road trip, and had delicious seafood lunch. Discovering unique places like this is one of the big advantages of having car rental on Naxos Island!
→ Naxos Greece: 10 Amazing Things to Know Before Your First Visit
More Ways to Get Around Naxos
Aside from renting a car in Naxos, there are a few different modes of transportation. If you’re not up for driving you can take the local bus. Public transportation is fine option if you’re staying in Naxos town and just want to make a day trip to the surrounding beach towns.
However, if you really want to see the island, we recommend having some type of vehicle! Other options besides a car rental on Naxos include motorbikes and ATV’s.
We’ve driven both on Naxos and they are a super fun way to get around. On our most recent visit, we actually rented an ATV and did a full loop around the island. This was such a fun experience and we highly recommend it if you’re looking for a unique day trip on Naxos.
The only disadvantage to taking an ATV or scooter around the island is that it does get quite windy and hot. Particularly in high season, we have noticed the winds can certainly be swirling! We felt much more sturdy in our Naxos rental car so just keep that in mind.
→ Island of Naxos Road Trip: One Day Guide to the Mountain Villages
How Much is it to Rent a Car in Naxos Greece?
So how much does it cost to rent a car on Naxos? This is a tricky question as Naxos rental car prices can fluctuate depending on the time of year.
As you may have guessed, it will be most expensive during the high season in the summer months. In the off-season is when you’ll find the cheapest rental car price with the shoulder months landing somewhere in the middle.
On our last visit in early May we paid about 30 euros per day for our Naxos car rental. This is the average price before the busy months. You can even get a slight discount with some companies by renting a car in Naxos for a week or longer.
Booking in advance is also a great way to save money! We always use this company to search prices and find the best rates.
The website has a free cancellation policy which is helpful if you’re not 100% certain on your plans yet. That way you can lock in the lowest price, but won’t be stuck with a vehicle if you change your mind.
Where to Get Rental Cars Naxos Greece
There are plenty of places to pick up a rental car in Naxos! If you’re flying from Athens then the best way is to rent one directly from Naxos Island National Airport. Dollar Car Rental has an airport desk as do a couple of other local companies.
However, many travelers will be taking the ferry into the main town and Naxos port. Here there is literally dozens of rental companies to choose from with years of experience in the business.
We love using Discover Cars when renting cars in Greece to book ahead of time. Their search tool allows you to compare different rental agencies, car types, and special offers to find the cheapest deals.
You’ll also see the major players like Avis and Hertz if you’d rather go with someone you know. We’ve listed some of the most popular local companies below to get you started on your Naxos rental car search.
- Naxos Rent a Car – Naction
- Konstantakis, J. “New Car”
- Escape in Naxos Rent a car
- Fantasy Rent A Car Naxos
- Drivingspot Naxos
- DriveTime
Insurance For Renting a Car in Naxos
Be sure to specify between automatic cars and manual cars when reserving a Naxos car hire beforehand. It’s a good idea to have an international driving permit from your home country, too. This is especially important if you’re thinking about renting a scooter.
We typically use our credit card to cover us abroad. Yet, you may want to sign up for the extra insurance for peace of mind.
Always take a thorough walk around the car to make sure it’s in good condition and pictures before leaving. Also, keep an eye on the fuel tank as the gas stations on Naxos can be far and few between.
Driving Your Car Rental on Naxos
Is Naxos easy to drive around? If you’ve rented a car on other Greek islands then you know that’s not always the case! Nevertheless, the fact that it’s so big and spread out makes it easier than renting a car on an island like Santorini.
Once you get outside of Naxos town you’ll see that the roads get wider and simpler to drive on. If anything, we would compare it more to Rhodes in this way.
The smaller Naxos mountain towns can of course be a little difficult to find street parking in. This is why it’s a good idea to get a small rental vehicle for the more narrow streets.
Take your time and be patient with local drivers that may not be obeying the speed limit. Also, be careful on the western coast when heading to the beaches. The road turns into dirt and gravel in several sections and can make for a bumpy ride.
What to See With Your Naxos Rental Car
There is so much to see on Naxos Island! While many travelers stick to Naxos town and the beautiful beaches of the west coast, renting a car in Naxos will allow you to explore much more.
One of our favorite parts of the island is the traditional villages. From town, you can drive up into the hills and have an authentic local experience. Some of our favorite villages we’ve been to are Chalki, Filoti, Apeiranthos, and Koronos.
We loved stopping in for a coffee or meal, walking through the stunning streets, and picking up local treats to take with us. If you go to Filoti then definitely make a visit to Zeus’s cave! It’s a 20 minute hike from the village and well worth seeing.
There are also many incredible coastal towns to check out with your car rental in Naxos. One of the highlights for us is the cute seaside village of Apollonas. This is a great place for a swim on a hot afternoon day, or spot to grab a seafood lunch.
One important thing to know about the coastal towns is that many are located off the main road. This means you’ll often have to drive several minutes down to the water, and then back out when you leave.
Best Beach Hotels on Naxos
One huge perk of having a Naxos rental car is it will be easy to stay near the beach! Here’s our top picks for hotels on the western coast to check out before your visit.
Luxury – Melidron Hotel & Suites – Beautiful boutique hotel with ocean view rooms, balconies, and swimming pool. Located in Agios Prokopios, the hotel is walking distance to the beach and the small town.
Fun Vacation – Ariadne Hotel – Complete with a gorgeous swimming pool and just 50 meters from the Agios Prokopios beach. Ariadne is a super fun and elegant beachside stay.
Budget – Studios Kahlua – These studios are just around the corner from the beach, and surrounded by fun restaurants and markets.
Do You Need a Car on Naxos?
So is getting a Naxos rental car worth it?? Yes! Having a vehicle is such a great way to see this massive island.
You could absolutely just stay in the city center or the beach zone and have a great time. Still, if you have multiple days, we highly recommend renting a car in Naxos to discover more. Even if you just pick up a car for one day (instead of taking it for your entire visit) you’ll be able to see so much of the island!
You’ll want to go in the shoulder season for the best prices and fewer tourists. Yet, regardless of the time of year, you’re in for a great experience! Once you get out of the main areas you’ll be glad you decided on a car rental on Naxos.
→ Check the Most Updated Prices on Naxos Rental Cars
Have any questions on this article or want to share more tips for renting a car in Naxos? Leave us a comment below!
Safe Travels,
Brigitte & Jake
PIN FOR LATER ↓
Greece Travel Planning
For island hopping use FerriesinGreece to compare different routes, prices, and companies. The fast ferries like Sea Jets will cost more but often takes half the time of slower ferries like Blue Star.
Flights: We always check Skyscanner and Kayak to search for cheap flights. That’s how we got from Athens to Santorini for under $50 USD!
Accommodation: Always compare multiple sites to get the best deal. We search both Booking.com and Agoda! Also, Hostelworld should be your go-to source if you’re traveling on a budget.
Rental Car: You can book a rental car for as little as $20 a day in Greece! We use Discover Cars to explore the larger islands with a vehicle.
Tours: Go to Get Your Guide for hundreds of activities in Santorini. You can find everything from group sailing tours to private catamaran cruises. Go wine tasting around the island, horseback riding down the beach, or even jump on an ATV tour!
Travel Insurance: Never travel abroad without insurance. We’ve been using SafetyWing for the last few years on the road and they are there when we need them.
Packing Lists: Find all the inspiration you need with our Amazon packing lists. Including electronics and camera gear, must-have medical items, and long flight essentials!
Greece has always been in my bucket list! Glad to know there is reliable car rental service I can use in the future. This guide made me want to go to Naxos soon! Love how this guide is so complete, informative and helpful!
When is the best time to go Naxos?
Author
Glad you found it helpful! Our favorite time to go to Naxos is in the shoulder months of May and October. During this period you’ll have less crowds, but the weather will still be amazing. Thanks for reading!