Rules of the road in Greece - driving features. Road signs limiting speed. Parking in Greece

25. Inexperienced drivers are highly discouraged from traveling on mountain roads. They are very winding and narrow, on some sections of the road only one car can pass. There are no fences and roadsides on mountain roads, if you can’t pass with an oncoming car, then the only way out is to turn back until a place suitable for passing appears.

26. If you need to park on narrow street, then the alarm must be turned on before performing the maneuver. In this way, you can notify the drivers behind you of the upcoming maneuver so that they have time to slow down and wait for the parking to be completed.

27. Given the peculiarities of local roads (narrow and often providing one direction of movement), it is best to steam backwards, this is exactly what the indigenous people do. With such parking, it will be easier to drive back to the highway and merge into the fast flow without any problems.

28. In the evening and at night, police officers are on duty on the roads that pass by popular bars and taverns. Their main target are drunk drivers. If a police officer asks to take a breath test for blood alcohol content, you can not refuse - this will inevitably entail severe punishment.

29. Athens has a rather unusual rule that governs entry into the city center. On even dates, cars with a number ending in an even number can enter the center, and on odd dates, cars with a number ending in an odd number can enter the center.

30. In view of this feature, many local residents who cannot live a day without central region have two cars at their disposal. The above rule does not apply to motorists who live in the center of Athens.

31. On some roads you can see signs that notify the driver that in this place speed can be measured by radar. Most likely, there will be no radar nearby, it’s just that a police patrol often stops in this place, which makes speed measurements.

At any point, you will be offered to take full coverage of the deductible. In case you booked without full coverage - we advise you to take it, this will save you from worrying about the insurance premium during the trip.

During the check-in of a car at a rental office in Greece, find out who to call in case of a breakdown, accident or theft. There you can also take an additional package "Roadside Assistance".

Please check your voucher for fuel conditions before returning your vehicle. If you need to return the car with a full tank, refuel on the way to the rental point.

You can always check our car rental offers in Greece using the search form at the top of the page. We assure you - you will not find cheaper!

33. There is also a fee to travel underwater tunnel Aktio-Preveza. The length of this tunnel is 1570 meters, of which more than 900 meters are underwater. For a passenger car, the fare through the tunnel will be about 3 euros.

34. You will also have to pay for the passage on the Rio-Antirio bridge, the length of this incredibly beautiful bridge is 2880 meters. The fare on the bridge for a passenger car is about 13 euros.

35. In the center of Athens, there is a clearly demarcated area suitable for parking. If there are blue markings on the road, then such parking spaces are intended for local residents. For guests of the area, parking spaces are marked in white, and for special services and privileged cars in yellow.

36. Parking in the center of Athens is subject to a charge weekdays from 9:00 to 21:00, and on Saturdays from 9:00 to 16:00. The parking fee system is also quite interesting. So, for an hour you need to pay about 0.50 euros, for two hours 1 euro, for 2.5 hours 4 euros, and for 3 hours 6 euros. Parking time is limited to three hours.

37. Vehicles equipped with snow chains have a specific speed limit. It is 50 km/h regardless of the type of road.

38. If for experienced drivers the permissible blood alcohol content is 0.5 ‰, then for drivers whose driving experience is less than two years, the limit is 0.2 ‰. This figure cannot be exceeded by motorcycle drivers, the fine for the first violation will be 250 euros.

39. On the roads of Greece in the daytime you can not drive with the dipped beam on. It can only be used in conditions of poor visibility, when it is raining or there is fog.

40. Children under the age of 3 years can only be transported in a car in a special child seat. Children between the ages of 3 and 11 years old, whose height is less than 135 cm, are only allowed to be transported in the back seat of the car. The fine for violating these rules is 80 euros.

41. Unleaded gasoline (95 and 98) as well as diesel fuel are available to drivers at local gas stations. Those who travel long distances should take into account that it is forbidden to transport gasoline in cans in Greece.

42. According to local regulations, in addition to driving license, a technical passport and a green card, the driver must keep a fire extinguisher, an emergency stop sign and a first aid kit in the car.

43. IN winter period the use of studded tires is optional. However, many mountain roads in winter they are completely covered with snow and ice, so you can only drive on them in a car equipped with snow chains.

47. Leaving the car, do not leave any valuables in it. Even if you plan to leave it in a guarded parking lot, you should not lose your vigilance, the probability of losing valuables is still very high.

48. The roads of Crete are considered to be one of the most difficult and dangerous. On the northern coast, the roads are of good quality of coverage, a significant part of the roads has two lanes. The closer to south coast, the narrower and more winding the tracks become, on many sections of the road there are so-called blind bends.

49. For mountainous areas roads are characterized by gravel, they lack any signs and road signs. Before setting off to travel on such routes, it will not be superfluous to get advice from local residents or seek help from tourist agency where you can find all the necessary information.

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1. Despite strict rules and heavy fines, traffic in Greece is quite fast and dangerous. In particular, this applies to large cities, where the situation on the roads is significantly complicated by two-wheeled vehicles.

2. While driving, drivers are advised to look around more often. Even if the moped or motorcycle is not visible in the rearview mirror, it may be in the “blind spot”, so before making a maneuver, you need to make sure that there are no obstructions.

3. IN major cities The layout of the roads is quite complex and provides for a lot of dangerous turns, interchanges, as well as one-way streets. Athens and Thessaloniki are considered the most difficult cities to travel by car, inexperienced drivers should be especially careful here.

4. In many large cities, drivers may feel the lack of familiar road signs. It is extremely rare to see the signs “Give way” and “ the main road”, which also complicates orientation during movement. When approaching an intersection, drivers are advised to always slow down, regardless of whether there is any sign near the intersection or not.

5. You should be more careful at intersections where traffic lights are installed. Do not move immediately after switching green light. The fact is that many local drivers like to "skip" the intersection to the red one that has just turned on.

6. The parking place should be chosen from special attention and take into account that at the center of some major cities No Parking.

7. The maximum speed limit is 50 km/h in urban areas, 80 km/h on country roads and 130 km/h on motorways. It is worth noting that local drivers often violate the speed limit, almost none of the locals will move along the autobahn at a speed of less than 150 km/h.

The subtleties of car rental in Greece

When looking for a convertible, minivan or limousine, we advise you to look at points located at airports, as the choice there is more diverse than in city points.

Upon receipt of the invoice and documents for the car, be sure to compare all the data with your voucher. Employees of points in Greece sometimes try to add optional insurance or services without the knowledge of the client.

It is very important to get the car right. Before sending, carefully inspect the car for all sorts of defects, and make sure that all defects found are scrupulously noted on your rental card. In case of discrepancy - insistently demand correction.

You can always check our car rental offers in Greece using the search form at the top of the page. We assure you - you will not find cheaper!

9. Autobahns in Greece are paid, the fare depends on the specific route and type of car. On average, the driver will have to pay from 2.5 to 6 euros for driving on the autobahn, payment is usually made in cash, so you should stock up on coins and small denomination banknotes in advance.

10. The road connecting Patras and Corinth is also marked on the maps as an autobahn, although in fact it is not. The route Patras - Corinth, passing along the bay, is considered one of the most extreme in the country.

11. The main danger on this road is posed by truckers who make very dangerous overtaking and other maneuvers that even very experienced motorists cannot calmly react to.

12. A significant part of the gas stations located along country roads are open until 19:00. There are 24-hour gas stations in big cities, as well as near large and busy highways connecting large settlements.

13. One of the most serious violations is the passage of a red traffic light. It is subject to a fine of 700 euros, as well as temporary deprivation driving license for a period of 2 months. For serious violations of the rules, the driver may also be temporarily withdrawn technical certificate car and number.

14. While driving, the driver and all passengers in the vehicle must wear seat belts. For violation of the rule, a fine of 350 euros is provided, as well as the withdrawal of a driver's license for 10 days.

15. The most serious violation is driving under the influence of alcohol, the maximum allowable level of alcohol in the blood is 0.5 ppm. At the first detention, the driver faces a fine of 200 to 2000 euros, and at the second detention, the maximum amount of the monetary penalty is provided.

16. If you pay the fine within 10 days from the date of its imposition, you can get a "discount" of 50%. Despite large sizes fines, local drivers don't bother to follow the rules traffic, disciplined tourists often become the culprits of accidents on local roads.

17. Traffic police are not often seen on local roads, especially in coastal region and in the countryside. Policemen on duty on busy highways big cities, but this fact does not bother local violators at all.

18. In general, the local police are rather soft and favorable to motorists from other countries. They can withdraw the rights only for a very serious violation, but this is not at all a reason to follow the example of local drivers and neglect the rules that are insignificant at first glance.

19. There are almost never traffic jams on toll freeways. This is due to the fact that local drivers move along them at a very high speed, a traffic jam is possible only if a serious accident has occurred on the road.

20. The most terrible roads for foreign drivers are local highways. Despite the 80 km/h speed limit, local drivers rarely drive over them at speeds below 120 km/h. As a rule, two-lane roads have long wide shoulders, many cautious drivers prefer to drive along them.

21. If on a two-lane road a car moving behind wants to overtake, then you need to pull over to the side of the road as much as possible and let the hurrying driver pass. You should also move carefully along the side of the road, it can end very unexpectedly due to a ditch, a bridge, or a broken car thrown on it.

22. Local pedestrians also do not differ in diligent observance of traffic rules. They may start crossing the road in the wrong place, not paying any attention to the rapid flow of cars. When approaching a traffic light, one should also not rely on the vigilance of pedestrians, they do not always wait for the desired signal to switch.

23. On the roads you can see quite a lot of unusual memorial structures, which are miniature temples with a candle installed nearby and photographs of people who died in accidents. About 1,500 people die on the roads of Greece every year.

24. Do not speak while driving mobile phone. In the tense situation that prevails on local roads, this is almost impossible, since the driver needs to continuously monitor the rest of the traffic participants.

The length of the Greek public road network is 117,000 km, of which 107,406 km are paved roads. The length of highways is 2,311 km.

Toll roads

In Greece, there is a toll for the use of motorways, depending on the distance traveled. Separate sections of motorways are managed by different management companies.

Payment is due prior to entry. paid section roads.

The amount of tariffs depends on the type of vehicle. Vehicles are classified based on their height and number of axles.

Vehicle classification

Egnatia motorway

The Egnatia motorway is the E90 European route connecting Igoumenitsa in the west of Greece and Alexandroupolis in the east (on the border with Turkey).

There are currently nine toll booths on the Egnatia motorway.

In addition, sections extending from the Egnatia Motorway towards the borders with neighboring states- Albania, Macedonia and Bulgaria.

Aegean motorway

The Aegean motorway is part of the European route E75 connecting Thessaloniki and Lamia.

(Α) = south towards Athens
(C) = North towards Thessaloniki

Rates are for cash payment only.

Moreas motorway

The Moreas motorway is part of the European route E65 and passes through Greek cities Corinthos, Tripoli and Kalamata.

There are currently five toll stations on the motorway, operating in both directions. In addition, there are two toll stations at the exit of the motorway - at Paradisia (at the exit of the motorway towards Athens, and at the entrance to the motorway towards Kalamata) and at Arfara (at the entrance of the motorway towards Athens, and at the exit of the motorway towards towards Kalamata).

Olympia motorway

The Olympia motorway is part of the European route E65. It starts in Athens, passes through Korinthos and ends in Patras.

There are five main toll stations on the motorway (located on the motorway itself) and toll stations at the entrance/exit of the motorway.

Main payment stations:

• Elefsina (26 km) - in both directions
• Isthmos (73 km) - in both directions
• Kiato (94 km) - towards Patras
• Eleonas (160 km) - in both directions
• Rio (205 km) - in the direction of Athens

Highway Pathe

The Pathe motorway is part of the European route E75 and is operated by Nea Odos. It connects Lamia and Athens, and has a length of 172 km.

Ionia motorway

The Ionia Odos motorway is part of the European route E951 and is operated by Nea Odos. It connects Ioannina (Egnatia motorway) and Patras (Rio-Antirion bridge) and is 196 km long.

In addition to the toll stations located on the motorway itself (frontal), there are also stations located at the exit from it (lateral).

Payment at the station, located on the motorway itself (frontal), occurs for the entire section. Payment at the station, located at the exit from the motorway (lateral), occurs for the actual distance travelled.

For the entire section from the Egnatia motorway to the Rio-Antirio bridge for a car, you will have to pay € 12.60 (in autumn 2017 it cost 2 times cheaper).

Attiki motorway

The Attiki motorway is the ring road around Athens. It connects the Athens airport and highways and. The motorway has a length of 65 km.

The toll is paid only once - at the entrance to the motorway, regardless of the distance to be traveled.

Plots with special payment

Payment is also subject to passage through some tunnels and bridges.

Tunnel Aktio-Preveza

The Aktio-Preveza Tunnel provides fast travel between Aitoloakarnania and Southern Greece along the coast. It is the first and so far the only underwater tunnel in Greece. The length of the tunnel is 1,570 m (of which 909 m is underwater) and has 2 lanes in each direction.

Bridge Rio-Antirio

The Rio-Antirion bridge is located at the intersection of two main highways: Athens-Corinth-Patras-Kalamata and Ioannina-Antirio, which connect the most important cities Greece and is part of the European motorway network.

The length of the bridge is 2,880 m. It has 6 lanes. 2 lanes in each direction plus 2 emergency lanes.

In the video below you can see the passage through the bridge Rio - Antirio (you can watch other videos on our channel on YouTube).

Parking in Greece

In the center of Athens since November 2006 has been introduced new system parking control. For permanent residents, parking is marked with blue lines, for visitors - with white lines, and for special situations and professional needs - with yellow lines.

Payment is due on weekdays from 09:00 to 21:00, on Saturdays from 09:00 to 16:00. The maximum parking time is 3 hours and the rate is €0.5 per hour for the first 2 hours. For 2.5 hours - € 4, and for 3 hours - € 6.

Violation of parking rules - € 80, withdrawal of a driver's license for 10 days and a technical passport with numbers for 20 days.

Parking in places designated for drivers with disabilities - € 150, withdrawal of a driver's license for 10 days and a technical passport with numbers for 10 days.

Basic traffic rules in Greece

Speed ​​Limit

Standard speed limits in Greece (unless otherwise indicated on the signs).

• in built-up area - 50 km/h
• outside the settlement - 90 km/h
• on the road - 110 km / h
• on the motorway - 130 km/h

• in built-up area - 50 km/h
• on the road - 90 km / h
• on the motorway - 100 km/h

• in built-up area - 50 km/h
• outside the settlement - 80 km/h
• on the road - 80 km/h
• on the motorway - 90 km/h

For vehicles with snow chains installed, the maximum speed limit is 50 km/h.

Alcohol

Maximum legal blood alcohol level 0.5‰.

If the blood alcohol level is more than 0.5 ‰ and less than 0.8 ‰, then the driver will be fined € 200.

If the blood alcohol level is more than 0.8 ‰ and less than 1.1 ‰, then the driver will be fined € 700 and deprivation of a driver's license for up to 3 months.

If the blood alcohol level exceeds 1.1 ‰, then a fine of € 1,200, deprivation of a driver's license for up to 6 months and possible imprisonment for 2 months. Repeated consumption of alcohol in excess of 1.1 ‰ within two years - a fine of € 2,000, loss of a driver's license for up to 5 years and possible imprisonment for 6 months.

For drivers with less than 2 years of driving experience, as well as for motorcyclists, the allowed blood alcohol level 0.2‰.

If the blood alcohol level of such drivers is more than 0.2 ‰ and less than 0.8 ‰, then the driver will be fined € 200.

dipped beam

The dipped beam is optional when driving during the day and is required when driving at night.

Fog lights can only be used in case of fog, snow or heavy rain, alone or together with low beam.

The fine for violating the rules for the use of dipped beam is € 80.

Transportation of children

Children under 3 years old can travel only when using suitable child restraint systems appropriate to their weight.

Children under 12 years old and less than 135 cm tall are allowed to be transported in the rear seats only with the help of special means (child seats, boosters) that allow them to be fastened with seat belts.

The fine for violating the rules for transporting children is € 350.

Seat belts

Use of seat belts Necessarily for front and rear passengers.

Helmet use Necessarily for the driver and passenger when riding a motorcycle or scooter.

Fine - € 350 and possible deprivation of a driver's license for up to 20 days.

Talking on the phone

Do not use the device while the vehicle is in motion. telephone connection, not equipped with a technical device that allows you to negotiate without using your hands.

Fine - € 100 and possible deprivation of a driver's license for up to 30 days. For a motorcyclist, the fine is €150.

fines

Police officers may impose fines but are not authorized to collect them. The fine must be paid at the bank branch within 10 days.

Traffic rules in Greek (3.6 MB).

Helpful information

Petrol

1.49 1.70 1.35 0.79 as of February 15, 2019

Unleaded gasoline is available in Greece ( 95 and 100 octane) and diesel fuel ( petreleo). Leaded gasoline is not available. The number of gas stations is limited.

Average prices for all types of fuel according to the Ministry of Development, Competitiveness and water transport Greece as of on 15.02.2019

The use of studded tires is permitted if the weather conditions require it.

Anti-skid chains

Snow chains may only be used on roads completely covered in snow or ice. The speed of movement in this case should not exceed 50 km / h.

The police have the right to confiscate license plates of illegally parked cars throughout Greece. This usually only applies to vehicles registered in Greece, but foreign drivers Vehicle should also beware of illegal parking.

Use of radar detectors A device that informs the driver
about the presence of radars controlling it
movement speed. forbidden. Fine - € 2,000, withdrawal of a driver's license for a period of 30 days and withdrawal of a technical passport with numbers for 60 days.

How to go to Greece by car, driving in Greece, features of traffic rules and the cost of gasoline, whether you need to pay tolls on roads in Greece and parking rules. About this and will be discussed In this article.

With the light hand of my autotourist readers, last year I began a series of articles about the features of traveling by car on the roads of Europe and reached the letter "G" - Greece. We have been there more than once and traveled a significant part of mainland Greece, including peninsula of Chalkidiki.

Why go to Greece? There is the best sea and beaches in Europe, tasty food, meteors and a long season from early May to late September.

How to get to Greece by car from Kyiv? We were driving different routes , through Romania and Bulgaria, on the way back they once captured Macedonia and Serbia, and last year traveled around the Balkans .

The roads in Greece are excellent. Both autobahns and local asphalt roads. On the coast, unfinished plots can come across that turn into unpaved ones - the consequences of the crisis. But you can drive on any passenger car, there are few such sections, there are a couple on Sithonia (Chalkidki)- they lead to remote beautiful beaches . The slopes to the beaches can also be unpaved, but passable and of acceptable quality.

Toll roads in Greece

Bad news- in Greece toll roads. Good news– you can easily and quickly drive to Halkidiki through Bulgaria on free roads. Second good news– even if you have to use a paid autobahn, it is not expensive compared to Croatia and a little more expensive than Austria.

The payment method is the same as in Croatia or Italy, France, Spain. You enter a paid section - you pay to the machine or in the window special person. And the machine gives change, they accept only euro cash.

The following motorways are tolled in Greece:

• Road E75 - Aegean Motorway

Tolls are collected at ten toll booths and range from EUR 1.10 to EUR 4.00

• Road M75 - Pathe Nea Odos

There are 8 toll points on this motorway, which are located both on the highway and at the exit from the highway. The fee ranges from 0.65 Euro to 3.30 Euro.

• Road M65 - Moreas Odos

You need to pay for the fare at 7 payment points, the amount of the fee is from 0.70 Euro to 2.50 Euro

• Road M65 - Olympia Odos

7 payment points where you need to pay from 0.90 Euro to 2.50 Euro

• Road E90 - Egnatia Odos

7 payment points where you need to pay from 1.20 Euro to 2.40 Euro

All data are valid for vehicles with a maximum height of 2.70 m.

For example, we paid about 6 Euros for travel from Thessaloniki to the border with Albania, and even less from Thessaloniki to the monasteries of Meteora.

Road sections with special payment

Road Attiki Odos– fare 2.80 Euro

Antirio Bridge (Charilaos Trikoupis Bridge)– fare - 13.20 Euro

Tunnel Aktio - Preveza Tunnel– fare - 3.00 Euro

This is the fare for cars with two axles and a height of no more than 1.30 m in the front axle area. All fall under this category cars, light SUVs and SUVs.

The most beautiful roads in Greece

It is unlikely that I will be objective, everyone has their own way. Absolutely incredible beautiful road at the entrance to Meteora, the city of Kalampaka - there is a freaky serpentine and mountain panoramas.

in themselves meteora there are also beautiful roads and you can drive up to each monastery on asphalt and even park along the roadside or in parking lots without any problems. In summer it is better to get there in the morning, in the afternoon there are many buses with package tourists.

Hotel in Meteora can be picked up on HotelsCombined (RoomGuru) or on Booking.com - many inexpensive comfortable options from 25 Euro per night in a double room.

Another beautiful road runs along east coast Sithonia and Kassandra are the fingers of the Halkidiki peninsula. There is a very beautiful sea and views from a height - you will get tired of making stops.

One of the most extreme and beautiful in Greece the road Patras - Corinth, which runs along the Gulf of Corinth, is considered. This part of the autobahn Athens-Corinth-Patras. Although strictly speaking this is not an autobahn, but simply an incredibly beautiful highway, which is much better than the classic autobahn, and before reaching the city of Patras, it will be on the right beautiful bridge across the bay - Antirrio. The fare on the bridge costs 13.20 Euro.

Refueling and the cost of gasoline

On gas stations in Greece another bad news awaits us - in Greece the most expensive gasoline in Europe, more precisely - one of the most expensive, because there is also Italy. The price of the 95th can vary from 1.5 to 1.7 Euro, depending on the place and part of the country. Try to refuel full tank in Bulgaria - there the price of gasoline is around 1 Euro. In neighboring Albania - 1.3 - 1.4 Euro.

• The average price of A-95 gasoline is 1.55 Euro
• The average price of diesel fuel is 1.31 Euro

Most gas stations along the roads are open until 19:00 pm, there are round-the-clock gas stations in large cities, for example, in Athens and Thessaloniki, or near busy highways between large settlements.

Parking in Greece

Bad news- there are parking lots in large cities, but they are often crowded. Greece is far from Europe in terms of parking, the Greeks park as they want and often - anywhere. But these are locals, they know where it is possible and where it is not. We must not violate, or rather, you can, but I will not advise you to do this. For violation of parking rules in Athens - a fine of 80 Euros. This applies to years like Thessaloniki or Athens. However, there is nothing special to do in them if you came to the sea and even in the summer. In the off-season, finding parking is much easier.

The cost of parking is from 0.5 Euro per hour to 6 Euro for parking for 3 hours. 3 hours is the maximum parking time in cities.

IN center of Athens Parking for locals is marked with blue markings, for visitors to the city - white.

Good news- V resort towns, there are enough parking lots on the coast. We quietly parked near the beaches in August, sometimes we had to look for places, but not often. Near all the beaches in Halkidiki there are free parking. Sometimes they are unpaved, sometimes they are paved and marked with a parking sign. They don't take money for it. They can take money for travel to the beach if it is located on the campsite, the same price includes parking, usually from 3 to 7 Euros. I'm talking again about Halkidiki - "fingers" Sithonia and Cassandra.

Drunk driving and legal blood alcohol

Drunk people are not allowed to drive anywhere.

The maximum allowable alcohol content in the blood of a driver in Greece, as well as in many European countries, is 0.5 ppm. This roughly corresponds to 100 grams of vodka, a glass of wine or a bottle of beer. Higher blood alcohol content (up to 0.8 ppm) entails a fine of 200 Euros.

I don’t paint in detail, because I think that you are not going to risk so much and not only money.

High-speed mode and some features of traffic rules in Greece

IN Greece the standard speed limit for Europe is 50-90-110-130.

It means that,

• In cities, we move no higher than 50 km / h
• Outside cities - no higher than 90 km / h
• On the roads for cars - no higher than 110 km / h
• On highways (autobahns) - no more than 130 km / h

The Greeks drive fast and the driving style is somewhat reminiscent of ours. On autobahns they can fly low at a speed of 150-160 km / h, on the roads in Halkidiki along the sea - the usual speed is around 100 km / h. I advise beginners to move at the permitted speed in the right lane. Sometimes overtaking happens even on blind turns, sometimes even trucks drive. Massively did not notice - isolated cases and in general the movement is calm.

Fine for exceeding the speed limit by 20 km. per hour - 40 euros, more than 20 km / h - from 100 euros to 350 euros.

Dipped beam in Greece is required only at night and in the evening. During the day it is not necessary. However, out of habit, I practice driving with low beams always and everywhere.

Seat belts are mandatory for both front and rear passengers. The rule for transporting children under 12 years old and less than 135 cm tall is the same as in the rest of Europe - in a special chair in the back seat of the car. The fine for violation is 350 Euro.

It is forbidden to talk on the phone while driving without hands-free systems. The fine is 100 Euro.

Winter tires are NOT required in Greece. I think it's clear why.

There is a fine of 700 euros for driving through a red traffic light - this is one of the most serious violations in Greece.

Police on the roads of Greece noticed infrequently, mostly in big cities. There are practically no policemen on the coast.

emergency numbers in Greece

• 112 - Emergency operational service
• 100 - Police
• 166 - Ambulance
• 199- Fire Department
• 171 - tourist police

Mandatory equipment in the car

• first aid kit
• Fire extinguisher
• Warning triangle

Where to rent a car for a trip to Halkidiki

Without a car, we get bored of sitting in one place. To search and rent a car in Greece, we use two sites.

rentalcars.com- an analogue of Booking only for car rental around the world, here, as a rule, there is a choice of international rental offices, a clear and understandable service.

myrentacar.com- an operator that unites local rental offices, it operates in countries such as Georgia, Greece, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Montenegro. They have proven themselves well during our travels in Cyprus, Georgia and Montenegro. Prices are slightly lower than for rental cars, cars are different, there are options without security deposit and of course free cancellation. I recommend this site if you are traveling in Greece, Cyprus, Montenegro or Georgia.

For a painless car booking procedure, it is advisable to have a credit card with a bank limit that covers the amount of the deposit - from 200 to 1000 Euros, which is blocked and returned after the end of the lease. Tested many times - everything works fine.– allows you to save up to 20% when searching budget housing, hotels and apartments as it searches all popular booking sites, including Agoda, Booking.com and others

Booking.com– a familiar and convenient site for searching and booking accommodation around the world

Airbnb– the world leader in finding apartments and apartments for travel, register using the link and get a cash bonus on your first booking

rentalcars– a site for searching and renting cars around the world with the possibility of free cancellation

Going to travel in greece by car, you need to know the rules of traffic on the roads of the country and take into account national characteristics drive by locals.

On the territory of Greece, all highways are divided by a concrete fence or flower lawns into three lanes. All car roads well lit, in all directions you can find gas stations, cafes, as well as pockets for exiting the road.

Motorway toll

Each motorway belongs to certain areas, which are managed by different transport companies. The entrance fee is 1.2-9 euros, depending on the height of the car and the number of axles. Special images suggest which category the transport belongs to. Also, a fee of 13.2 euros is taken for movement on the Rio Antirio bridge, which connects the mainland with the Peloponnese peninsula. However, some, wanting to save money, are transported by ferry, paying only 6.5 euros.

Payment is made at special points where automatic payment kiosks are installed and cashiers work. You can also pay using an electronic pass, which is purchased in advance. There are practically no queues at the checkpoints.

Driving on the free highway

On the territory of Greece there are free roads that stretch along the highway. As a rule, they consist of one strip without dividing marks and their quality leaves much to be desired.

Going on a trip on a free road, you can easily get confused and go astray, as there are no signs along the way. And the lack of high-quality lighting and signs of dangerous turns increases the accident rate on the road. Even local motorists will not tell you how to get on a free road. Therefore it is better to use toll highway and save your nerves than save a few euros and crash your car on bad roads.

More or less free roads are repaired in the area settlements. There is lighting here, on all rises and serpentines the road expands to two lanes, there are signs and fences.

Driving on the roads of Greece

Of the three lanes, Greeks most often choose the second lane, adhering to a speed of up to 100 km per hour. There are practically no motorists on the right lane, and the first lane is occupied by speed riders who move at speeds up to 160 km per hour, despite the restrictions. Meanwhile, in the event of rain or snowfall, motorists reduce their speed to 80 km per hour.

Local motorists love to zigzag and maneuver between cars. Many of them do not strive to comply with the rules of the road and turn around where it is convenient for them. At the same time, drivers rarely use the turn signal, but often honk.

In general, motorists in Greece drive excellently, love fast speed, but do not like serpentines. Therefore, on a straight road, they drive on maximum speeds, and when a turn appears, they sharply reduce speed, often creating an emergency situation.

Traffic police in Greece

Police officers on the roads of Greece are distinguished by strictness and incorruptibility. Most often, the striped wand can be found on the roads of Athens and Thessaloniki. For a small excess of speed, they rarely stop, but non-compliance with other traffic rules entails large waste. The fine for running a red signal is 700 euros, for not wearing a seat belt - 150 euros, for talking on a cell phone while driving - 100 euros.

Do not bribe the police and swear at them because they stopped you. All issues should be resolved with the head in one of the police departments. It is important to remember that the issued fine must be paid within ten days, otherwise the payment amount is automatically doubled.

Parking in Greece

When traveling around the country by car, always leave the car at specially organized parking spaces. For this, parking is organized in the port area on all the islands. Otherwise, the traffic police will issue a receipt with a large fine for parking in the wrong place. Including the police have the right to confiscate license plates if necessary.

Since the roads in Greece are quite narrow, it is safest to park backwards. Thus, it will be more convenient to go to the track and merge into the general flow of cars. Before entering the road from the parking lot, it is necessary to use an emergency signal so that motorists can slow down in time.

Parking in the country is both paid and free. To use paid services, you need to buy a special parking card in advance, erase the arrival time on it and attach the card to the inside of the car windshield.

On the territory of Athens, all parking lots are divided into zones that differ in color. The security services have the right to park in the area marked in yellow, parking for local residents is marked in blue, and parking for guests in white. The cost is from 0.5 to 6 euros, depending on the duration. More than three hours is prohibited in the parking lot.

Car rental in Greece

You can rent a car in Greece for at least one day at the airport, at the railway and bus stations or at any hotel. Vehicles are issued only to drivers over 21 years old, whose experience is at least a year. If the client rents a car for a week or more, he is offered favorable discounts.

The rental service is paid in cash or by credit card. Sometimes as collateral credit card 1000 euros are blocked for the period of using the car, which are returned after the delivery of the rented car. Also, the insurance premium when paying in cash is 350-450 euros.

Athens Marathon: history and modernity

The annual race, which takes place near Athens in the town of Marathon, gathers thousands of athletes and joggers. The event is held in November. It is dedicated to the events of antiquity, when there was a grandiose battle in these places, during which the Athenians defeated a horde of Persians.

Myths of Ancient Greece in modern films

Hellenism

Until about the middle of the 19th century, the term "Hellenism" was used as a designation for the correct use of the Greek language by people for whom this language was not native. Everything changed after the publication of the famous German historian Johann Gustav Droysen "History of Hellenism". Since then, the concept of "Hellenism" has been used as a description of a certain historical period.

Rhodes. Butterfly Valley.

Lost Atlantis

The existence of the legendary Atlantis causes great controversy in the scientific world. However, there is some evidence that speaks in favor of the fact that the greatest civilization of antiquity did exist. Plato once said that Atlantis was destroyed 9000 years ago, that is, in 9500 BC. e. In the 1950s, even special scientists atlantologists appeared, who to this day are trying to figure out this difficult issue.