By the Samos-Island.com editorial team · · How we work
Short answer
Samos Airport has the widest choice of car rental companies, both international chains and local operators, with Kokkari, Pythagoreio and Vathy also home to local agents. Most EU, UK, US, Canadian, Australian and Swiss licence holders don't need an International Driving Permit for a short stay; most other nationalities do.
We don't rank or recommend a specific car rental company on this page, and we don't have a rental partner of our own for Samos: this is a practical guide to what to expect, not a comparison of quotes.
A car is genuinely useful on Samos. The island's best sites, the wetlands, the mountain villages, the west coast beaches, are spread out, and public transport between them is limited, so most independent visitors who want to see beyond their base end up renting.
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Where to rent a car on Samos
Samos Airport (SMI) has the widest choice, with desks for several international chains alongside local operators. It's the practical option if you want a car for your whole stay, since you can pick it up on arrival.
Kokkari, Pythagoreio and Vathy also have local rental agents, which is useful if you decide partway through your trip that you want a car, or if you're only renting for a few days in the middle of your stay rather than the whole visit.
What you need to rent
- A valid driving licence, generally held for at least a year
- An International Driving Permit (IDP) if your licence isn't from the EU, the UK, USA, Canada, Australia, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein; check the current requirement for your nationality before you travel, since rules can change
- A credit card in the main driver's name for the security deposit; a debit card isn't always accepted
- Your passport or ID, and usually a minimum age set by the company, commonly in the low-to-mid twenties with a surcharge for younger drivers
What's different about driving on Samos
Greece drives on the right, as in the rest of continental Europe. The coastal roads between the main towns are straightforward, but the routes up to Mount Kerkis and the hill villages above Kokkari, such as Vourliotes and Manolates, are narrow and wind through switchbacks, so a smaller car is genuinely easier to manage.
Fuel stations thin out on the quieter west coast around Marathokampos and Votsalakia, so it's worth not letting the tank run low before a longer drive out that way.
Parking in village centres, particularly Kokkari's old town and Pythagoreio's harbourfront, is limited and the lanes are narrow. Expect to park on the edge of the village and walk in rather than driving to the door.
Booking and insurance
Book ahead for travel in July and August, when both prices and the choice of cars tighten across the island.
Ask specifically what the collision damage waiver excess is, and whether it can be reduced for a daily fee: base rental rates often come with a high excess by default.
Frequently asked questions
It depends on your nationality. Licence holders from the EU, the UK, USA, Canada, Australia, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein generally don't need one for a short stay; most other nationalities do. Check the current requirement for your nationality before you travel.
Samos Airport has the widest choice of companies and is the most practical pickup point if you want a car for your whole stay. Kokkari, Pythagoreio and Vathy also have local agents if you'd rather rent partway through your trip.
The coastal roads between towns are straightforward, but the mountain routes up to Kerkis and the hill villages are narrow with switchbacks, so a smaller car and a cautious pace make a real difference.