Driving in Greece - An Introduction

Speed Limits

Speed limits in the Greece are measured in KPH (Kilometres per Hour).

Ensure you check the road signs as speeds can vary greatly.

Toll Information

There are only a few toll roads in Greece, they are called Ethniki Odos and must be paid in cash. The amount to be paid varies.

General Tips and Road Information

Many roads are three lanes wide: the middle lane is used for passing in both directions. If there is little room to pass on the road, fast drivers expect slow drivers to pull onto the shoulder in order to let them by. Greece suffers Europe's worst accident rate in terms of the number of collisions per vehicle and red traffic lights are consistently ignored.

Parking:
You are not supposed to park within 3 metres of a fire hydrant, within 5 metres of an intersection, or within 15 metres of a public transportation stop, though practically no one follows this rule. If you park in a No Parking zone in Athens or certain other areas, the police may remove your licence plates if you owe a traffic fine or fines.

Fuel:
Many stations close at 7pm. Some stations accept credit cards. Lead-free is widely available. Regular unleaded petrol has an octane rating of 91 or 92; the octane rating of super is 96 or 98. Unleaded petrol is called amoliwdi wensina. Unleaded super petrol has an octane rating of 95.

Requirements

Minimum driving age:
The minimum driving age in Greece is 17.

Seatbelts:
Seatbelts are compulsory in the front seats.

Children in the front seat:
The minimum age for a child in the front seat is 10 years old.

Required equipment for your car:
A warning triangle, first aid kit and a fire extinguisher.

Motorcycles:
If you ride a motorbike in Greece you must wear a helmet and obey the lower speed limits as listed above.

Emergency Telephone Number

As with most of Europe you can use 112 to get through to emergency services. This number is multilingual.

The above pointers are by no means exhaustive. Drivers spending any time in Greece should try to familiarise themselves with all the rules of the road, including traffic signals, signposting, road-markings, speed limits etc.

Take care and enjoy the drive!