Driving in Greece

My first time driving in Greece was a baptism of fire. I was asked by the AA to write their Essential Mainland Greece guide, and although I’d been going to Greece at least once a year ever since I was a teenager, I’d never actually driven in the country. I nervously drove out of the old Athens airport, immediately took a wrong turn and found myself headed into the city instead of out to Cape Sounion, where I’d planned to spend the first night. And there was a month of this still to come.

Made It!

Four weeks later, however, I was even able to drive across Athens to return the car to the airport, with several thousand miles on the clock and not even the hint of a dent. Mind you, I was lucky to escape being dented myself when I parked the car one Friday night in Kastoria, not realising I was right where the Saturday morning market was going to be held. I thought it had been easy to find a parking spot! Next morning I only escaped because there was a torrential downpour, and I managed to maneuver the car out from between two stalls before the frustrated stallholders could get to me from their shelter.

Driving in Greece: The Hazards

Markets are one of the hazards they don’t warn you about. You expect to find herds of sheep wandering along mountain roads, you expect to find Greek drivers overtaking you on blind bends like maniacs (though these are very much a minority) and you expect the roads to be in a poor condition when you get into more remote areas. But you don’t expect a big static object like a market to be a problem. But they are. The normal route through a town can be blocked, and of course local drivers know this and avoid the area or make a diversion on market days. No road signs warn the innocent visitor, though, and as happened to me in Volos one day, you can find yourself with nowhere to go but up through the middle of a street full of stalls, with less than a foot to spare on either side, and irate shoppers and sellers staring at you. 

Other Road Hazards
Photo by Donna Dailey

Such experiences are the exception rather than the rule, though, and since then I’ve driven thousands more miles in Greece and the islands, discovering what a wonderful country it is when you’ve got the freedom of the road. From the mountains of northern Greece and of Crete, to the harsh, hot landscape of the Mani in the southern Peloponnese, Greece has enormous variety to offer the visitor. Fewer people think of it for a driving holiday, in the same way they think of going to France, Spain or Italy, say, and as a result the roads are emptier and there’s much more of a feeling of freedom and discovery. 

Driving in Greece: The Best Drives

We've chosen just five of our favourite drives, although we could have picked twice as many and still not run out of ideas. If all you’ve seen of Greece so far has been the quiet islands, the beaches or Athens, then hit the road sometime and discover why for a four-wheel holiday it’s a five-star destination. See the choices on our Best Drives in Greece page.

Driving in Greece: The Practicalities

See our Driving in Greece Practical Information page.


You might like these

  • A Drive around Attica

    This drive around Attica offers visitors high hills, beach resorts, small villages and classical sites like Marathon and the Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion.

  • Athens Car Rental

    Athens car rental options include almost all of the major international car hire firms such as Avis, Budget, Hertz, and Europcar.

  • Athens Airport Car Rental

    Athens Airport car rentals include Alamo/National Car Rental, Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz and Sixt, all with offices at the airport.

  • Travelling Around Greece

    Practical information on travelling around Greece by plane, by ferry, by bus, by train and by driving, including car rental, parking and other driving advice.

  • Scenic Drives in Northern Greece

    Scenic Drives in Northern Greece, Ioannina, Meteora, Kastoria, Prespa Lakes

  • Santorini Car Rental

    Santorini car rental companies include Budget, Hermes, VIP Rent a Car and Euro Dollar, with Santorini car hire at the airport, and around Santorini.

  • Our Hire Car in Crete

    The travel tale Our Hire Car in Crete describes what it’s like when you go driving in Greece and get off the beaten track, resulting in kindnesses.

  • Northern Corfu Drive

    There are two sides to every Greek island, the tourist and the traditional, and this drive from Corfu Town through northern Corfu shows the two faces of Corfu.

  • Driving in Greece Practical Information

    Driving in Greece practical information including speed limits, fines, drink-driving, buying petrol and other advice for driving in Greece.

  • Best Drives in Greece

    The best drives in Greece chosen and driven by Mike Gerrard of Greece Travel Secrets including from Ioannina to Meteora, the Prespa Lakes and the Mani.

Latest Posts

RSS

  1. Stiff Fines in Greece for Covid-19 Carelessness

    Greek authorities have not only tightened measures aimed at restricting the spread of the deadly Covid-19, but are also slapping violators with steep fines for carelessness, Deputy Civil Protection Mi…

    Read More

  2. Negative Covid-19 Test Mandatory for Entry to Greece from Five Countries

    All travelers entering Greece from Sweden, Czech Republic, Belgium, Spain and The Netherlands as of August 17 will be obliged to present a negative molecular test result (PCR) for coronavirus (Covid-1…

    Read More

  3. The Greek 4: New Tourism Campaign Puts Spotlight on Four Aegean Islands

    The Greek Tourism Ministry and the Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO) on Monday announced the launch of a new campaign aimed to promote four islands of the Northeast Aegean: Lesvos, Chios, Sam…

    Read More

  4. Covid-19: Greece Cancels Thessaloniki Fair, Sets Curfew for Bars in Popular Destinations

    The Greek government on Monday decided to impose a series of new measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus (Covid-19), following an alarming surge in confirmed cases. Greece on Sunday saw a recor…

    Read More

  5. Greece Announces Urban Transport Network Upgrade

    More buses, increased frequency, and additional staff are the Greek transport ministry’s top priorities as part of an overhaul in mass transport, Transport Minister Kostas Karamanlis announced recentl…

    Read More

  6. Covid-19: Greece Announces Changes for Travel Through Land Borders

    All travelers entering Greece’s land borders as of August 17 will be obliged to present a negative molecular test result (PCR) for coronavirus (Covid-19) conducted no more than 72 hours prior. The tes…

    Read More

  7. Covid-19: No Standing Customers Allowed in Bars and Clubs in Greece

    The Greek government has extended a ban on standing customers in all bars, clubs, live music venues, bar-restaurants and cafe-bars until August 31. The decision was announced on Friday by the General…

    Read More

  8. Travelers to Greece from Malta Must Have Negative Covid-19 Test

    All travelers entering Greece from an airport of Malta as of Wednesday, August 12, will be obliged to present a negative molecular test result (PCR) for coronavirus (Covid-19) upon arrival, according…

    Read More

  9. Covid-19 Restrictions Imposed on Greek Island of Poros

    Greek health authorities announced emergency restrictions on Friday for the Saronic island of Poros, some two hours outside Athens, after at least 30 people were found to be positive to the coronaviru…

    Read More

  10. US Urges Citizens to ‘Reconsider’ Travel to Greece Due to Covid-19

    The US State Department on Thursday issued a new advisory for Greece urging its citizens to reconsider plans for travel due to increasing cases of Covid-19. The US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is…

    Read More