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Traveller’s Guide: FAQ .

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! 

Start your next WANDERLIFE adventure in Greece!

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.

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.

On our website, each destination includes a recommended number of days that we consider ideal for fully exploring it and making the most of your experience. When crafting an itinerary, we count both the first and last days of your trip as full days. For the best experience, we recommend arriving early in the morning on  DAY 1 and departing late in the evening on the final day of your trip.

However, if your flights are scheduled for the middle of the day, you may need to either extend your trip by an extra day or adjust the itinerary by skipping some visits/activities/parts of the trip. Don’t worry – we will tailor the itinerary to fit your schedule. Each trip is fully customizable!

Since each trip is customizable and not pre-organized, we require at least 60 days to carefully craft your itinerary and plan all the details. Booking early increases your chances of finding the ideal accommodation, especially during public holidays and the summer months when demand in Greece significantly increases.

1. Choose your preferred destination and travel dates.

2. Answer a few short questions about your interests and hobbies.

3. Get an overview of the trip highlights, attractions, activities and final cost per person based on your preferences.

4. Pay a deposit of 30% of the total amount and sign the contract.

5. Book your flights.

6. 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!

The schedule provided is just a suggestion from our agency to help you explore and get to know each destination at its best. Our team has travelled around Greece to give you helpful travel tips, hiking trail suggestions and local advice that will make your journey an unforgettable and valuable experience! However, of course you can customize the trip as you like – feel free to skip any activities or visits, spontaneously explore other attractions and sites that catch your eye, or simply relax and enjoy a Greek coffee with a book and a wonderful view of the sea or the mountains. It is important to stick to the schedule only when you need to travel from one destination to another or relocate to a different hotel in another area. Self-drive tours offer maximum flexibility and freedom so you can live the exciting adventure you have imagined!

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 will allow 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!

Of course you can travel in your own car. Our team will arrange the accommodation and prepare a detailed travel itinerary based on your needs and interests. An amazing experience awaits you in the comfort of your own vehicle!

You will be able to pick up your rental car at the airport of Athens or Thessaloniki as soon as you arrive, so you can immediately start your WANDERLIFE adventure!

Every destination offers a variety of attractions and experiences, making them ideal for year-round travel. However, some are more popular in certain seasons, so on our website you will find a suggested travel period for each destination. We carefully consider weather conditions and travel timing when fine-tuning your itinerary, ensuring you enjoy a fantastic and fulfilling experience no matter the season.

Absolutely yes! 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.

For a rich urban and cultural experience, you should definitely wander around the streets of Athens and immerse yourself in the daily life of the locals. The Acropolis and the Parthenon, The Temple of Olympian Zeus, the Temple of Poseidon, the Panathenaic Stadium, Lycabettus Hill, the picturesque district “Anafiotika” in Plaka, the scenic walk in Dionysiou Areopagitou alongside the Acropolis, the National Gallery are just some of the must-see attractions in the capital city of Greece.

If you wish to spend a few days in Athens or other major cities, such as Thessaloniki, we can extend your car rental, recommend hotels based on your preferences and budget, and provide you with useful tips for an experience filled with history, culture and unforgettable memories!

After selecting your preferred destination and submitting the Inquiry Form, you will receive an overview of the trip highlights, attractions, activities, and the final cost per person based on your preferences and interests. To secure availability and pricing, a deposit of 30% of the total amount is required, along with signing the package travel contract within 7 calendar days from the date you receive the offer. The complete, customized travel program and itinerary -including key information about all the places, beaches, villages, attractions, and interesting spots you will encounter along the way– will be sent to you upon completing the full payment, and no later than 20 days before the start date of your trip.

Our recommendation is to book your flights after completing the Booking Inquiry Form and receiving the trip outline & cost per person from our agency. This way, we will be able to advise you about the airport that best serves the destination you have chosen, as well as about the ideal time of landing in Greece and starting your excursion!

However, if you have already booked your flights to and from Greece, before booking the self-drive tour, we will tailor the final travel itinerary to fit your schedule, taking into account your inbound and outbound flight times.

Unfortunately, the weather is something that we cannot predict when planning and finalizing your trip itinerary. There is a possibility that some of the suggested or booked activities will be canceled during your journey because of bad weather conditions (heavy rain or snow, strong winds, extreme heat in the summer etc). Self-drive tours offer maximum flexibility and freedom, so if needed you have the option to switch activities and attractions from one day to another. For guided activities such as rafting, please always check the availability of the service on the new date. If it is not possible to reschedule an activity due to availability or time limits, then unfortunately it will have to be canceled. 

But don’t worry, you will have one more reason to come back to Greece next year! 

The daily driving hours depend on several factors, including the selected destination, the total distance to be covered, road conditions etc. Driving hours per day will normally not exceed 3–4 hours, ensuring a safe, comfortable, and pleasant journey. However, please note that on the first and last day of your trip, you may need to drive up to 5 or 6 hours to reach your destination.

You will receive a detailed itinerary for your trip along with all the necessary & emergency contact numbers (hotel, car rental, activities, medical emergency service etc.). But if you need any further assistance during your stay in Greece, our team will be at your disposal through email, phone or WhatsApp.

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 free 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 need to be at least 18 years old and have 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 (Islamic Republic of), 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 N.Ireland, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Vietnam and Zimbabwe must present ONLY a valid card-type national driving license. 

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.

Further important information:

  • 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.
  • All occupants of the vehicle must wear seat belts when fitted.
  • Children under 10 y.o. may not travel in the front seat. Child seats are mandatory for children up to 4 y.o..
  • The legal blood alcohol limit in Greece is 0.05%. However, for new drivers with less than two years of experience and professional drivers, it is 0.02%.
  • Roundabouts: Typically, vehicles entering have the right of way, but always check the priority signs.
  • Driving in the emergency lane is prohibited for all vehicles. It is intended only for use by emergency vehicles, namely National First Aid Center ambulances, the Fire Brigade and the Traffic Police. Stopping in the emergency lane is only permitted in case of absolute emergency.
  • You are not allowed to park within 3 meters of a fire hydrant, within 5 meters of a junction, or within 15 meters of a public transport stop. If you park in a No Parking zone in Athens or certain other areas, the police may impose a fine or remove the car’s license plates.
  • 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.
  • Restricted Areas: To minimize the traffic in Athens’ city center and other major Greek cities, certain central areas restrict car access. The restrictions are based on whether each car’s license plate ends in an odd or even number, with the odd numbers being allowed to enter the city center on odd-numbered days and the even numbers being allowed to enter on even-numbered days of the month. Fortunately, these restrictions do not apply to rental cars!
  • Unless a specific sign for a speed limit suggests otherwise, these are the legal speed limits when driving in Greece: 
    • Urban areas: 50 km/h
    • Open roads: 90 km/h
    • Motorways: 120 km/h 

 

The Greek mainland is an ideal destination for road trips – hit the road and enjoy every single kilometer!

To make the most of your self-drive journey, it’s important to pack smartly and thoughtfully. Below, you will find a list to guide your packing and help you prepare for anything that comes your way!

  • EU driving license, passport or ID
  • Money: Most restaurants, shops, museums, archaeological sites, and activity centers accept credit cards. However, it’s advisable to always carry some cash, especially when purchasing local products or souvenirs in more remote destinations or small villages.
  • Mobile phone, Chargers, headphones and portable power banks: In Greece, we mainly use type F plugs, so be sure to check if you are going to need an adapter. 
  • Sunglasses, Hat, Suncream, anti-mosquito spray
  • Swimwear, flip flops or hiking sandals, beach towel, beach bag, snorkeling gear
  • Personal hygiene items, such as toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, hand sanitizer, wet wipes
  • Any prescriptions and medications you might need
  • Comfortable clothes for driving and activities, and extra layers for varying weather conditions, comfortable walking shoes
  • Especially for hiking lovers: Smart watch with maps/GPS device, compass, headlamp, waterproof hiking boots, trekking poles, poncho
  • Backpack for single-day adventures and activities
  • Music and Audiobooks for the journey
  • Books, Magazines, or e-books for relaxation
  • Camera or action camera to capture your best moments
  • Umbrella, waterproof jacket 
  • Warm clothes, gloves, scarves, and thermal wear for cold months
  • Trash Bags to leave no trace
  • Dry Bag to keep valuables dry during water activities