Plan for the destination
European car rental guides
Clear answers about pickup, driving, parking and the terms worth checking in each destination before comparing cars.
Athens
A rental car is most useful in Athens when your itinerary continues beyond the city to the coast, the Peloponnese or mainland Greece. For a city-centre stay, public transport is usually easier, so consider collecting the car on the day you leave Athens and confirm parking at your accommodation before booking.
Read the guide GreeceHeraklion and Crete
A rental car makes it easier to connect Heraklion with Crete’s villages, beaches and archaeological sites. Choose a category that fits both your luggage and route, check whether airport pickup is in-terminal or by shuttle, and plan by driving time rather than distance alone.
Read the guide CyprusLarnaca and Cyprus
A rental car in Larnaca is useful for connecting beaches, villages and the Troodos Mountains. Cyprus drives on the left, so choose a vehicle and transmission you feel comfortable with, take time to learn the controls, and confirm territorial and insurance restrictions before crossing between areas.
Read the guide ItalyRome
Driving a rental car in central Rome is usually inconvenient because of traffic, parking and restricted ZTL zones. A car is more useful when leaving for Tuscany, Umbria or southern Italy. Choose the pickup location carefully and plan a route that avoids restricted areas.
Read the guide ItalyMilan
A rental car is most valuable in Milan when the trip continues to Lake Como, Lake Garda, the Dolomites or other northern regions. Central Milan has controlled-traffic areas, so check Area C rules and consider collecting the car when you are ready to leave the city.
Read the guide GermanyMunich
Munich has strong public transport, so a rental car is usually most useful for trips into Bavaria, the Alps and neighbouring countries. Check the environmental-zone rules, seasonal equipment, toll requirements and written cross-border permission before departure.
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