greece

What applies for driving in Greece

Driving in Greece can be both exciting and challenging. Here are some important things to know if you’re planning to drive in Greece:

  1. Driver’s License: You need a valid international driving permit (IDP) along with your national driver’s license to drive in Greece if you are not from a European Union (EU) or European Economic Area (EEA) country. If you are from an EU or EEA country, your national driver’s license is sufficient.

  2. Road Rules: In Greece, drive on the right-hand side of the road. Follow all traffic signs and signals, including speed limits. The general speed limits are 50 km/h in urban areas, 90 km/h on rural roads, and 120 km/h on highways. However, speed limits can vary, so pay attention to the posted signs.

  3. Road Conditions: Greek roads vary in quality, ranging from well-maintained highways to narrow, winding roads in rural areas. Be cautious when driving on smaller roads as they may have potholes, uneven surfaces, or limited visibility. It’s also common to encounter stray animals on rural roads, so stay alert.

  4. Defensive Driving: Greek drivers can be assertive, and the driving style may be more aggressive compared to other countries. Stay focused, maintain a safe distance from other vehicles, and anticipate sudden maneuvers from other drivers.

  5. Parking: In cities and popular tourist areas, finding parking can be challenging. Look for designated parking areas, pay attention to parking signs and regulations, and avoid parking in unauthorized zones to prevent fines or towing.

  6. Traffic and Congestion: Major cities like Athens and Thessaloniki can have heavy traffic, especially during peak hours. Plan your trips accordingly and consider using public transportation or alternative routes to avoid congestion.

  7. Drink Driving: The legal blood alcohol content (BAC) limit in Greece is 0.05%, lower than in many other countries. It’s always best to avoid drinking and driving altogether.

  8. Seat Belts and Child Safety: It is mandatory for all occupants of a vehicle to wear seat belts. Children under the age of 10 must be seated in appropriate child restraints based on their age and size.

  9. Roadside Assistance: Greece has several roadside assistance services available, including the Greek Automobile and Touring Club (ELPA). Consider having a contact number for a reliable service in case of any emergencies or breakdowns.

  10. Toll Roads: Greece has toll roads, mainly on highways. Be prepared to pay tolls in cash or through electronic toll collection systems like the “e-Pass” or “Frequent Traveller” cards.

Remember, these tips are meant to provide a general overview, and it’s always a good idea to familiarize yourself with the specific rules and regulations before driving in any foreign country. Safe travels!

Clarifications on what vehicle someone can drive with a Greek Driving License Category B or A or with a Foreign Driving License was issued by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport in a circular.

“Our Ministry receives many written and oral questions regarding the right to drive vehicles in our country with Greek and foreign driving licenses”, states the circular which explains what applies to driving in Greece, by category of Greek driving license as well as what applies for those with a foreign national license.

Greek license

Among other things, the circular states that the AM driver’s license category can be held by citizens over the age of 16 and it concerns light motorized two-wheeled vehicles, three-wheeled mopeds and light quadricycles.

All of the above can also be driven with Category B Driving License if both conditions are met:

1. possession of category B for more than 6 years,

2. completing the age of 27 years.

Driving category A1 can be obtained by people over the age of 18 and concerns a motorcycle with a maximum displacement of 125 cm3.

Category B, can be obtained by people over 18 or 17 years old with a companion, and refers to a Car with a maximum permissible mass of up to 3,500 kg for the transport of up to 8 passengers, in addition to the driver.

It is allowed to be combined with a trailer, the maximum permissible mass of which does not exceed 750 kg.

The combination of a category B car with a trailer with a maximum permissible mass exceeding 750 kg is also permitted, provided that the maximum permissible mass of this combination does not exceed 3,500 kg.According to the Ministry of Transport regarding the validity of foreign driving licenses in Greece, the following is clarified:

1. Holders of a valid driving license issued by:

a. Member state of the EU, as well as from the states of Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein. In accordance with European legislation, as well as Decision (EU) 2016/1945 of the Commission on the equivalence between driving license categories), licenses issued by the aforementioned states granted for any category are also valid for AM category vehicles (mopeds and light two-wheelers and quadricycles, as defined by Regulation 168/2013/EU).

b. Switzerland and is valid as is on Greek territory for 12 months from the entry of its holder into Greece. After the lapse of 9 months from the entry of the holder in Greece, he/she can request to convert it into a corresponding category of Greek driver’s license, if he/she wishes to drive in Greece even after his/her twelve-month stay in our country.

c. Serbia, Albania and the United Arab Emirates and is valid as is on Greek territory until its holders acquire habitual residence in Greece. After obtaining habitual residence in Greece, its holders, if they wish to drive in Greece, must convert them into Greek ones in accordance with the provisions of the 50984/7947/2013 (Β΄3056).

d. Contracting State to the Vienna Convention (see table below) as long as the holders do not have their normal residence in Greece and the license is in accordance with the “National Driving License” provisions of Law 4266/2014 (Α΄135) .

e. Third country, as long as its holders are members of diplomatic missions and consular authorities, members of International Organizations and Offices of International Organizations in Greece, as well as the family members of the above who already hold a driving license and provided that they are nationals of third countries , except for the member states of the European Union, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and holders of an Identity Card issued by the Directorate of Etiquette of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The valid driver’s license must be accompanied by a certificate from the issuing authority, for the right to drive a vehicle based on the categories they hold, officially translated.

Driving license in Greece with an international license

With the same circular, it is defined that holders of a valid international driver’s license, which has been issued by any state, other than Greece, and who do not have their usual residence in Greece, have the right to drive in Greece with an international driver’s license. In order for the international driver’s license to be valid, it must be accompanied by the holder’s valid national driver’s license.

Recognition of Albanian and Serbian licenses

It should also be noted that Greece has concluded an agreement on the mutual recognition of driving licenses with Albania, Serbia, Switzerland and the United Arab Emirates.

Roads in Greece

The situation of roads all over Greece is slowly improving but the country still has a long way to go before it reaches the excellent driving conditions which you can find in, for example, France or Germany. Currently, Greece has 4 big national highways: the E65.which goes from Patras to Athens, via Corinth, the E75 which goes from Athens to Thessaloniki via Larissa, the Egnatia odos highway which goes from Igoumenitsa (connection port with most ports of Italy like Bari ,Brindisi ,Ancona) to Thessaloniki and further until the borders with Turkey in Evros and the new E65 which takes you from Corinth to Tripolis.

The highways Patras to Athens consists of 2 lanes and a hard shoulder in each direction, with no barrier in the middle of the road to separate the oncoming traffic except some kilometers from Patras to Rio ,outside Aegion and Akrata.

This is the situation for more than 100 kilometers after leaving Patras. It isn’t until you get to Corinth that the road develops into a super modern highway of 3-4 lanes which will then take you to the tolls at Elefsis about 20 km before Athens.

Similarly, the motorway from Athens to Thessaloniki, although a very good road of 500 km has a central barrier for only 200km of it – which is less than half. However, due to the Olympic Games, an excellent ring road was built around Athens and is also the route to the airport.

This is a fast, smooth, uncongested road of 3-4 lanes in each direction and a central reservation at all times. Equally, the highway from Corinth to Tripolis has two lanes and a hard shoulder all the way which extends to three lanes in parts for slow moving lorries. This excellent road has reduced the journey time from Athens to Tripolis to 1 1/2 hours. The distance on this new road being only 60 kms as opposed to 150km from the old road ,the most important development though is the Egnatia odos with more 505 ks ready and 165 under construction.

Because of the lack of lanes for large sections of some highways, Greek drivers tend to use the hard shoulder as a second lane for ‘slower’ driving, which means that there is no emergency lane. Experienced lorry and bus drivers are aware of this and on blind corners will always avoid being in this lane in case someone has stopped there ,thus, caution must be taken.

When it comes to the Greek’s proficiency and skill in driving it is very hard to find anything positive to say. They do not appear to recognise that they are behind the wheel of a potentially lethal machine. Bad driving to look out for is that, generally, there is very little consideration for other road users, be they cyclists, other drivers or pedestrians.

If the Greek driver wants to stop, then they will do just that, often in the middle of the road and having made no signal to alert others that this is their intention ,a common sight in the provinces and islands. Likewise, turning left or right is carried out without signalling and overtaking is from any side which suits them best – if it was possible to go under you or over you they probably would!

Speed limits

Speed limits exist but are rarely adhered to if they can get away with it and the middle of the road is favoured by all!

The speed limit on minor roads is 70km, in built up areas it is 50km and on highways it is between 100-120km. Stick to these and don’t be hassled to join others who exceed it. Seat belts are compulsory, although not often used by the Greeks, but for extra safety make sure you always use them. 

Driving holiday in Greece

Having given you an idea of the typical Greek driver and roads it is still possible to enjoy a driving holiday in Greece. The smaller roads are often empty of lorries and commuter drivers and I would certainly recommend taking these roads if you can.

Your journey will be longer but certainly safer. For example going via the old road from Corinth to Tripolis will take you through the historical cities of Argos, Mycenae and Nafplion. Taking the old road from Patras to Athens will take you all along the coast and through many charming seaside towns and villages as well the old road from Corinth to Athens. 

If you do use the motorway it is probably a good idea to use the hard shoulder as a slow lane . In this way you will avoid the stress of having a car tailing you and flashing their lights to encourage you to join them in dangerously exceeding the speed limit. If you get stuck behind a lorry or bus, better to stay there rather than risk overtaking on highways with no central reservation and drivers with a preference for staying in the middle of the road! 

Staying alert

However, even on the small roads you must probably stay more alert than you would driving in other European countries. Keep a sharp eye on oncoming traffic and cars in front or behind you with the idea that they are probably not aware of your presence.

Always maintain a safe distance between you and the car in front and be vigilant about using your mirrors, bearing in mind that overtaking is not always carried out from the outside lane.

Renting a car

Car hire outfits can be found on all the larger Greek islands. Most firms are clustered around the airport or, if there is no airport, around or near the main port which is usually the main town.

For those on a single island holiday the main question is whether to book online before you go or find a car rental firm after your arrival. There are pros and cons either way.

For those on island hopping tours or who have no particular base then booking as you go along is probably the best option. Ferries are never that reliable for getting you to an island on time as weather conditions can delay sailings. You can waste money by booking car hire ahead and end up with a rental car booked on one island and you stuck on another.

The main advantages of booking online is that you can get the cheaper deals, especially out of season. Also, if things go wrong you can sort any problems out after you arrive home. Dealing with an overseas company can be difficult and time-consuming. Rental cars can also be waiting for you at the airport or delivered to your door so you don’t waste any holiday time trudging around and comparing prices.

But booking on arrival has advantages too. Greeks are much more prepared to haggle over prices so it is possible to pick up some incredibly cheap deals, especially out of season. You can also hire a car for just a couple of days, then maybe a day or two later in the holiday, again cutting overall costs.

Rental cars these days tend to be new, although some Greek car hire firms may still hire out old ‘bangers’. Insist on a recent model and take a good look at the car before signing up. Check the hire car over before getting in and point out any dents or scratches to the car rental firm. Some holidaymakers will take photos of the car before getting in – no problem with a digital camera – so they can’t get accused of causing scratches and dents. Check you have decent insurance cover too or an accident will prove very expensive indeed.

Do not drink and drive. There are police spot checks of hire cars and fines can be very heavy. Also remember that seatbelts are compulsory and children under ten years old must sit in the back of your hire car.

Mopeds and motorbikes in Greece and the Greek islands

Motorbikes are available virtually everywhere and most rent-a-moto outfits like to have the latest models. If you do hire a moped take special care on the potholed roads.

If you head off for the hills take care; sharp bends are not always signposted, animals such as goats will often be found wandering the highway and large snakes basking on the hot tar are not uncommon. Loose grit on the road can also be a problem so you should know how to handle a hire bike in a skid. Your holiday can be ruined by a fall.

Motorbike hire is hugely popular with youngsters on Greek island holidays – but they should be aware of the dangers. Greece ranks worst of the European countries for motorbike road deaths. In the rest of the EU, fatal accidents involving motorbikes make up 17.7% of all road deaths, whereas in Greece the figure is close to 40%, making Greece the most dangerous country in Europe for motorcyclists.

In Greece fatalities stand at 39 motorcyclists for every million citizens. This number is much higher than for Italy, where the ratio is 23 per million, France 17.3 per million, Portugal 17 per million and Spain 14.7 per million .

Helmets are required by law. Locals appear to ignore this rule with impunity but police have a habit of pulling over tourists.

Driving a hire car in Greece and the Greek islands

Greek roads have improved greatly in recent years, mainly as a result of Greece joining the EU. But island highways still leave a lot to be desired.

Potholes and loose gravel are the most dangerous hazards, missing or misleading signposts are as irritating as they are commonplace. Cliff roads are rarely fenced despite the Greek weakness for throwing up wire fencing almost everywhere else. Fallen rocks from cliffs can litter mountain roads and it is not unusual to find herds of goats wandering about or the odd snake taking a siesta on the hot tarmac.

Greek drivers are generally considered maniacs and it’s wise to always give way or allow them to overtake. Greece has the highest accident rate in Europe after Portugal. It is partly the state of the roads but mainly the attitude of Greek drivers.

If you do have an accident and you are in the AA or RAC you can get free roadside help from ELPA – the Greek equivalent. Also note it is an offence to leave the scene of an accident and you can be held by police for questioning for up to 24 hours.

Whatever you do, don’t follow the example of the Greeks themselves. They are some of Europe’s worst drivers as the accident rate shows and they show an outlandish disregard for tourists. If you do decide that you want to drive like a Greek then see the panel right for some useful tips on keeping the wrong side of Greek law.

Taxi fares in Greece

Greek island taxis can be cheap in towns and drivers must use a meter. Fares are controlled nationally but not always observed. Generally taxi drivers are honest and friendly but in tourist hotspots like Faliraki or Laganas this may not be the case. Drivers in Athens for example are notorious for ripping off tourists and other visitors.

On popular islands like Rhodes and Skiathos out-of-town charges can double for no apparent, or legal, reason so take care if you want to go off the main road.

Fares are set by the government but it is always a good idea to agree the price (for the car not for each person) before you set off and if rates are reasonable there’s no reason not to give a generous tip as fares are generally lower than in the UK.

Greek taxi drivers will often pick up other passengers on the way, its normal in Greece and helps drivers make themselves a decent living. Other passengers are not stealing your ride – their pay too and your fare stays the same.

Getting a bus in Greece

Greek buses are cheap and punctual. Check local shops or post offices for timetables which may also be posted up at the odd bus stop.
Beware of travelling during the ‘tourist hours’ of 10am to noon and 4 to 6pm when everyone is heading for the beach or heading back to the hotel. Everyone wants to travel and buses are crammed full – and them some more. Buses can become sweaty pits of almost unbelievable mayhem.

Conductors and drivers are usually very helpful but be prepared for buses to take the odd detour to drop off one of driver’s relatives or to deliver a parcel at a hillside village. Don’t worry, they get you there in the end.

The main Greek bus operator is KTEL. Unfortunately the website pulled all schedules and information about its English language long-distance bus network in Greece after a media company started using KTEL’s free information to launch a paid-for call service. KTEL countered with its own paid-for call service and removed its English language schedules from the web.

Fortunately, some islands and independent web sites have put up schedules to fill the void, notably Crete.

English speakers can get schedules from GNTO offices, Greek speakers can dial local KTEL phone numbers in Greek.

Road maps

For many islands, especially the smaller ones, local maps are works of fiction, bearing little resemblance to the road network. If you do get a map get a Greek one. You may not be able to pronounce the village names but at least the map hieroglyphs may almost resemble the road signs and you might just get a inkling of where you are.

That said, many signs do now have a phonetic English equivalent though they may still point the wrong way or announce you are in a place that does not exist. You will do well to adopt the Greek motto – there is always tomorrow. If in doubt stop at the nearest taverna and order a coffee and ask the waiter for directions. You could just settle for enjoying where you are – at least you won’t feel lost any more.

Driving a taxi in Greece

With the cost of using taxi services in Greece being among the lowest in Europe, the rapid increase in fuel, combined with the accumulated liabilities from the more than ten-year financial crisis, have shrunk the incomes of taxi drivers.

Today, with demand for taxi services soaring by +61% compared to 2019, hundreds of vehicles remain out of service due to high operating costs. This fact results in the suffering of thousands of citizens, who are unable to find a taxi during peak hours.

The NTUA research entitled “Investigation and Evaluation of the Current Situation and Development Policies of the Taxi Market in Athens (2020)” on behalf of Beat / Free Now, presents a series of data, which reflect a grim reality, which underlines the need for State support to professionals in the sector, through the reformation of the institutional framework and the utilization of technology.

Indicatively, according to the results, 67% of Athens taxi drivers work for more than 12 hours a day, doing 20% ​​of their kilometers without a passenger. In fact, 96.3% of the drivers answered that they work six days a week, with 55.3% declaring seven days of work, in order to make ends meet.

This difficult economic reality results in the existing fleet not being significantly renewed, which leads to more air pollution and noise in the city. In practice, in order for a driver to secure a decent income, he has to significantly disrupt his work-life balance.

The main points of the research are reflected in the report “Driving a taxi in Greece (2022)”, while the full text will be sent in the next period to all institutional bodies of urban transport.

Driving a motorcycle

1. Take care of yourself

Most motorcycle and car accidents are due to the driver of the car simply not seeing the bike. Does that sound strange to you? Put your thumb in front of your eye and see how much field of vision it hides, a field of vision where a motorcycle can easily fit. So wear fancy clothes. Even if you wouldn’t dare to wear them elsewhere, at least not outside. And of course it has lights on all the time. And it’s the other thing too. Many car drivers are not used to looking for two-wheelers. Their brains are not used to recognizing them. So don’t be sure that they see you. Finding that leads us to the next one.

2. Drive defensively

There are a bunch of criminal idiots out there who text, post and generally goof around while driving. Learn to anticipate the unexpected. Take it for granted that if the other person isn’t jealous of you moving freely in traffic, they’re just stupid. Watch out for those who change lanes in front of you – especially at night when the light of your two-wheeler does not stand out among those of cars -, taxi drivers who stop anywhere, doors that open, ashtrays that are emptied at the traffic lights… When you are following a car closely, press the his pomegranates, not among them. Why; Because a car can go over an obstacle (pothole, stone, cage), a bicycle cannot.

3 Learn to smell

Not you, around you. A good nose can save you since a lot of what slips already smells – petroleum, oil, tomato juice in summer, must in September, etc. Others that slip are the tram lines where they cross the road, especially when wet, wet leaves, soil or gravel on the asphalt and of course wet roads. In fact, when the first autumn drizzle begins, the asphalt, with the dust of the summer, the combustion residues from evaporation, etc. it becomes a dangerous slide.

Traffic permits and Driving licences

By decision of the Ministry of Finance, the project of the digital transformation of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport was integrated into the Recovery Fund. The project is included in the simplification of the ministry’s procedures and consists of a series of platforms and applications related to traffic permits, driving licenses, vehicle transfers, examinations and other electronic services. The project will be carried out by the Ministry of Digital Governance, more specifically the Technology and Research Foundation. Its cost is estimated at 1.43 million euros. Its completion is set for the last quarter of 2025.

Its purpose is the provision of new electronic services that will be designed and developed by the Institute of Informatics of the Technology and Research Foundation, with the aim of the complete digital transformation and the simplification of procedures of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, such as the issuance of a driver’s license and the transfer of a vehicle.

The project includes the following
Electronic services of existing driving licenses
Replacement driver’s license form
Copy of driver’s license form due to loss-theft
Copy of driver’s license form due to wear
Driving license renewal
Electronic services for the initial issuance of a driving license (category AM, A1, A2, A)
Exam management application
Application of driving schools
Application of control of theoretical and practical courses
Implementation of theoretical and practical exam planning
Electronic vehicle services
Transfer of vehicles
Issuance of a copy of a vehicle registration license due to loss, theft or damage
Issuance of registration license & license plates of a new passenger car or motorcycle
Theoretical examination system
Examinee data entry application
Management application
Examiner application
Application of examinee