Greece
Drives on the right · EUR · Emergency 112Speed limits
Urban
50 km/h
Rural / outside built-up areas
90 km/h
Motorway
130 km/h
Alcohol limits
General limit
0.5‰
Novice drivers
0.2‰
Mandatory equipment
- •Warning triangle
- •Hi-vis vest
- •First aid kit
- •Fire extinguisher
Winter tires & snow chains
No nationwide mandatory date-based rule; winter tires or chains can be required on specific signed mountain roads (e.g. parts of northern Greece) during winter weather events.
Tolls
System
Toll booths
Several motorways (e.g. around Athens, and the main Athens–Thessaloniki corridor) charge tolls at booths, operated by different regional concessionaires; pay by cash, card, or an electronic tag depending on the road.
More things to know before you drive
Seatbelts
Mandatory front and rear for all occupants.
Mobile phone use
Hands-free only; holding a phone while driving is prohibited.
Child seats
Children under 135 cm must use an approved child restraint suited to their height and weight.
Headlights
Dipped headlights are required outside built-up areas at all times, day and night, and in poor visibility everywhere.
Low-emission & restricted zones
Athens has a restricted-access zone in the historic center (the "Daktylios") limiting entry by licence plate on alternating days for certain vehicle categories; check current rules if driving into central Athens.
Right of way & roundabouts
Priority to the right at unmarked intersections; roundabouts give way to traffic already circulating.
Parking
Paid parking zones are common in cities and tourist areas, typically via meter or ticket machine; enforcement in popular island/coastal towns can be inconsistent but fines do occur.
Speed cameras
Fixed and mobile cameras exist but are less dense than in some other European countries; enforcement is more variable.
Good to know
Many popular Greek destinations are islands reachable by ferry, not by a continuous road route — factor ferry schedules and vehicle-ferry rules into any multi-stop itinerary.