Compare cheap 7 seater car hire at Rhodes Airport. The Old Town car ban, free Akantia parking, Lindos parking, the drive to Prasonisi and new traffic fines.
Rhodes Old Town has been closed to visitors’ cars since April 2026, and Lindos parking is tight in summer. Read the sections below before your first day out.
Rhodes Airport handled 7,093,264 passengers in 2025, and the UK was its biggest market, with 1,654,507 of them (Rhodes Airport). That is almost one passenger in four.
The island’s hire firms expected about 12,000 hire cars on the roads in summer 2024 (Rodiaki). Only a small share of any fleet has seven seats, so it pays to book early.
Rhodes Old Town: no entry for visitors’ cars
The medieval city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, enclosed by 4 km of walls (UNESCO). From 14 April 2026, the town council brought in controlled access. Only permanent residents with special permits can drive in, and several streets inside the walls are now pedestrian-only (Municipality of Rhodes).
There is an easy alternative. The council runs free parking at Akantia port, with a free minibus every 20 minutes to the town hall that stops at the medieval moat (Municipality of Rhodes).
On the streets of the new town, you can pay for parking by phone at parking.rhodes.gr with just the car’s registration number (Municipality of Rhodes).
Lindos: get there early
Lindos is about 50 km south of Rhodes town on the east coast (Discover Greece). A private operator manages traffic and the parking zones in the village (Rodiaki).
Parking is the weak point. In 2025, the Ministry of Culture refused a planned car park at Krana, next to the archaeological site, and the operator warned of traffic chaos in summer (Dimokratiki).
The road there has its own pinch point. At the Kolymbia junction, the left turn to Archipoli is being removed to make two lanes towards Rhodes town, because of kilometre-long queues on summer weekends (Rodiaki). Leave early and park where you are directed.
Prasonisi and the deep south
At the southern tip, Prasonisi is about 89 km, 1 hour 30 minutes, from Rhodes town and 49 km from Lindos. In summer it is a sandy spit joining an islet to the main island. The only way to get there is by car, and there is plenty of parking (Discover Greece).
Discover Greece says hiring a car is the best way to see an island of 1,400 square kilometres (Discover Greece). The south is where that matters most.
Wildfire season
In July 2023, about 19,000 people were evacuated from villages and resorts in the south of Rhodes during wildfires, the largest wildfire evacuation in Greece’s history (PBS).
GOV.UK says causing a wildfire is a criminal offence in Greece, even by accident, and advises registering your phone for emergency alerts (GOV.UK). In 2026, a man near Athens was fined about £2,550 (€3,000) for lighting a portable barbecue in woodland (CP24).
Keep a full tank in summer, and follow police instructions if roads close.
Rhodes 7 Seaters, side by side
Cars with seven seats are a small part of the Rhodes fleet. Compare what is available and the excess for each.
Greece’s new traffic code
Since 1 January 2026, the default limit in Greek towns has been 30 km/h, about 19 mph. Some main roads keep 50 km/h, and the limit outside towns is 90 km/h (To Vima).
Fines rose sharply under the new code. Using a phone at the wheel costs about £298 (€350) and a 30-day suspension (iefimerida). Our Heraklion Airport guide lists more of the new penalties.
The drink-drive limit is 0.5 g of alcohol per litre of blood, and 0.2 g for new drivers (ETSC). Greek cars must also carry safety kit, including a first-aid kit and a fire extinguisher (Your Europe), so check they are in the car at pickup.
Day trips to Symi and Turkey
Symi is about an hour from Rhodes by boat (Discover Greece), and day boats also run to Marmaris in Turkey. In 2026, the Marmaris day service cost about £57 (€67) including taxes (Dimokratiki).
Leave the 7 seater at the port for these. For Turkey, your passport must be valid for at least 150 days from the day you arrive (GOV.UK).
Paperwork and child seats
GOV.UK says you can drive in Greece on a UK photocard licence, though hire firms often ask for a year’s experience or a higher minimum age (GOV.UK).
Children aged 12 or under must use a child seat or restraint suited to their size and age (IOAS).
GOV.UK says the Greek authorities have indicated they will not collect fingerprints and photos from UK travellers under the EU Entry/Exit System (GOV.UK).
Picking up at Rhodes Airport
The airport lists its car hire desks in the arrivals hall, in the area open to all users (Rhodes Airport). Other firms meet you outside and take you to a depot nearby, and your voucher will say which.
The car park in front of the terminal gives the first 20 minutes free (Rhodes Airport), which helps on the return if you are dropping the family and bags first.
Seven people, seven cases
A large suitcase holds 80 to 110 litres. With all seven seats in use, the roomiest common 7 seaters manage about 340 to 350 litres of boot.
For a full family with a big case each, look for the ACRISS FV class, meaning seven or more seats plus more space, or book an 8 or 9 seater. Village streets are narrow, so do not oversize if you do not need to.
Flying into another Greek island next time? Our Greece guide covers the national rules and the other airports UK families use, including Corfu and Heraklion. Closer to home, our Kos Airport guide covers the next big island in the Dodecanese.
Paying less for a 7 Seater in Rhodes
- Compare the total, not the daily rate. Fuel policy, deposit, insurance excess and extra driver charges all sit outside the headline price.
- Use the free Akantia car park. It saves parking fees and a fine for straying into the Old Town.
- Price child seats per day. Hire firms usually charge per seat, and two or three seats over a fortnight add up. Bringing your own is often cheaper.
- Book early with free cancellation. 7 seaters are scarce on Rhodes in July and August. Lock in a cancellable rate, then search again nearer the date and rebook if prices fall.
Check Rhodes 7 Seater prices for your holiday
Enter your flight times to compare cheap rates before July and August.
Questions people ask
Can I drive into Rhodes Old Town?
No. Since 14 April 2026, only permanent residents with permits can drive in. Park free at Akantia port and take the free minibus.
How far is Lindos from Rhodes town?
About 50 km down the east coast. Go early in summer, because parking is limited.
How do I get to Prasonisi?
By car. It is about 89 km from Rhodes town, roughly 1 hour 30 minutes, with plenty of parking at the beach.
Can I take the hire car to Turkey?
Day trips to Marmaris go by boat, so leave the car at the port. Your passport needs 150 days’ validity for Turkey.
How do I find a cheap 7 Seater at Rhodes Airport?
Compare several hire firms at once. Our search shows 7 seaters from firms in the terminal and nearby, with the total price for each. Family-sized cars sell out first, so the earlier you search, the more choice you get.
