Greece

Driving in Greece

Greece is the country where the road network is only half the plan. Many of the best-known destinations are islands reached by vehicle ferry rather than by road, so an itinerary that looks continuous on a map can depend entirely on sailing schedules and on whether a given ferry carries cars. On the mainland, the Athens–Thessaloniki corridor and the roads around Athens are tolled — but not by a single operator. Several regional concessionaires run their own toll stations, so a long drive means paying repeatedly rather than once. Cash and cards are taken, and the various transponders (e-PASS, Fast Pass, Olympia Pass) are interoperable, so one device works across the network. Athens adds its own restriction: the Daktylios, which limits entry to the central ring by number plate on alternating days for certain vehicle categories. Check the current rules before driving into the middle of the city. Headlights are required outside built-up areas at all times. Camera coverage is thinner than in western Europe and enforcement more variable, which is not a reason to treat the 50, 90 and 130 limits as advisory. Parking enforcement in island and coastal towns is inconsistent, but fines do happen.