WANDERLIFE
Drive your adventure in Greece!
Just book your flight, step into the spirit of exploration and let us handle everything else. An enriching, tailor-made self-drive experience awaits you on the mainland of Greece!
- Flexibility on travel dates
- Freedom in your trip schedule and pace
- Customized travel itineraries based on your hobbies, interests and needs
- Daily tips, recommendations and valuable information on attractions, activities and hiking trails
- Accommodation and rental car booked according to your preferences
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Stress-free and time-saving planning as your journey is crafted by local experts exclusively for you
- A self-guided road trip to remember!
EXPLORE DESTINATIONS
An epic road trip across the eastern Peloponnese
8-9 days, April-November
A journey into Greek Mythology – A journey to the land of the Gods
8 days – All year round
A journey through culture and nature
7 days – All year round
Experience the heart of Epirus
6 days – All year round
Explore the mountainous side of Peloponnese
7 days – All year round
Escape to the landscapes and landmarks of Northern Greece
9 days – All year round
The idea behind WANDERLIFE self-drive tours is to inspire travelers from all over the world to discover the most authentic part of Greece -the mainland- in their own way, at their own pace, without wasting time & energy on planning. Let us take care of the details, so you can simply enjoy the journey!
Why choose a self-drive/self-guided tour?
Self-guided tours offer a unique, authentic and enriching way to explore any destination!
Key benefits include:
- Flexibility and Freedom: Explore in your own way, travel at your own pace and spontaneously stop at any sites you like for as long as you like.
- Personalized adventure: Enjoy a customized trip designed around your hobbies, interests and needs.
- Privacy: Share the journey only with your chosen travel companions (friends/family/partner).
- Convenience: Travel comfortably in your own car or a rental vehicle.
- Scenic Routes and Road Trips: Experience epic drives and enchanting landscapes at your leisure.
- Gastro-experience: No pre-booked restaurants & meals, giving you the freedom to savor your favorite Greek flavors!
- Local Interaction: Engage more deeply with local culture, communities and everyday life. Travel like a local!
Plus: Our agency offers comprehensive, customized travel itineraries, valuable tips for attractions, activities and hiking trails, along with suggestions for a self-drive trip you will never forget!
Can I have a customized self-drive trip?
Absolutely! The main benefit of booking a trip with WANDERLIFE Greece is that we fully consider your personal needs, interests and travel preferences when planning your itinerary. You can choose your preferred type of car and accommodation, add activities and sightseeing you love and extend your stay in Athens or other Greek cities for 2–3 days for a rich urban and cultural experience.
You can even combine multiple destinations into one epic road trip! Simply tell us what excites you, and we will craft a tailor-made self-drive itinerary that turns your dream trip into reality.
What are the steps for booking my trip?
- Choose your preferred destination and travel dates.
- Answer a few short questions about your interests and hobbies.
- Get an overview of the trip highlights, attractions, activities and final cost per person based on your preferences.
- Pay a deposit of 30% of the total amount and sign the contract.
- Book your flights.
- Receive a complete, customized travel program/itinerary with key information about all the places, beaches, villages, attractions and interesting spots you will encounter along the way, upon completing the full payment.
6 + 1. Get ready for the ultimate self-guided road trip in Greece!
When is the best time for a road trip in Greece: Spring, Summer, Winter or Autumn?
The answer to this question is all year round! Each season in Greece has its own unique charm, making it an ideal destination for self-guided road trips at any time of the year.
Greece offers an exceptional variety of landscapes and experiences: stunning beaches and seaside villages, endless coastlines, high mountains and traditional villages, important archaeological sites and museums, ski resorts, as well as crystal-clear rivers, waterfalls and lakes. No matter when you travel, a self-drive tour in Greece can be truly unforgettable.
Here are a few key points to help you choose the season that suits you best, before planning your next trip on mainland Greece:
Summer
The summer months -especially from mid-July to the end of August– are the busiest period of the year, as both locals and international visitors travel during this time. As a result, accommodation, car rentals and activities tend to be more expensive, availability might be challenging if you do not plan in advance, and it can be harder to find quiet beaches or peaceful spots. On the positive side, everything is open: cafés, bars, restaurants, shops and beach facilities operate at full capacity, offering numerous options for dining and all-day entertainment. Summer is perfect for enjoying the crystal-clear Greek sea and a wide range of outdoor activities such as snorkeling, kayaking and rafting, but some days can be quite warm with temperatures reaching 35-40 degrees (especially in July). The days are long, allowing you to fit more experiences into each day, and archaeological sites, castles and museums usually remain open until 19:00–20:00.
If you can take some days off in June, September or early July (rather than August), we would highly recommend it, as this allows you to enjoy both the pleasant (and usually not too warm) weather and the destinations themselves. Consider road trips like Eastern Peloponnese, Mani and Pelion-Meteora if swimming is among your top priorities, or Zagori–Ioannina, The mountainous Peloponnese, Delphi–Evrytania and Northern Greece if you would like to experience a different -and often less crowded- side of Greece during the summer.
Spring & Autumn
Spring and autumn are considered ideal seasons for road trips in Greece, especially for travelers seeking authentic moments away from the crowds. The atmosphere is quieter, nature is at its best, and temperatures are perfect for sightseeing, hiking and outdoor exploration.
Swimming is often still possible until late October or early November, although occasional rainfall is expected. Prices are usually lower, but in smaller seaside or mountain villages -particularly on weekdays- some cafés, shops and restaurants may have limited opening hours, and certain activities might be available mainly on weekends or by prior arrangement. Archaeological sites and museums usually close earlier (around 15:00–16:00), and daylight hours are shorter, but this simply encourages earlier starts and more relaxed evenings!
If you are able to visit Greece during Orthodox Easter, you will have the chance to experience the customs and traditions of each place, such as the hot air balloons in Leonidio, the mystagogical Epitaph procession in the castle of Monemvasia or the old town of Nafplio, as well as local festivities in Pelion, Arcadia, Karpenisi and Xanthi.
Winter
Winter in Greece is generally mild, especially in the southern and coastal regions. Due to climate change, weather patterns are less predictable than in the past, but Greece still enjoys plenty of sunshine throughout the year – even in the heart of the winter – allowing you to enjoy sightseeing, epic drives and your favorite outdoor activities!
From January to March, snowfall is common in Northern Greece and at higher altitudes, offering the opportunity to go skiing or snowboarding at more than 20 ski resorts across the country. Mountain villages such as Metsovo, Karpenisi, Vytina, Dimitsana, Tsagkarada, Makrynitsa and Kalavryta are at their best – where landscapes, warm hospitality and local life unfold at a slightly slower pace.
Christmas is always a lively and festive period to visit Greece! Explore our winter road trips in Northern Greece (Kavala, Xanthi, Serres, Lake Kerkini), Epirus (Ioannina, stone villages of Zagori), the mountainous Peloponnese (Kalavryta, Arcadia), Pelion-Meteora-Lake Plastira and Central Greece (Delphi, Arachova, Karpenisi).
There is no single “best” time to visit Greece – it all depends on the experiences you wish to have.
Our travel agency designs tailor-made self-drive itineraries for every season, travel style and interest. We are here to help you create your perfect road trip – for memories that will last a lifetime!
How many days do I need for a road trip in Greece?
No matter how much time you spend in Greece, it often feels like it’s never enough to discover all its cultural and natural beauty. For a self-guided road trip in mainland Greece, we generally recommend at least 6 to 8 days for an enriching and authentic travel experience.
If this is your first time visiting Greece, consider adding 2–3 extra days in Athens to explore key highlights such as the Acropolis and the Parthenon, the picturesque neighborhoods of Plaka and Thissio, as wells as a day trip to Cape Sounio and the Temple of Poseidon.
With two to three weeks of holidays in Greece, you can enjoy slow travel, experience Greek hospitality, cover more regions in one trip and truly immerse yourself in local life. However, even a self-drive trip of 6 or 7 days is still a great introduction – with plenty of reasons to return and continue exploring next time.
Is Greece a good place for solo travel?
Definitely! Greece is generally considered one of the safest countries to travel in Europe and an ideal destination for solo travelers, including solo female travelers. Friendly people, diverse and beautiful landscapes, Greece’s rich history, sunny weather throughout the year and amazing food attract visitors from all over the world. Whether traveling for leisure, business or as a digital nomad, you will never get bored and will feel comfortable wandering through the country from the very first moment.
For an even more relaxed, safe and less crowded experience, consider traveling during the low or shoulder seasons, such as spring, autumn or winter.
What should I know for driving in Greece?
Greece is a relatively safe and easy country for self-driving holidays.
Major highways and main roads are generally well maintained and the road network is well signposted, allowing you to enjoy a relaxed and stress-free drive. Rural roads may be narrower and more winding, with occasional potholes – especially in mountainous areas.
On major highways and national roads, there are tolls, which generally cost between €1.50 and €3.50 per station (for normal cars). Payment is made at each toll station by cash or card. The Rio–Antirrio Bridge, which connects the Peloponnese with Central Greece, is considerably more expensive (around €15). However, you always have the option to take the ferry, which takes approximately 15–20 minutes and costs around €7, offering a pleasant break from driving along with beautiful sea views.
Fuel stations and motorway service areas are available approximately every 50 km, offering refueling, food, rest areas and restroom facilities. In addition, there are several WC and stop points between service areas.
In Athens, as well as in other areas of mainland Greece, speed cameras monitor traffic and other violations, so it is important to respect speed limits.
In winter, there may be snowfall, especially in the northern parts of the country and in high-altitude villages. Main roads are regularly cleared by snowplows, and during the winter season, rental cars are always equipped with snow chains. If you are staying in a mountain village and snowfall is expected, it is advisable to park your vehicle on the main road rather than in narrow side streets. Always follow the instructions of the local authorities in case of snow, including any road closures or detours.
To be eligible to drive any type of vehicle in Greece, you must be at least 18 years old and hold a valid driving license.
Visitors with a valid driving license issued by a European Union country, as well as Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and Liechtenstein, do not need an International Driving Permit (IDP) when renting a car in Greece.
Citizens of Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Central African Republic, Chile, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ecuador, Georgia, Ghana, Guyana, Holy See, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Liberia, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Niger, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Russian Federation, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, South Africa, Tajikistan, Thailand, North Macedonia, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam and Zimbabwe must present a valid card-type national driving license only.
Citizens of all other countries outside the EU are required to hold a driving license that is valid in Greece and the European Union, or an International Driving Permit, which must be presented together with their national driving license.
In Greece, you drive on the right-hand side of the road, and the driver’s seat is on the left-hand side of the vehicle. At roundabouts, vehicles entering usually have the right of way, but always check the priority signs. Driving in the emergency lane is prohibited, and stopping there is allowed only in case of absolute emergency.
Especially in Athens, street parking usually requires payment which can be easily made by the MyAthensPass mobile app, so we recommend downloading it in advance. In smaller towns and villages, parking is usually easy and free.
The Greek mainland is an ideal destination for road trips – hit the road and enjoy every single kilometer!