Greece by car. What's with the roads in Greece? Talking on the phone. It means that

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 a driver's license, technical passport and Green Card, the driver is required to keep a fire extinguisher, a warning triangle 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. Mountainous areas are characterized by roads, 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.

Everything a tourist needs to know about car rental in Greece: cost, documents, insurance, traffic rules, toll roads, as well as the main car rental companies in Greece.

Rent a car in Greece and go to an amusing trip on the mainland or fly to Rhodes or Crete and travel around the island up and down in a week - the choice is yours. And we will try to provide you with everything necessary information For comfortable travel. Going on a trip to Greek cities and villages without knowledge of the language, keep in mind that the inscriptions on the signs are duplicated in English only on highways and in cities, and on roads local importance and in Crete it is customary to use only Greek. We do not recommend renting a car to travel around Athens - traffic in the city is chaotic, with parking in the center of the problem, and you can easily get stuck in a traffic jam. For trips to mountainous areas choose a four-wheel drive car, and in cities it is more convenient to drive around and park, having a compact subcompact at your disposal.

In Greek, car rental is ενοικίαση αυτοκινήτων, but you can also refer to the signs "rent a car". IN high season(from mid-June to mid-September) it makes sense to book a car in advance via the Internet, and in low season - on the contrary, negotiate on the spot, demanding a discount. Booking through a hotel or guide provides a guarantee of the reliability of the rental broker, but slightly increases the price. Local distributors have traditionally lower prices than international companies, but the level of support in the event of an accident can be limping.

The approximate cost of renting an economy class car is 30-50 EUR per day, on the islands it is always a little more expensive.

In Greek rental companies, you can often get a car without leaving a deposit either in cash or by freezing funds on the card. You need to return the car with the same amount of gasoline in the tank with which you received it.

Often, contrary to expectations, the prices on the rental company's website differ by one and a half to two times (in a big way) from the prices in their office. Using the intermediary services of a guide, get something in between these two values.

Documents, insurance

To rent a car in Greece you will need driver's license(often our national one is quite suitable, but with an IDP, the choice of rental offices becomes wider). The age of the driver must be at least 21 years old (in some agencies, at least 23 years old and not more than 70 years old), with at least a year of experience. The cost of car rental in Greece usually includes: fire insurance and civil liability. TPC - Theft Protection Coverage (insurance against theft) and different types CASCO: CDW- insurance with deductible; Super CDW - insurance with a deductible, the amount of which decreases with a daily surcharge; FDW - full CASCO (does not include compensation for a perforated wheel, damage to the bottom, broken windshield or rearview mirror). Sometimes an additional payment may be assigned for each kilometer that you drive, and will be taken from you when you return the car - be careful when concluding a contract.

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Fuel and refills

At Greek gas stations, you can fill up with 95th and 98th unleaded gasoline and diesel fuel (petreleo). Leaded gasoline is not sold. It is not allowed to transport gasoline in canisters. On the islands, gasoline is always slightly more expensive than on the mainland, due to the need to transport it by water. Many gas stations close at 19:00, but there is always one round-the-clock gas station per city.

Traffic Laws

Dipped beam during the day is mandatory only in conditions of poor visibility, the rest of the time its use is prohibited. Children under 3 years of age can only travel in special seats, and under 11 years of age they are not allowed to ride in the front seat. Seat belts must be fastened for everyone in the car. Talking on the phone "with the use of hands" is prohibited. An audible signal is allowed to be used only in case of danger of an accident.

Speed ​​limit in Greece. Settlement: 50 km/h. outside locality: 90 km/h. Road: 110 km/h. Motorway: 130 km/h.

Make sure that the car you rented is equipped with everything you need: a warning triangle, a first aid kit, a fire extinguisher. It is prohibited to use and transport radar detectors in Greece.

Greece is the leader among European countries by the number of accidents. Greek drivers are often dismissive of traffic rules. You should not follow their example.

On the streets Greek cities there are specific signs: "Parking is prohibited on this side of the road on odd months" and "Parking is prohibited on this side of the road on even months."

fines

In Greece, traffic police officers do not have the right to collect fines on the spot. The receipt issued by them must be paid at the bank, and in the same region in which the fine was issued. For prompt payment of the fine (up to 10 days) - 50% discount. However, if payment is delayed, the amount of the fine can increase significantly. For a short-term car rental, you can give the receipt (and money, of course) to the rental company along with the car. They will pay the fine themselves.

The permitted blood alcohol content of a driver in Greece is 0.5‰. For drivers with experience less than 2 years - 0.2 ‰.

Some amounts of fines: speeding - from 40 EUR to 350 EUR; incorrect parking - 120 EUR; non-use of seat belts - 350 EUR or even a short-term deprivation of rights; talking on the phone without hands free - 150 EUR or even a short-term deprivation of rights; drunk driving - from 200 EUR to 2000 EUR, possible imprisonment; passing a red light or crossing a double solid line - 1050 EUR; violation of the rules for transporting children - 80-100 EUR; the presence of a radar detector in the car - 2000 EUR.

Toll roads

In full accordance with the famous statement, there are also toll roads in Greece. The fee for each paid section is usually 2.80-4.80 EUR. On the Egnatia motorway, stretching from west to east almost across the entire mainland of Greece, there are 5 payment points, at each of them you will have to leave 2.80 EUR.

Sections with special payment: the underwater tunnel Aktio - Preveza (passage for cars - 3 EUR) and the 3-kilometer bridge Rio - Antirio (passage for cars - 13.20 EUR).

Parking in Greece

Like almost everywhere in Europe, in the center of large Greek cities it is not easy to find a place where you can park for free and not get a ticket for your windshield. Do not try to save money by leaving the car in the wrong place. If you can't find free parking - park your car in paid parking. On the islands and coastal areas of the mainland, each port has large parking lots. True, from there it can be far from the main attractions.

The price of parking is different everywhere. Maybe you will be lucky to leave the car for an unlimited time for 2-3 EUR, and sometimes you have to fork out 2-3.50 EUR per hour. In Thessaloniki, for example, parking costs 3.5 EUR per hour. Best of all, the situation with free parking is in Crete. On Rhodes paid parking only in Rhodes (1.5 EUR per hour) and in Lindos (3 EUR per hour). You can park on the street only if there are white (free) or blue (paid) markings. Parking at the yellow line is prohibited.

The usual practice for Greece is that the first hour is the most expensive, and then it is cheaper. The exception is the new rules for the center of Athens.

Parking on the street in the center of Athens for city guests is only possible if the markings are made with white lines. Yellow lines indicate places for residents of the city. You will have to pay for parking on weekdays from 9 am to 9 pm and on Saturday from 9 am to 4 pm. On Sunday parking is free. You can park for a maximum of 3 hours, cost: 1 hour - 0.50-1 EUR, 2 hours - 2-3 EUR, 3 hours - 4-6 EUR.

The local police have the right to confiscate the license plates of an incorrectly parked vehicle. This also applies to rental cars.

Prices on the page are for October 2018.

Traffic in Greece is more dangerous than in Russia. There are many tourists from different countries, hence the problem of mentality and behavior on the road. Among tourists and locals there are many drivers of mopeds, motorcycles and cyclists who drive quite briskly on the roads and even manage to cut off motorists. Locals can often start crossing the road "on red". Unlike Russian traffic rules, in Greece it is necessary to slow down not only when approaching a pedestrian crossing, but also when approaching an intersection, even if there is no zebra or any road signs.

Car sharing is now popular among tourists on Kos - renting cars. Before doing this, be sure to familiarize yourself with the local rules and, most importantly, the fines. The amount of fines is impressive and motivates you to drive carefully much better than any installations. The most important thing that tourists should know is toll roads and autobahns.

Note! Roads in Greece, both within the city and outside it, have very good coverage. But, in order to avoid traffic jams and for using the road on some highways, you have to pay for travel on the road. On average, it is from 2.5 to 6 euros. It all depends on the length of the rental and the dimensions of the vehicle.

Map of toll and free roads in Greece

TO toll roads in Greece are mainly large highways. There are almost no traffic jams, and most of them are parts of the largest European highways. They have cameras installed.

List:

• Egnatia;
• Aegean;
• Moreas;
• Olympia;
• path;
• Ionia;
• Attiki.

Greek flag

In addition to highways, you will also have to pay for the road in the Aktio - Preveza tunnel and the Rio - Antirio bridge. All of the above are the Greek names for highways and autobahns. They are part of European roads and for Europe as a whole they are called differently. There is no good clear map of toll roads in the guidebook and on maps on the Internet. Their main difference from free ones is paid entry. So that for some there are no "surprises" in the form of payment at the end of the trip, payment is made at the entrance.

How to pay for toll roads in Greece

At the entrance to each toll road there is a special operator who collects a toll from the car for a specific section of the road. The operator is near the barrier.

Note! The toll for the road section is based on the weight of the vehicle and the availability of trailers. By the way, among the toll roads there are practically no ones where payment is made 1 time. As a rule, you need to pay for each separate section. On average, fares for full road- 30 euros per car. It does not depend on the number of people in the car. There are special exits from highways so that drivers can rest, sleep or have a bite to eat. Nothing depends on the amount of time spent on the road.

Some road signs in Greece

Traffic rules of Greece: its features

In Greece, the maximum speed limit for small cars is much higher than in Russia. Therefore, Russian tourists can get lost due to the unusual pace of movement. True, especially good roads speed is not very noticeable.

Of the features - the minimum number of road signs "give way" and " the main road". This makes it difficult to navigate the road, because of this, problems often arise at intersections. On highways, most people prefer to break the rules and move at a speed of at least 150 km / h, and they don’t like to give way to other drivers.

Important! In Greece, only cash is accepted, it is better to stock up on coins with a small denomination.

What is the traffic in Greece - right-hand or left-hand? In Greece, right-hand traffic, and traditionally the steering wheel should be on the left. Rule prevails right hand: Drivers must give way to the vehicle on the right. Especially when a car enters the highway from the right. The country has international rules.

Road signs in Greece

From unfamiliar signs that can be misleading - Crossed out one vertical strip and two. This sign means no parking. If there is one strip, then for odd months, if there are two, then for even months.

Note! There are very few 24-hour gas stations in Greece. 80% work only until 7 pm, on highways far from settlements - a little longer. There are round-the-clock only in settlements, and then, basically, 1.

In Greece, there are signs warning of crosswinds on the left and right. There are also signs for approaching rockfalls and signs prohibiting sound signals, otherwise - honking. In Greece, this is generally unacceptable and is permissible only in extreme situations.

On a note. There is a group of signs indicating the end of a zone. For example, a sign with the termination of a speed limit zone or a ban on overtaking.

Although the fines for violations are high, the traffic police in Greece are loyal and severe punishment in the form of a fine or deprivation of rights is rarely carried out. Basically, this is for very gross violations.

Fines in Greece for traffic violations

As in Russia, by paying a fine quickly, within 10 days of its issuance, you can get a 50% discount and pay only half of the fine. The most frequent fines are for alcohol in the blood and the absence of a child seat. Fines are paid in the area where they were issued. That is, if a fine is issued on the way from one point to another area where a stop is not planned, you will have to immediately go to pay it there or return later.

Fines in Greece

Easy payment via the Internet, as in Russia, is not provided there. In Greece, this is hard, especially for foreign tourists. The fine for driving on a red light is as much as 700 euros*. The highest fine is issued for the use of the anti-radar device - 2000 euros*. And the cheapest fine - for exceeding the speed limit by 20 km - 40 euros *. Perhaps that is why the Greeks neglect the speed limit rules. For clarity, below is a table of fines relevant for 2018. Traffic rules in Crete and Rhodes are due to narrow roads, which also wear out quickly. Also on the islands along the roads in Crete, animals often graze.

Note! Fines may vary in size depending on the season and the specific area. Some signs are in English and Greek.

The advice to motorists is to keep a close eye on cyclists and moped drivers on the roads. They often hide in the blind spot. Accidents on this basis are the most common cause deaths of people aged 21 to 39 in Greece. From other drivers, you should expect all sorts of surprises and turn on turn signals, emergency stops, and so on in advance.

Additional Information. If you move slowly along the highway, many will react aggressively. Frequent overtaking and cutting on the roads will scare even more. So, if you can’t move at a speed above average at all, you can drive along the side of the road. But it can end quite unexpectedly or be blocked by emergency stop cars.

Greece is a country with a busy travel traffic. If you answer the question, what is the movement in Greece, then it is aggressive, fast and, at the same time, calm. The number of accidents there is much higher than in Russia.

*The information provided is current as of 2018.

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 There are toll roads in Greece. 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 Meteora monasteries.

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 passenger cars, light SUVs and SUVs fall under this category.

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- parking in major cities there are, but they are often crowded Greece in terms of parking is far from Europe, 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 lots. 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, mainly 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

Highways in Greece consist of two types: expressways and local roads. Local roads also include roads that run parallel to highways. And the presence of small slow roads near toll roads are a prerequisite for their planning.

Starting from 2004 (mainly funded by European Union) in Greece, high-speed highways are being built at an intensive pace, crossing the entire country along and across. Numerous tunnels are also being built. Such a remark: the Attica-Odosius motorway is considered one of the safest high-speed roads in Europe (and also the most economical). And it cannot be ignored that during the construction of this highway, countless antiquities were discovered and transferred to Greek museums.

In 2009, the Athens-Thessaloniki Autobahn was fully opened to traffic. It is interesting that it was in 2009 that we first arrived in Greece in our car, drove this autobahn and did not even suspect that the track had been opened for a month!

Now in Greece there are several toll roads crossing the country in all major directions. These roads usually have three lanes in each direction. The quality of the road surface is at a very high level. Oncoming traffic lanes are divided so that between them there is most often a lane green spaces sometimes up to 5 meters wide. In general, turning around on the autobahn just does not work. There are special bridges for this, but the distance between them is very large - up to 50 kilometers. Missed - until the next turn will have to go a long time.

On toll freeways, of course, there are filling stations. These are such comfortable areas for cars and people. Almost every such gas station has a large buffet where you can eat a full meal. Be sure to have a toilet, a shop, a bar selling drinks and sandwiches. Often there are showers (cost 2-3 euros), as well as children's playgrounds. The parking lot is big enough. Along the way, there are signs on the highway that indicate the distance to gas stations. The biggest disadvantage of such stations is increased fuel price. It is usually higher by about 40 cents per litre. You can refuel at more inexpensive gas stations, which are located slightly away from the autobahn (there are also signs on the highway with the distance to these gas stations). They are located about 2-3 kilometers from the exit from the main highway, but the road to them is slightly confusing.

For the use of toll highways in Greece, payment is provided depending on the distance traveled.. Since different companies are responsible for servicing different sections of highways, prices can also vary (and they can not always be adequately understood). Payment is due immediately prior to entry. paid sections roads. Further, about every 30-50 kilometers, payment stations are installed. Sometimes there are toll stations at the exit from motorways, sometimes the exit is absolutely free. It is impossible to understand the principles of the location of these stations with the mind.

The fare for toll roads depends on the type of vehicle, its height and the number of axles. From my experience, I can say that for a car at each payment point you have to leave from 1.5 to 2.8 euros. For each such road there is a special fixed fare table, it is impossible to remember it.

There are plots in Greece with special payment.

First, this Aktio-Preveza Tunnel. This is the first underwater Greek tunnel 1.5 kilometers long. Fare car– 3 euros. Other tunnels in Greece do not yet have a separate payment.

It is also paid bridge Rio Antirion, which is located on the section of the Athens - Kalamata highway. The bridge is almost 3 kilometers long.

Basic Rules traffic Greece.

In Greece there are speed limits (for cars):

In the village - 50 km / h

Outside built-up area - 90 km/h

On highway- 110 km/h

On the autobahn - 130 km/h

Road signs are no different from the usual. Only writing in Greek prevails (English is not in favor there). Sometimes it's hard to understand, especially if you're driving without a GPS navigator.

In case of insufficient visibility caused by poor weather conditions(fog, rain, snow) drivers are advised to use low beam headlights. Just like that, it is forbidden to move with the dipped beam on during the day (unlike most European countries).

The prerequisite is the use seat belts for both front and rear passengers. The fine is 80 euros.

While driving prohibited from using a mobile phone.

You can drink while driving, but not much. Maximum allowable alcohol level in the blood 0.5 ppm.

If the level of alcohol in the blood exceeds the norm, then, depending on the degree of intoxication, a fine from 200 to 2000 euros can be imposed with deprivation driving license, as well as a possible prison sentence of up to 6 months.

Police officers can only impose fines i.e. issue receipts. They do not have the right to take funds. The fine must be paid at the bank branch within 10 days. What will happen if it is not paid is unknown. For example, we were issued a fine for improper parking (82 euros), we did not pay it, and quite calmly left the territory of Greece. After that, they received visas and entered the territory of the countries of the European Union without any problems.

In general, fines for traffic violations in Greece are very high!

Gasoline in Greece is of very high quality, and only unleaded. What is very interesting is that there is no characteristic smell we are used to at Greek gas stations. If your car has gas equipment, please note that the number of gas stations on Greek roads is limited.

parking in Greece is very difficult to understand.

For example, in Volos there is a large free parking on the outskirts of the city, but from there it is very far to go to the center. In the city itself there are many places for parking along the curb, and for free. But it is somehow strangely organized there: on one side of the road only on even days, on the other side - on odd days. Usually all these places are already occupied by locals, and given the complexity of the traffic (almost all streets have one-way traffic), you have to look for a long time parking space. Ensures proper parking a large number of policemen. In particular, we parked in right place, but with one wheel they stood on the curb - under the “wipers” on the windshield they found “hello” for 82 euros ...

We also learned that the police have the right to confiscate license plates of illegally parked cars throughout Greece. Although this only applies to vehicles with Greek license plates, but drivers of foreign cars still need to beware of improper parking in order to avoid misunderstandings.

In the center of Athens now operates new system parking control. For residents of the city, the parking lot is marked with blue lines. For guests of Athens (including Greeks), the markings are marked with white lines. For special situations and various professional needs - yellow lines.

Payment is made at special parking meters. Payment should be made on weekdays from 09:00 to 21:00, on Saturdays from 09:00 to 16:00. The maximum parking time is 3 hours. The rate is EUR 0.5/hour for the first 2 hours, EUR 4 for 2.5 hours and EUR 6 for 3 hours.

And finally, I note that the drivers in Greece are mostly cultural, they do not violate the rules (still with such fines). On the roads, non-aggressive. But you should be careful: in the event of an accident, the police will be on the side of the Greek driver, and you will be guilty. From my practice, I note that all cars that violate traffic rules and "cut off" have Russian numbers ...