Motorhome travel
in Greece.

Driving rules, and the ones that bite.

Greece drives on the right. The motorway speed limit is 130 km/h. The emergency number is 112.

0.5 g/l (0.2 for drivers with less than 2 years on their licence or professional drivers)

Driving tips

• Rural Greek roads often have a wide hard shoulder. Slower traffic is expected to use it to let faster traffic overtake. Keep an eye on your mirrors on single-carriageway routes.
• Road surfaces vary widely. Main motorways like the A1 and A2 are excellent, but older national routes and mountain switchbacks can be potholed and narrow.
• Greek drivers can be assertive at junctions. Be firm but predictable, and do not hesitate at roundabouts.
• Signage on motorways is in both Greek and Latin script. On smaller roads it is often Greek only, so a good offline map is worth having.
• Orthodox Easter and August 15 (Assumption) cause the heaviest traffic of the year. Avoid driving into Athens or on the E65 on the evening before either holiday.
• Livestock on roads is common in the Peloponnese and northern Greece. Dawn and dusk are the riskiest times for goats and stray dogs.

The toll system, and the city emissions rules.

Greek motorways are operated by several concessionaires: Egnatia Odos across the north on the A2, Attiki Odos on the Athens ring, Olympia Odos down the west coast, Moreas through the Peloponnese, and Nea Odos covering the A1 central stretches. You pay at each plaza by card or cash; there is no distance-ticket system like France.

Motorhomes are usually charged Class 2, though anything taller or with a third axle can be bumped to Class 3. If you plan a longer trip, a fastpass.gr e-Pass tag pays for itself in time saved at the manned lanes.

Greece does not use a vignette. All toll revenue is collected at the booths.

Low emission zones

Greece does not currently operate a national low-emission-zone scheme. Athens has occasional traffic restrictions based on odd/even number plates during severe pollution episodes, but these are rare and normally exempt foreign vehicles.

Read our complete guide to motorhome tolls and vignettes in Europe, and our guide to low emission zones.

What to carry, and what to bring.

Greece requires a set of kit to be carried in the vehicle. Most of it is cheap and worth having anyway, so pack it before you leave rather than buy it at a roadside price.

• UK Sticker.
• Warning Triangle.
• First Aid Kit.
• Reflective Jacket. Carry 1 per occupant.
• Headlight Converters. Carry 1 set.
• Fire Extinguisher.
• Towing Mirrors.

Documents to bring

For your own vehicle, carry your Passport, UK Photocard Driving Licence, Vehicle Log Book (V5C), Insurance Certificate and Travel Insurance Proof.

For a rental or hire vehicle, you also need your VE103 Certificate, Driving Licence Check Code and International Driving Permit (if you still hold a paper licence).

Gas, electric, and the weekly shop.

Greece has a moderate LPG network of roughly 250 stations, concentrated around Athens, Thessaloniki, and the main motorways. Many use the Dish fitting and some use Euronozzle, so carry a full adapter set. EKO, BP, and Shell are the main brand signs to look for.

Bottle exchange is awkward for visitors. EKO Gas and Shell Gas operate a deposit system that varies region to region, and small village dealers may refuse to exchange a brand they do not normally handle. A refillable underslung tank is by far the easier option for a longer Greek trip.

UK Calor bottles cannot be swapped or exchanged anywhere in Europe. Either carry a 3-piece adapter kit or fit a refillable system before you leave. Read our complete guide to motorhome gas and LPG in Europe.

Electric hook-ups

Most Greek campsites offer 6A to 10A hook-ups. Larger coastal and island sites often have 16A pitches available at extra cost. Older rural sites sometimes have unusual socket types that predate the standard blue CEE connector, so a small adapter kit is worth carrying.

Voltage can sag noticeably on busy island sites in July and August when every pitch has an air-conditioner running. If you rely on a fridge or CPAP machine, a simple plug-in voltage meter will tell you whether to fire up the gas instead.

Read our complete guide to motorhome electric hook-ups in Europe.

Where to shop

Supermarkets here: budget chains are Lidl, Galaxias, Bazaar; mid-range chains are AB Vassilopoulos, Sklavenitis, My Market, Kritikos; premium chains are AB Food Market, Masoutis.

Typical opening hours: mon, wed, sat 08:00-15:00 or 16:00; tue, thu, fri 08:00-21:00; sunday Mostly closed except tourist areas; where to buy Supermarkets.

Greek supermarket hours alternate by day. Rural shops often shut between 12:00 and 17:00 for siesta, so plan your main shop for a long-day afternoon rather than assuming a Sunday top-up will be possible.

Wine, ouzo, and tsipouro are all widely stocked. Local cooperative wines are excellent value and often cheaper than imported brands.

• Village bakeries (fournos) open very early and sell fresh bread, tiropita, and spanakopita until mid-afternoon.
• Fresh produce is cheapest at the weekly laiki agora (street market). Ask at the campsite reception for the local day.
• ATMs sometimes charge a withdrawal fee even on Euro cards. Euronet machines are the worst offenders; stick to bank-branded ATMs where possible.
• Kiosks (periptero) stay open late and stock water, snacks, and phone top-ups long after supermarkets close.

More detail in our guides to gas and LPG and electric hook-ups across Europe.

Taking a dog, and crossing the border.

To take a dog to Greece, the standard pet travel rules apply. The detail below covers what your dog needs.

• AHC required. Yes, issued by your vet within 10 days before entry
• Rabies vaccination. Yes, must be at least 21 days old at the time of travel
• Tapeworm treatment for UK return. Required between 24 hours and 120 hours before you arrive back in the UK, administered by a vet
• Breed restrictions. None nationally, but some campsites refuse certain breeds. Check ahead.

Pack the dog's Dog lead, Water bowl, Vaccination records and AHC.

Greece is in the EU, so the general rule applies: meat, milk, and products containing either cannot be brought in from the UK. The main exceptions are powdered baby milk and medically prescribed pet food.

The Greek ferry network (Blue Star, ANEK, Superfast, Minoan) serves all the main islands. Motorhomes are charged by length, so measure accurately before booking. Popular summer routes from Piraeus, Rafina, and Patras sell out weeks ahead in July and August.

Useful links

• Attiki Odos (Athens ring toll info)
• Fastpass (e-Pass electronic tag)
• Olympia Odos (west coast motorway)
• ELPA (Greek motoring association / breakdown)

See also our complete guides to the Schengen 90-day rule and taking a dog to Europe.

The questions people ask most.