Renting a Car in Sifnos
Written by Elena Philippou, who hosts Villa Olivia Clara above Platis Gialos.Updated June 2026
Where to hire a car on Sifnos and what to check before you book.
Sifnos is small, about 15 km end to end, but it is hilly, and the villages and the quieter beaches and the trailheads are spread all over it. For a beach week in Platis Gialos you can do without one. Anything beyond that, hire a car. This is what we send guests who ask.
Buses and taxis are in our guide to getting around Sifnos.
Book early for July and August
From mid-July through August the cars sell out across the island, and the better rates and the automatics go first. For those dates book a few weeks ahead. May and June, September and October, you have more room. Even then book a few days before you arrive, so the car is waiting at the port when you come off the ferry.
Most cars are manual
Same as every Greek island. There are automatics, not many of them, and in July and August they go first. If an automatic is the only car you can drive, say so when you book and get the agency to confirm it. Sifnos Drive lists automatics on its website, and with the others you have to ask.
Where to rent
Most of the agencies are at Kamares port, so you pick the car up as you come off the boat. A few are up in Apollonia. Many of them will meet your ferry with the car, or bring it to where you are staying and collect it at the end. Kamares to Platis Gialos and the house is 20 to 30 minutes.
Local rental agencies
These all pick up at or near Kamares port. What you pay depends on the car and the month, lowest in spring and autumn, highest in July and August.
Other agencies work out of the port and Apollonia too. If you would rather not choose, tell us your dates and we will recommend one.
Before you drive
Bring your driving licence. EU and EEA licences are fine, and English-language ones from the UK, the USA, Canada and Australia are accepted as they are. Some other non-EU licences need an International Driving Permit alongside the national one. Check the rule for your country before you travel, or ask the agency when you book.
Most agencies rent to drivers over 21–23, sometimes with a young-driver surcharge. The car is usually in the main driver's name.
The roads are paved and well signed, narrow and winding in places. Some of the tracks down to the beaches are rough. Take it slowly.
Parking is free at the municipal car parks by the beaches and at the entrances to Apollonia. Platis Gialos has three lots and on most August days they are full by late morning, so go down early or take the bus. Apollonia gets tight at the same hours. The rest of the year you park where you like.
The petrol stations are mainly around Apollonia. Many rentals are full-to-full, so fill up before you return the car, and before you drive out to the far beaches like Cheronissos or Vroulidia.
Or ask Elena
If you would rather not compare them yourself, tell Elena your dates and what you need (automatic or manual, a child seat) and she will tell you which agency to call. You book with the agency directly, and most of them will bring the car to the port for your ferry.
Common questions about renting a car in Sifnos
Do I need to rent a car in Sifnos?
Not for a beach week in Platis Gialos. The beach, the tavernas and the bus stop are all a short walk from the house. You want a car for the villages, the quieter beaches, the trailheads, and many of our guests hire one for a few days of the stay.
Are rental cars in Sifnos manual or automatic?
Most are manual, as everywhere in the Greek islands. There are automatics, but not many, and in July and August they go first. Sifnos Drive lists automatic cars. Book early and get the agency to confirm yours.
Do I need an International Driving Permit in Sifnos?
EU/EEA driving licences are accepted. If you are coming from outside the EU you may need an International Driving Permit alongside your national licence. Check the rule for your country before you travel, and ask the agency when you book.
Can the rental car be delivered to the port or the villa?
Yes. Most of the Sifnos agencies bring the car to Kamares port to meet your ferry, or to your accommodation, and collect it at the end. Tell Elena your dates and she will tell you which agency to ask.
How early should I book a car for August?
A few weeks ahead. In peak summer the cars sell out, and the automatics and the better rates go first.
Ask Elena which agency to call
Staying at Villa Olivia Clara? Send Elena your dates and the ferry you are on. She will point you to a car-hire agency we trust, and to a driver who meets the boat if you would rather not drive.