Explore Greece

Driving rules

Motorhomes over 3.5 tonnes are limited to 100 km/h on motorways and 80 km/h on rural roads.

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.

Required kit

Vehicles over 3,500 kg

Large motorhomes may be rated Class 3 instead of Class 2 at manned toll booths. Height and axle count both affect the classification, so watch for signs above each lane before committing.

Towing a caravan

Tolls and vignettes

Tolls

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.

Vignette

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.

Supermarkets and shopping

Budget

Mid-range

Premium

Opening hours

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.

Alcohol

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

Local tips

• 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.

Motorhome LPG and gas in Greece

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.

Motorhome electric hook-ups in Greece

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.

Documents you need

Your own vehicle

• Passport
• UK Photocard Driving Licence
• Vehicle Log Book (V5C)
• Insurance Certificate
• Travel Insurance Proof

Rental or hire vehicle

• VE103 Certificate
• Driving Licence Check Code
• International Driving Permit (if you still hold a paper licence)

Travelling with dogs

What to pack

• Dog lead
• Water bowl
• Vaccination records
• AHC

Food import rules

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.

Border and entry

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)

Common questions