Driving in Greece
💡 Local Driving Tips
- →Road conditions on islands can be very poor — a larger car with higher clearance helps.
- →Athens traffic is chaotic — avoid driving in the city centre if possible.
- →Ferries between islands may charge extra for vehicles — book car ferry spaces in advance.
- →Petrol stations can be sparse on smaller islands — always keep the tank topped up.
- →Pull to the right and stop when emergency vehicles approach. On island roads and narrow streets, this may require pulling fully onto the verge. Emergency services may use the horn repeatedly in urban areas.
🗣️ Key Driving Words in Greek
You may not speak the language, but knowing these words on road signs and at toll booths can save you from confusion — or a fine.
🚦 Speed Limits
Some motorways 110 km/h. Island roads often have lower practical limits.
💳 Toll Roads & Vignettes
Toll booths on major highways. Egnatia Odos (E90) is free. Pay by cash or card.
🪧 Road Signs to Know
While most European road signs follow international standards, these are the signs you are most likely to encounter — and the ones that catch tourists off guard.
Must-Know Signs
Country-Specific Signs
📷 Speed Cameras
Camera Types in Greece
- 📷Fixed cameras on motorways and national roads — density increasing on major routes
- 📷Mobile units operated by Τροχαία (Traffic Police) — common in summer on tourist routes
- 📷Radar guns at police checkpoints — frequent on Crete, Rhodes, and Corfu in summer
- 📷Average speed control sections on the Egnatia Odos and some Attiki Odos sections
From €80 for minor excess up to €3,000 for extreme speeding. Licence confiscation on the spot is possible for serious offences.
Speed enforcement has significantly increased in Greece since 2020. Police checkpoints are common in tourist areas during summer, particularly on holiday island roads. Road markings can be faded on older rural roads — drive conservatively and pay attention to any signage present.
🅿️ Parking Signs & Zones
Understanding parking zones and road markings can save you a fine or a tow. Here is what each colour and sign means in Greece.
Parking Zones Explained
Blue P sign with permitted hours — free parking during those hours. Outside permitted hours, parking may be forbidden or require payment depending on the zone.
Red circle with P and a diagonal line. Times shown below — tow trucks operate in Athens and Thessaloniki. Illegally parked cars at tourist sites may also be towed.
Increasingly common in Athens, Thessaloniki, and larger tourist towns. Pay at machine or via app. In smaller towns and on most islands, street parking is generally free.
Road Line Colours
🗺️ Scenic Routes
- 🛣️ Old National Road Athens-Corinth
- 🛣️ Vikos Gorge Road
- 🛣️ Mani Peninsula Drive