Mykonos is small, about 85 square kilometres, but don't let the size fool you. Public transport is limited to a handful of bus routes between Chora, the airport and the most popular beaches. Taxis are expensive and nearly impossible to find in July and August. If you want to explore beyond your hotel pool, you need your own wheels.
The real question isn't whether to rent, it's what to rent. Mykonos has three distinct vehicle options: cars, scooters and ATVs. Each one fits a different kind of trip, and choosing the wrong one can turn a dream holiday into a frustrating one. Here's how to decide.
Local Car, Scooter, ATV rental Mykonos
Renting a car in Mykonos
A car is the most practical option if you're travelling with children, carrying luggage, or simply want air conditioning on the 35-degree days that are standard from mid-June through September. It's also the safest choice if you've never driven on a Greek island before: four wheels, seatbelts, a boot for your bags, and no balancing required on gravel roads.
Economy cars like the Fiat Panda, Toyota Aygo or Hyundai i10 start from around €40 per day in peak season. Most local providers in Mykonos deliver to the airport (JMK), the New Port at Tourlos, or directly to your hotel at no extra charge. You don't need a credit card: a debit card or a cash deposit of €100 to €300 is the standard requirement, and it's returned when you hand the car back. Full insurance with zero excess is usually available as an optional add-on for €8 to €15 per day.
The one thing to know about driving a car in Mykonos is parking. Mykonos Town (Chora) is completely pedestrian, so you'll always park outside and walk in. The main option is the Fabrika car park, which costs roughly €5 to €10 per day in summer, or the free lot at the ring-road entrance that fills up fast in August. Beach parking at Ornos, Platis Gialos, Paradise and Elia is generally free but tight during peak weeks. If your hotel is inside Chora, expect a 5 to 10 minute walk from wherever you leave the car.
That said, a car is the only realistic choice if you're planning evening dinners at restaurants outside Chora. Narrow unlit island roads at night are not fun on two wheels, and taxis after midnight are essentially nonexistent.
A car makes the most sense for families, groups of three or more, couples with luggage, and anyone who values comfort and flexibility over the wind-in-your-hair feeling.
Renting a scooter in Mykonos
Scooters are the island classic. A 125cc automatic is enough for everything on Mykonos, and it solves the one problem cars can't: parking. You can tuck a scooter into spaces a car would never fit, which on an island where every square metre of shade is contested in August, is a genuine advantage.
A Honda Vision 125, Kymco Like or Piaggio Liberty typically costs around €25 per day, making scooters the cheapest motorised option on the island. They're delivered to your hotel, the port or the airport just like cars. A valid licence for the engine size is required. If you hold an EU driving licence with category A1 or AM, you're covered for 125cc. International visitors should carry an International Driving Permit. Helmets are provided and legally mandatory for both rider and passenger, though enforcement on the island is, let's say, inconsistent. Wear one anyway.
Where scooters really shine is beach-hopping on the south coast. Ornos to Platis Gialos to Paraga to Paradise: on a scooter this circuit takes 30 minutes with stops wherever you feel like it. In a car the same loop takes twice as long once you factor in parking. You also save significantly on fuel. A full tank on a 125cc scooter costs around €6 and lasts three to four days of normal island use.
The downsides are real, though. Scooters offer zero protection from sun, wind and the occasional August meltemi that makes the north coast feel like a wind tunnel. They're uncomfortable for distances over 15 to 20 minutes, especially with a passenger. And if you're carrying beach gear, shopping bags or anything bulky, you'll quickly run out of storage. Most scooters have a small under-seat compartment that fits one helmet and not much else.
Scooters are the right pick for solo travellers, couples without heavy luggage, and anyone who's comfortable on two wheels and wants the cheapest way to get around. If you've never ridden a scooter before, Mykonos is not the place to learn. The roads are narrow, the traffic in summer is dense, and tourist drivers on both two and four wheels can be unpredictable.
Renting an ATV or quad in Mykonos
ATVs and quad bikes are the wild card. They sit somewhere between a car and a scooter in terms of practicality, but they offer something neither of the other two can: access to the rough, unpaved tracks on the north side of the island where some of the best beaches are hidden.
A Kymco MXU 310 or CF Moto 450 typically costs €55 to €70 per day, which makes ATVs the most expensive of the three options. They're slower than cars on paved roads, louder than scooters, and not exactly comfortable over long distances. So why do people rent them?
Because beaches like Agios Sostis, Fokos and Merchia are at the end of dirt roads that would scrape the underside of a small rental car. An ATV handles these tracks without fuss. You pull up directly to the sand, park under a tamarisk tree, and you're swimming in water that the south-coast crowds never see. Fokos in particular, with its single fish taverna and wild, unspoiled shoreline, feels like a different island entirely.
A category B driving licence (the standard car licence) is typically accepted for ATVs on Mykonos, though rules vary and it's worth confirming with your provider. No special motorcycle licence is needed for most quad bikes under 400cc.
The practical downsides: ATVs have almost no storage space, so forget about suitcases or big shopping runs. They're exposed to sun and wind just like scooters. They burn more fuel than a scooter (though less than a car). And they're not ideal for evening use, as the headlights on most rental quads are mediocre at best on dark island roads.
ATVs are the right choice if you're an adventurous couple or a pair of friends who specifically want to explore the wild north coast, don't mind getting dusty, and treat the vehicle as part of the experience rather than just transport.
Can you combine vehicles during your stay?
Yes, and many visitors do exactly that. A common pattern is to rent a car for the first and last days (airport transfers, luggage) and switch to a scooter or ATV for the days in between. Most local Mykonos providers are flexible about mixed bookings, especially if you arrange it upfront. Some will even swap the vehicle at your hotel mid-trip at no extra charge.
Which one, then?
If you're still unsure, ask yourself three questions. How many people are you travelling with? If it's more than two, a car is the only option. Do you care about reaching the remote northern beaches? If yes, an ATV earns its premium. Is your priority budget and ease of parking? Then a scooter is the clear winner.
Whatever you choose, book at least two to three weeks ahead for July and August. The cheapest vehicles in each category sell out fast, and last-minute availability tends to skew towards the larger and more expensive options that nobody wanted in the first place.
One last thing: regardless of vehicle type, check the Google reviews of the provider before you book. The best local rental businesses in Mykonos carry hundreds of verified reviews with ratings above 4.5 stars. That's worth more than any brand name on a counter at the airport.