If you want to make your stay in Greece more memorable, you’ll need an International Driver’s Permit to simply rent a car, which will make your road trip in Greece and discovering its great sights even more fun. The IDP can also provide you with a flexible schedule, which is great for individuals who prefer to work according to their own timetable. Furthermore, it allows you to visit specific sites that are not accessible by public transit.

Some things to remember:

• Seat belts must be worn at all times by the driver and passengers in the front seat. It’s a requirement.
• You will need to drive on the right side of the road.
• Whether you have a  Greece or driver’s license or another sort of foreign driver’s license, it goes without saying that adhering to speed restrictions is essential for your safety. Remember to drive only inside the speed limit to prevent any run-ins with the cops. In Greece, the speed limit is 50 kilometers per hour in the city, 70-90 kilometers per hour in the countryside, and 120 kilometers per hour on the highway. Spot fines will be issued depending on where you were caught speeding.
• Locals and expats driving in Greece must be 18 years old to drive.
• Children under the age of 12 are not permitted to sit in the front passenger seat adjacent to the driver.
• Every car must have a first-aid kit, a fire extinguisher, and a warning triangle. If you’re hiring a car, double-check that these are included.
• Keep your driver’s license, automobile’s technical passport, and car insurance documents on you at all times. These are the primary items that are required in case you are pulled over by authorities.
• Always keep the rented car documents with you to avoid any inconvenience.
• Vehicles approaching an intersection from the right have the right of way unless otherwise indicated by signs.
• Trams have the right of way at all times and should be passed on the right.
• At marked pedestrian crossings, pedestrians always have the right of way.
• There are lanes, but they can get blurry in some areas, so keep an eye on the car in front of you. At night, there is especially a lack of lane discipline.

Our tips for the day: driving in Greece

No matter where you are going, leaving Athens before a holiday weekend and returning on the Monday following a holiday weekend is a nightmare. This is especially apparent during the Easter and early August vacation periods, when many Athenians go on holiday. Stay in Athens if you can and leave after everyone else has returned.

If you’ve never driven in the mountains before, you might want to practice downshifting and reducing your speed with your gears rather than utilizing your brakes and then not having any when you need to stop.

Weather Extremes:

The climate in Greece is characteristic of the Mediterranean, with mild and rainy winters, rather warm and dry summers, and lengthy periods of sunshine virtually all year.