Scooter hire is popular on Naxos because it’s the largest Cycladic island to get around and this article, “Scooter Rental Naxos,” is the most comprehensive comparison on the Internet of the costs and companies, places to go with your scooter, and all the FAQs about scooter rental in Naxos.
Naxos is the largest island in the Greek Cyclades, with an area of 430 square kilometers (267 miles). It’s a typical Greek island in that it has a beautiful flat coastline and a more rugged interior.
It is, however, more mountainous than many Greek islands, the highest mountain being Mount Zas at 1,003 meters (3,290 ft).
If you’d like to beach hop or hop between the mountain villages in Naxos, your own rental vehicle is a great idea.
You can get around by public transport (the KTEL buses), but if you want to see a lot of the island, a rental scooter or a car rental is just the ticket.
Scooter rentals are particularly good along the coastline, where you can stop in as many beaches or small fishing villages for as long or as little as you choose.
They are of course extremely simple to park, and you can always find parking for scooters and mopeds.
Best E-bike Tours of Naxos
Because of the license that you need to ride a scooter in Greece (see below), and because Naxos doesn’t yet have a billion tour companies, the best tours on wheels use e-bikes!
Here are the best 3 e-bike tours for general sightseeing, exploring the beaches, and visiting wineries:
Naxos: Half-Day E-Bike Guided Tour with Wine Tasting
5-hour tour into the mountains to Halki and to the Byzantine Church just outside Halki, and on to a vineyard on the way back to Naxos Chora.
Naxos: Lowlands & Aegean Sea E-Bike Tour with Farm Tastings
4-hour tour around the hinterlands around Melanes (see the Kouri), see an olive press in action, then back along the coast road and a swim at Amitis Beach.
Naxos: Island Coastline Guided E-Bike Tour
3-hour tour that can be taken at sunset, can include a swim, and is a flat and fun ramble around the dirt roads near the beaches.
Best 7 Scooter Rental Companies in Naxos
The verified Google ratings given to rental companies in Naxos are lower than the ratings given for scooter and ATV/Quad rentals on other Greek Islands like Milos, Crete, Corfu, Santorini, Paros, and Mykonos.
And while there are dozens of companies to choose from on other Greek islands, that’s not the case here which I suspect is because Naxos is a large island and also mountainous with winding roads, and it’s not overdeveloped yet.
This table shows the ratings and contact details of the 7 most highly-rated scooter rental companies in Naxos with consistently excellent service. Below the table, you’ll find a map showing the locations of these 7 best Scooter Rental outfits in Naxos.
| Rental Company | Rating | Address | Phone | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer Cars & Bikes Naxos | 5.0 | Agios Prokopios, Naxos | +302285044160 | https://summercars.gr/ |
| Motonaxos car & bike rental | 4.7 | Agia Anna Beach, Naxos | +302285041404 | https://motonaxos.com/ |
| Tony’s Bikes and Cars Naxos Rental Agency | 4.6 | Naxos Chora, Naxos | +302285022216 | https://www.tonysbikesnaxos.com/ |
| Auto Moto Falcon, Scooter, ATV, Buggy & Car Rental | 4.5 | Protopapadaki, Naxos Chora, Naxos | +302285025035 | https://automotofalcon.com/ |
| Motoland | 4.5 | Ioannou Paparigopoulou, Nachos Chora, Naxos | +302285023282 | https://www.motolandnaxos.com/ |
| Fun Car & Rides (Port Office) | 4.5 | Naxos Port, Naxos | +302285026084 | https://www.funcar.gr/ |
| Scootermania Naxos | 4.4 | Andrea Papandreou, Naxos Chora, Naxos | +302285025100 | https://www.scootermanianaxos.com/ |
Scooter Rental Naxos: Map of Office Locations
What kind of license do you need to Rent a Scooter in Naxos?
You must have held a valid driver’s license for 2 years. For scooters less than 125cc, you need a scooter’s driver’s license. That is, your driver’s license must be an AM, A1, or A.
If the scooter is 125 cc or more, then you will need to provide a motorcycle license.
General tips for renting a Scooter in Naxos
- Check the age requirements very carefully before booking a scooter. Although Greek Law says you can rent a scooter at 18 years of age, each rental agency has its own Terms and Conditions. On Naxos, the minimum age to rent a scooter is usually 21, 23, or 25 years of age.
- No matter how you carry your documents (i.e. digital or physical), you will need to bring all of your documents (including passport, ID card, and International Driver’s Permit) in their physical form in order to sign the contract and get your rental vehicle.
- Gas/Petrol: You can’t assume that you are going to be able to fill up all over the island. For example, if you go as far as the northeastern fishing village of Apollonas, you won’t find a gas station there.
- And if it’s Sunday or worse, a public holiday, very few gas stations will be open. On these occasions, I’ve agreed on an amount for fuel and I’ve paid that extra cost up front and not had to worry about filling up.
- Around the beaches, Naxos Chora, and the lowlands, riding a scooter is easy and enjoyable. The roads through the mountains and from Naxos to Apollonas are very windy and narrow and unless you have ridden a scooter before, I wouldn’t advise getting out into the mountains.
- The best thing about being on the roads in Naxos is the small amount of traffic but it’s also why I always make sure I have 24/7 road assistance included in the contract.
- It’s really important to check that the travel insurance coverage you’ve purchased includes a scooter rental in case you have an accident. Many don’t cover these kinds of activities.
- No, you can’t take the scooter on a ferry to another island 🙁
The Cost of a Scooter Rental in Naxos
Note: It is unlikely you will be able to rent a scooter for less than 3 days although a few do rent for one or two days.
Here are the costs of a scooter rental in Naxos, Greece, according to its’ power (cc’s) and whether it’s high or low season:
🛵50cc from € 8.67 per day low season, from € 52,30 per day high season
🛵125 cc from € 18 per day low season, from € 50 per day high season
🛵150 cc from € 20 per day low season, from € 56,30 per day high season
🛵200 cc from € 23 per day low season, from € 66,67 per day high season
🛵300 cc from € 32 per day low season, from € 75 per day high season
Tips for Finding Good Prices for Scooters
The prices for scooters decrease significantly the more days you hire one. (Most rental agencies in Naxos rent for a minimum of three days).
There are online discounts, discounts for special holidays like Easter, and early-bird savings for booking well ahead of your trip.
The company will ask you to take a video around the vehicle to compare with later on in case there is any dispute about damage.
They will check the fuel gauge with you and you will agree on the level that it’s at (for example, one-quarter full). Make sure to fill your scooter to that same level just before returning it to avoid extra charges.
Most rental vehicles (and even bicycles and electric bikes) come with third-party insurance, helmets, and a free pick-up and drop-off service that includes the port, airport, or hotel. Some also include 24/7 roadside assistance – booking a scooter from a company with these free additions could end up making your holiday much cheaper if something goes wrong!
Top 5 Places to Visit on Naxos With a Scooter Rental
In other articles about Naxos, including renting quad bike or ATVs on Naxos, I’ve included the north of Naxos in my list of favorite places to visit.
But unless you are an experienced scooter rider, the mountains of Naxos are steep with very windy and narrow roads and it is hairy on a scooter and it also makes for a very long and tiring day.
The 5 locations below are in the lowlands or in the mountains but not so difficult as continuing on the mountain road to the north of the island.
They are all easy half-day adventures from Naxos town.
1. Temple of Demeter
Apeiranthos and the Temple of Demeter seem to be favored by scooter riders more than other destinations! The ancient Temple of Demeter (or Sangria) is in a lovely valley and only 15 km (25 minutes in each direction) from Naxos town along via Epar. Od. Naxou-Apiranthou.
It is one of the few ancient Greek sites on Naxos that are well worth visiting, especially if you’re a history buff!
2. Naxos Beaches
Immediately south of Naxos town along the coast are a string of beaches that are popular party hangouts with beach bars and cheap accommodation. They are a good starting place to discover Naxos in summer.
3. Melanes
Only 8 km from Naxos town by via Epar.Od. Naxou-Apiranthou is the not-special-at-all village of Melanes. But, just outside Melanes are two of the Greek monumental statues that were first invented on Naxos.
They are called Kouroi and they are a fun adventure into the countryside.
4. Halki
Undoubtedly the prettiest village in Naxos is Halki (Chalki, Chalkio). It’s well worth a trip to have lunch here and wander through its tiny but beautiful central area.
Outside of Halki are excellent hiking areas, including to Byzantine churches. It takes just under half an hour to drive to Halki from Naxos town using via Epar. Od. Naxou-Apiranthou.
5. Apeiranthos
Apeiranthos is another mountain village that you reach by continuing along via Epar. Od. Naxou-Apiranthou for a total of 40 minutes from Naxos town (26.3 km).
Apeiranthos is very popular with scooter riders and there are almost as many there are you’ll find goats in the village. There are five museums and a thriving ceramics industry.
Top FAQs about Scooter Rental Naxos
1. Can you rent scooters on Naxos?
You can certainly rent scooters to explore Naxos Island. Scooters are very popular around the beach towns south of the main town (Chora) and you’ll find more than a dozen rental agencies in Naxos Chora and along the beach strip. Additionally, they will pick up and drop off a scooter to you if you arrive at the port, the airport, or to your hotel.
2. How much does it cost to rent a scooter in Naxos?
The smallest scooters (beginning at 50cc) can be hired during low season for as little as 9 Euros per day but this increases to 75 Euros per day in high season for 300cc scooters.
3. How old do you have to be to rent a scooter in Naxos?
This differs among rental agencies even though Greek law states that you can rent a scooter at 18 years of age. Rental agencies set their own policies and although they won’t rent a scooter to someone under 18 years of age, most rental agencies in Naxos have a 21-year or 23-year minimum age policy for scooter rental.
As they’re all different, it’s good to ask these basic questions, including what documentation they need, before you make a reservation.
4. Do you need an international driver’s license in Greece for a scooter?
More and more places are now requiring you to have an IDP (International Drivers Permit) even though it’s not legally required for holders of licenses from many countries. While some smaller rental places may not require this license, I highly recommend getting one before coming to Greece if you’re planning to rent a car, ATV, or scooter in Greece.
I’ve sometimes been required to show my IDP but not my regular license, even though I don’t legally need to have an IDP in Greece. It just makes sense to get one because you’re not going to win an argument when it comes to having the keys of a rental vehicle handed over to you.
5. Do you need to wear a helmet on a scooter in Greece?
Drivers and passengers must wear helmets. Failure to do so may invalidate your insurance Drivers and passengers must wear helmets, it’s a basic safety element, and it’s the law. Failure to do so will invalidate your insurance if you have an accident, and if you are stopped by the police, you will be fined and your license taken from you.
6. Is driving in Naxos hard?
Renting any vehicle in Naxos to drive through the mountains will require some patience and care as the mountain roads are full of hairpin bends, and switchbacks, and are narrow with no visibility around many bends. If you drive slowly, (and watch out for goats on the road), you’ll have an amazing time.
7. How long does it take to drive around Naxos?
Driving around all of Naxos cannot be done in under 3 hours but realistically, if you choose the mountain roads to the north of the island and the coastal route back to Naxos Chora, you are unlikely to do it in less than 6 hours.
This is because of the narrowness of the steep roads, dirt roads, and hairpin bends, not to mention Google Maps getting completely muddled every hour or so. It is a truly spectacular adventure, but not an easy one.
8. What are the speed limits in Naxos?
Speed limits in Naxos vary between 80 and 90 km/h (50-56 mph) in between the towns and 30 within towns, although you will see speed limit signs from 20 and 40 mph.
Even though the speed limit might be more than 50 mph around Greece, your chances of doing that are not high on the windy and narrow mountain roads.
9. What is the drink-driving law in Greece?
Unlike much of Europe and the UK, the maximum blood alcohol limit for drivers in Greece is 0.05%, and for new drivers those with less than 3 years of driving experience, it is 0.02%.
