Rent a car, ATV, quad, scooter or buggy. Sail the caldera on a catamaran. Free your hands with luggage storage and door-to-door transfer. Everything, one island, one guide.
Santorini is small on a map and enormous in reality. The distances between Oia and Akrotiri, between the port and Pyrgos, between your hotel and the black-sand beaches, they aren't walkable. Buses run infrequently, taxis are scarce in high season, and organised tours lock you into a schedule that's someone else's. The single best decision you can make before arriving is to arrange your own transport. This guide tells you exactly how.
The Rent Me Love Me Advantage:
- 🚫 No credit card pre-charge
- 💶 Zero hidden fees
- 🕐 24/7 delivery island-wide
- ✅ Full insurance included
- 🎯 Exact model guaranteed
01. Rent a Car in Santorini: Freedom That Fits Every Trip
A rental car in Santorini isn't a luxury, it's a strategy. The island stretches roughly 18 km from north to south, with villages, beaches, wineries and archaeological sites scattered across terrain that rises sharply from coast to caldera rim. Public buses cover the main corridor, but the moment you want Red Beach, Emporio, Megalochori or a vineyard sunset that isn't on a group tour itinerary, you need your own wheels.
Rent Me Love Me offers car rental in Santorini with pickup from the airport (JTR), Athinios ferry port, Fira cruise port, Oia and directly at your hotel, all at no extra charge. They guarantee the exact model you booked (not "a similar vehicle"), deliver around the clock, and crucially: they don't pre-charge your credit card and require no security deposit.
Why This Matters: The No-Deposit Advantage Most car rental companies in Santorini hold €500–€1,500 on your credit card as a deposit. Rent Me Love Me takes your card details for security but never pre-charges it. Combined with full insurance and zero excess, this is the cleanest rental deal on the island.
Pickup Locations Available
- Santorini Airport (JTR): most convenient for arrivals by air
- Athinios Port: all ferry connections
- Fira Cruise Port: for cruise ship passengers
- Fira Office & Akrotiri Office
- Oia Village
- Vlihada Bay Marina
- Your Hotel: door-to-door delivery
What's Included in the Rental Price
- Third-party insurance (full coverage)
- Unlimited kilometres
- Extra driver at no charge
- Free helmets (where applicable)
- Free top box for luggage
- Santorini road map
- All taxes and VAT
Santorini Car Rental: Choose the Right Vehicle
| Vehicle Type | Best For | Road Suitability | Group Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small City Car | Couples, village navigation | All paved roads | 1–2 |
| SUV / Jeep | Families, steep terrain | All roads incl. steep | 2–5 |
| Convertible | Sunset drives, romance | Paved roads | 2 |
| Automatic | First-time drivers on Santorini | All roads | 2–4 |
02. ATV Rental Santorini: The Island's Most Iconic Way to Explore
There's a reason that ATVs have become the unofficial symbol of Santorini freedom. The island's terrain, crater rim roads, coastal switchbacks, paths through whitewashed villages, was practically designed for four-wheeled open-air adventure. On an ATV you feel the sea breeze, you can stop anywhere instantly, and you arrive at any beach or viewpoint as part of the experience, not just the destination.
Rent Me Love Me operates one of the most carefully maintained ATV fleets on the island, with six models across two categories, from nimble 150cc commuters to raw 570cc trail beasts. All vehicles are new, regularly serviced, and come with full third-party insurance at no extra cost.
The ATV Fleet: All Six Models
- Kymco MXU 150cc: Lightweight, nimble, perfect for solo riders and tight village roads.
- SYM Quadlander 200cc: Liquid-cooled engine, electric + kick starter for emergency use.
- Kymco MXU 310cc: Auto CVT, adjustable rear suspension, disc brakes. The sweet spot.
- Kymco MXU 450cc: Big-engine confidence, built for two riders on demanding caldera roads.
- CForce 4×4 450–500cc: True four-wheel drive, 38hp liquid-cooled heart. Command presence.
- Segway Snarler 570cc: The beast of the fleet. For experienced riders who want maximum power.
🏆 Why Choose ATV Over a Car in Santorini?
- Park anywhere, no circling for spaces in Oia or Fira
- Access narrow paths cars can't enter
- Feel the island, not just see it through glass
- Cheaper daily rate than most cars
- Instant Instagram material at every caldera viewpoint
03. Quad Bike Hire Santorini: Power for Two
If you're travelling as a couple and want something more powerful than a scooter but prefer the feel of a motorcycle over an ATV's car-like stance, the quad is your vehicle. Rent Me Love Me's quad fleet sits at the intersection of performance and practicality, wide enough to carry two comfortably, agile enough to carve through the caldera road, and strong enough to tackle the switchbacks down to Athinios.
The quad rental process is identical to ATV rental: no pre-payment, delivery to your location, exact model as booked. Rental discounts kick in automatically for bookings of two or more days.
04. Scooter Rental Santorini: Light, Fast, Affordable
Solo travellers and couples who know the roads of Greek islands instinctively reach for a scooter. It's the most cost-effective rental on Santorini, slips between traffic effortlessly, parks in seconds, and delivers the classic Mediterranean riding experience that you came here for.
Rent Me Love Me's scooters are maintained to the same standard as all their vehicles, new models, full insurance, free helmets, and zero hidden costs. Delivery is available to any location on the island including your hotel.
Scooter Rental Tips for Santorini
- Always wear your helmet. Provided free, legally required, and genuinely necessary on Santorini's steep descents.
- Avoid rush hour. 10am–noon and 5–7pm the caldera road can be congested with buses and tourist vehicles.
- Fuel up before heading south. Stations cluster around Fira; the southern part of the island has fewer options.
- Check your mirrors at switchbacks. The road to Athinios port is famously narrow.
05. Santorini Buggy Rental: The Head-Turner
The buggy occupies a unique space in Santorini's rental ecosystem: more open and adventurous than a car, more sheltered than an ATV, and unquestionably the best-looking vehicle you'll park outside a Caldera-view restaurant. If you want to arrive somewhere and have people look, book the buggy.
Beyond aesthetics, buggies are genuinely practical for two passengers who want the comfort of side-by-side seating with the open-air feel of a quad. Rent Me Love Me's Santorini buggy rental comes with the same package: full insurance, free delivery, no deposit.
06. Catamaran Cruises in Santorini: The Sea View Everything Else Is Missing
The caldera of Santorini, the submerged remnant of one of history's largest volcanic eruptions, is one of the most dramatic seascapes on earth. You can photograph it from Oia. You'll drive along its rim. But to truly understand it, you need to be on the water, sailing past the sheer cliffs, through the sulphuric hot springs off Nea Kameni, and watching the sun drop below the horizon from a deck with a glass of wine in your hand.
Rent Me Love Me organises luxury catamaran and sailing cruises through carefully vetted, fully licensed local partners. This isn't a generic booking aggregator, they curate the experience and act as your concierge, ensuring you're on the right boat for your group size, timing and preferences.
What's Included in a Rent Me Love Me Catamaran Booking
- Modern luxury catamarans and yachts
- Private and shared cruise options
- Experienced, professional licensed crew
- Caldera views and iconic sunset experience
- Exclusive 10% online discount when booking through Rent Me Love Me
07. Luggage Storage Santorini: Your Last Day, Finally Hands-Free
Here's a scenario that every Santorini visitor faces: your hotel check-out is at 11am. Your ferry departs at 9pm. You have ten hours and a beautiful island to explore, except you're dragging two suitcases and a carry-on through cobblestoned caldera paths in August heat.
Rent Me Love Me's luggage storage service in Santorini solves this completely. Drop off your bags at their office from hotel check-out, and collect them just before departure. Your final day becomes what it should be: free, light, and full of the island.
How Luggage Storage Works
- Send a storage inquiry via the Rent Me Love Me website
- Drop your bags at their Fira office or arrange delivery
- Explore the island hands-free until your departure
- Collect bags in time for ferry or flight
💡 Pro Tip: Combine with a Vehicle Rental Many travellers use their final luggage-free day to rent a scooter or ATV for a few hours, hitting spots they missed earlier in the trip. Rent Me Love Me can arrange both on the same booking.
08. Luggage Transfer Santorini: Hotel-to-Port, Seamlessly
If you want your bags to travel separately from you entirely, moved from hotel to port or airport while you ride, hike or explore at your own pace. Rent Me Love Me's luggage transfer service handles it. Your luggage goes where it needs to go; you go where you want to go.
This service is especially useful for travellers continuing their island-hopping journey from Santorini and managing multiple bags across rough terrain or stairs-only caldera paths. Santorini is uniquely challenging for luggage: the famous steps of Oia and Fira are beautiful to climb and absolutely brutal to climb with a 23kg suitcase.
Ideal Use Cases for Luggage Transfer
- Hotel check-out to Athinios ferry port
- Hotel to Santorini Airport (JTR)
- Fira to accommodation in Oia (stairs are steep)
- Cruise port to hotel on arrival day
- Multiple-stop island-hopping itineraries
09. Insider Tips: Getting Around Santorini Like a Local
After years on the island, here are the navigation secrets that guidebooks rarely share:
Best Times to Drive / Ride
- Early morning (7–9am): Roads empty, light golden, parking effortless. The best time to reach Oia or Imerovigli.
- After 7pm: Sunset crowds thin out, caldera road clears, temperatures drop.
- Avoid: 10am–2pm in July and August, the main road through Fira becomes slow and crowded.
Best Routes for an ATV or Scooter Day
- The Caldera Rim: Fira → Imerovigli → Firostefani → Oia (10km, mostly flat, all views)
- The South Loop: Fira → Pyrgos → Akrotiri → Red Beach → Perivolos → Perissa → back via Emporio
- The Lighthouse Run: Fira → Akrotiri Lighthouse, best sunset spot if Oia is too crowded
- Port Descent: Fira → Athinios, sweeping switchback. Go early, go slow.
Parking in Santorini: Where It Actually Works
- Oia: Large free lot at the village entrance (Agios Georgios Church side). Arrive before 9am or after 7pm.
- Fira: The lot near Nemesis Hotel, south of the centre, 3-minute walk to the square.
- Perissa/Perivolos: Easy, free, abundant, the most relaxed parking on the island.
Frequently Asked Questions: Santorini Rentals & Services
Do I need a credit card to rent a vehicle with Rent Me Love Me?
Your credit card details are required for security, but Rent Me Love Me will never pre-charge or hold a deposit. You pay at pickup. This applies to all vehicle rentals: cars, ATVs, quads, scooters and buggies.
What driving licence do I need to rent an ATV or car in Santorini?
For cars, a standard driving licence from an EU country is sufficient. Non-EU visitors are strongly advised to carry an International Driving Permit (IDP) alongside their home licence. Greek police require it and your insurance may be invalidated without it. ATVs and scooters over 50cc require a category A or A1 motorcycle licence or equivalent.
Can I pick up my vehicle at the Santorini airport or ferry port?
Yes to both. Rent Me Love Me delivers to Santorini Airport (JTR), Athinios Ferry Port, Fira Cruise Port, your hotel, and multiple other locations across the island, at no extra charge, 24 hours a day.
How do I book a catamaran cruise in Santorini?
Submit a booking request through Rent Me Love Me's catamaran page. You'll receive a personal booking link and a unique code entitling you to an exclusive 10% online discount at their vetted partner's booking system. The partner operates modern, fully licensed luxury catamarans and yachts.
Is luggage storage in Santorini available for cruise ship passengers?
Yes. Cruise ship visitors can use the luggage storage service for the duration of their stop in Santorini. Rent Me Love Me can also arrange vehicle rental for the day, the combination of luggage storage + ATV/scooter is one of the most popular options for cruise day-trippers who want to see the island efficiently.
What's included in the rental price: no hidden fees really?
Genuinely no hidden fees. Included in every rental: third-party insurance, unlimited kilometres, one additional driver, helmet(s), a top box for storage, a Santorini road map, and all applicable taxes and VAT. The price you see is the price you pay.
What's the best vehicle to rent if I've never driven on Santorini?
For first-timers, a small automatic car is the most forgiving option on the island's narrow, steep roads. Couples often enjoy the ATV experience once they've oriented themselves. If you're an experienced motorcycle rider, a scooter or quad is perfectly manageable and far more enjoyable than a car on most of the island's roads.
Do you deliver and collect at hotels in Oia or Akrotiri?
Yes. Delivery and collection is available island-wide including Oia, Akrotiri, Imerovigli, Pyrgos and any hotel. Specify your location when booking and the vehicle will be waiting for you.
This guide was produced by Discover Cyclades, the comprehensive travel resource for all 24 Cycladic islands. Vehicle rentals and experiences described are operated by Rent Me Love Me (santorini-rentme.com), a Santorini-based rental company. Information current as of 2026 season.
