Car rental in the Cyclades

Hi everyone on the travel forum. We’re heading to the Cyclades on May 15th for about a month and we’re debating whether to rent a car on each of the islands we’re visiting. Naxos, Andros, Tinos, Paros, and Santorini—we’ll be staying around 5 days on each. Everything’s booked except for the potential car rental. In your opinion, is it essential, or are public transport options good enough for all or some of these islands? Which companies are the most reliable, and which ones should we avoid (we’ve already had bad experiences with companies that weren’t always very professional). Thanks for your advice!

Hi there,

I think you can sort it out once you're there. In May, you don’t need to book a car in advance. On some islands, public transport is convenient, while on others, it’s less frequent. Generally, buses operate in a star pattern—they all leave from the island’s capital to reach the outer villages. In Santorini, there’s a good chance the buses will be packed due to the island’s high tourist concentration, even in May. That said, a car isn’t a great idea either, as traffic can get really heavy and parking can be a real headache.

Have a great trip!