How to Rent a Quad in Santorini Greece to Explore the Whole Island

With limited public transit and buses that don’t run everywhere, you may want to rent a quad in Santorini, Greece to get around the island. It will give you full freedom to reach even the furthest parts of the island and is much more fun than a car rental, which you may have trouble parking!

We’ll explore the need to know facts and tips to rent an ATV in Santorini as well as what you should go see and do on your full day adventure!

Disclosure: Some of the links below may be affiliate links. At no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase.

---

Helpful Information about Renting an ATV in Santorini

---

If you’re looking for a real adventure, consider exploring Santorini by quad or ATV for the day. While you will need a driver’s license, you don’t need any prior experience driving one. The ATV rental places will give you a rundown of all of the necessary buttons, handles, tips and tricks upon pick up. Yes, it can be overwhelming, but you will get the hang of it.

Where to Rent a Quad in Santorini

You can rent a quad on almost any part of the island. I ultimately chose to rent an ATV in Perissa as it was closest to some of the destinations I wanted to explore, and it was most affordable due to being a bit further off the typical tourist path.

If you aren’t sure where to rent an ATV in Santorini, ask your hotel. Many of them have connections with local rental places and can help walk you through the process. Alternatively, just walking down the street you’ll find plenty of places to rent from. If you’re planning to rent one, go early in the morning or even try to book ahead. Quads can sell out – particularly in peak seasno!

Not sure where to base yourself in Santorini?
Determine if Fira or Perissa are for you in this detailed guide.

The Cost of a Quad Rental in Santorini

The rental cost of a quad in Santorini will vary based on where you are renting it and the power of the ATV. If you are looking in Perissa, it will be cheaper than in Fira or Oia. In Perissa, you might be able to find one for €30 while in Fira €40 – 50 is more realistic.

Here are a few tips on how to get the best price on an ATV in Santorini:

• Shop around before booking. Prices vary at different rental companies.

• Always try to negotiate on the price.

• You can share a quad with another person. This means you can share the cost and you also have someone who can help navigate.

• Plan in the cost of fuel to your overall rental costs. It will cost you about €10 in gas to get around the island.

• There are low power and higher power ATVs available: While you won’t need the most powerful, you will need one that can get you up some serious hills! Let’s look more at that.

The Power Needed in an ATV in Santorini

You’ll find all different sizes and power of quads for rent in Santorini. Typically they range from 150cc to 450cc (cubic capacity) at the Santorini ATV rental companies. As you increase the power of the quad, the price will also go up.

So how much power do you need to quad around Santorini? The least powerful option is certainly possible to get around the island. After all, they do offer it as an option! However, some of the roads in Santorini are very steep, and if you have two people on it, you may want extra power to get up those hills in a timely fashion. Otherwise, you could create a traffic jam.

License Requirements for Renting a Quad

Ultimately, the requirements for an ATV rental in Santorini is up to the rental company, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they are following Greek law. In all cases, you will need a valid driver’s license to rent an ATV in Santorini, but more recently many are also requiring that your driving license be issued from Greece, the European Union, or be an International Driving Permit.

According to Greek law, all foreign drivers must have an International Driver’s Permit to legally drive a motor vehicle in Greece. Even if you can rent an ATV without an International License, you could be pulled over and fined by the police. To ensure you don’t run into trouble with your Santorini quad rental, get your International Driver’s Permit before you go.

Fortunately, there are many ways to get your International Driver’s Permit online. It’s inexpensive and you can receive a digital copy of it in as little as 15 minutes!

Additional requirements to rent a quad in Santorini can include a minimum age, such as being 21 years old, and potentially a minimum for how long you have held a drivers license. This typically is just one year. Note that you can also rent a scooter in Santorini, but you typically need to have experience and your motorcycle license to do so.

Tips for Renting a Quad in Santorini

Renting an ATV to explore Santorini is simple. Getting around the island can be a bit more challenging. As it turns out, signage around the island is a bit limited, and reading a map with the wind is a challenge.

A few tips to maximize your experience and keep you safe on the road:

• Plan out where you are going on your quad before you set off. Trying to navigate and drive is not only difficult, but it is dangerous. Pull over if you need to look at a map.

• Always secure your helmet before taking off on your adventure. It will not only keep you safe but it is the law and can come with a hefty fine if you ignore it. Not to mention it can nullify your travel insurance!

• Fill up your gas tank before you start your journey or before you return it, depending on how the rental agreement is set up.

• Make sure your travel insurance covers you driving a quad. If not and you are in an accident your insurance will not cover you. I recommend and travel with World Nomads.

Not familiar with travel insurance?
Learn more about World Nomad’s and price out your trip.

---

8 Top Destinations to Visit in Santorini by Quad

---

As Santorini is only 30 square miles, you can reach any part of the island by quad or ATV. I recommend starting at one end of the island and heading to the other one. Here are some of the best places to visit while exploring Santorini by quad.

1. Akrotiri Lighthouse

First, head to the tip of the island to Akrotiri Lighthouse. There’s parking available along the side of the road and just a short walk away is the lighthouse. From here, you can see the full coast line of Santorini, including seeing Fira in the distance on a clear day. You’ll pass some incredible scenic overlooks and small towns along the way.

2. Red Sand Beach or Paralia Kokkini

Red Sand Beach, also known as Paralia Kokkini, is named appropriately after the giant red cliff surrounding it. Overtime, these cliffs have slowly created the red sand that is mixed in with some dark sand. I personally had never seen red sand before so it was very intriguing.

Pro Tip: If you’re going to Red Sand Beach, there’s almost always parking at the front for ATVs because so many people park at the first parking lot they see. With the first parking lot being a solid ten minute walk or more, check for those spots up front.

3. White Beach by Boat from Red Sand Beach

From Red Sand Beach, you can take a boat to the isolated White Beach. Surprisingly, and perhaps a bit disappointingly, White Beach does not actually offer white sand. Rather, this beach is surrounded by stunning white cliffs and formations and features black sand.  

4. Perissa Town

Perissa is the 2nd largest coastal resort in Santorini and offers plenty of stunning black sand beaches and restaurants. Some of the restaurants offer sun loungers for free if you eat there while others will still charge you, so make sure you find out before you sit down.

You can either make Perissa a stop on your quad or you may want to consider spending a couple of days here. It’s easy to enjoy some time hanging out at the beach, having a traditional Greek dinner at a restaurant on the beach, and eventually enjoying a lively beach bar. We actually found a live band at the beach bar which turned out to be quite fun. I think everyone’s heart broke a little bit when they called it quits for the night!

5. Profitis Ilias Mountain

The highest peak in Santorini, Profitix Ilias Mountain is 567 m or 1860 ft above sea level. You’ll pass through Pyrgos and then continue uphill to get to the peak. At the top you’ll find fantastic views.

6. Kamari Town

Heading into Kamari Twon, you’ll weave your way down steep curving hillside roads. I personally rode the brakes the entire time while hoping we would be able to get back up the hill on the way back!  

Upon arrival in Kamari Town, you’ll be greeted with a nice beach walk featuring lots of shops, restaurants, and boutique hotels. The main thing to visit here are the black sand beaches filled with lounge chairs for rent.

Enjoy a walk around, a meal or snack, and some time at the beach before heading back uphill on your ATV.  The good news is the quad did indeed get us up the hill. Whew!

7. Fira or Thira Town

Fira, also known as Thira, is the capital of Santorini. If you travel around the island of Santorini as all, you will likely end up in Fira almost every time. It is the central hub of the island and where all buses connect through.

The town of Fira is beautiful and perched on a cliff side similarly to the more famous Oia part of the island. It’s a town that you can easily spend a day or two exploring. You may even want to consider Fira as your home base while in Santorini. Or, if you don’t have the time to leisurely take it in, it’s definitely worth a stop while exploring Santorini by ATV.

8. Oia Town

No trip to Santorini is complete without coming to Oia. It is home of one of the world’s best, and most famous, sunsets as well as offering the classic white washed buildings with blue domes. You’ll also find the stereotyped Greek windmills here. Oia really is everything you have dreamt of for your Greek vacation.

That being said, Oia is also a likely place to spend a day or two exploring, but like Fira, if you’re tight on time, definitely stop to take in some of the famous winding streets and scenery of this charming town.

Find more places to explore by ATV with the 25 Top Things to Do in Santorini.

---

Concluding Your ATV Experience

---

While you likely will run out of time to explore all of the places above in just one day, you will have more time on the island to get to some of the bigger towns to explore. Or, you can rent a quad in Santorini for more than one day.

Whatever your trip looks like, I highly recommend spending at least one day exploring Santorini by ATV as it lets you check out some of the smaller, lesser known parts of the island. It will give you a new appreciation for Santorini, and a break from the crowds of Oia.

If after reading all of this you’re still hesitant about quad rentals in Santorini, you may want to check into a guided ATV-Quad Experience. It will allow you to have some of the same amazing views and experiences on the island but in the comfort of a guided tour.

---

Planning a Trip to Greece?

---

If you’re planning a trip to Greece, there are a lot of details to work out, from how long to go for and where to stay to the wonderful experience of exploring Santorini by ATV. Here are some other resources that can help in your planning.

• 16 Money Saving Tips for Santorini: Visiting Santorini on a Budget
• Santorini Travel Guide for First Timers: 10 Things to Know Before You Go
• Where to Stay in Santorini: Fira or Perissa?
• 10 Best Luxury Hotels in Oia, Santorini: Where to Stay
• Top 25 Things to Do in Santorini
• What to Expect of Mykonos, Greece
• One Week in Greece: Itinerary for First Time Visitors
• How to Spend 1 Day in Athens, Greece: Itinerary for First Time Visitors
• 6 Best Day Trips from Athens, Greece: Ruins, Islands, History, & More!

---

Like this post? Pin it.