Tourist information - Greece
Greece (Greek Hellas) is officially known as the Hellenic Republic (Greek Ellinikí Dimokratía) a country in south-eastern Europe. Occupying the southern most part of the Balkan Peninsula and numerous islands many uninhabited. It is bordered on the northwest by Albania, on the north by the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and by Bulgaria, on the northeast by Turkey, on the east by the Aegean Sea, on the south by the Mediterranean Sea, and on the west by the Ionian Sea, about one-fifth of the land mass is composed of islands in the Aegean and Ionian seas. Athens is the capital and largest city.
Climate
The climate of Greece is similar to that of other Mediterranean countries. At the coastline the summers are hot and dry, with clear, cloudless skies, and the winters are generally rainy.
Principal Cities
The largest and most important city is Athens, the capital. Piraeus, seaport of Athens, is the largest port of Greece. Other important cities include Thessaloníki, Pátrai, Iráklion, and Lárisa.
Driving in Greece - some useful information:
VEHICLE REQUIREMENTS
Emergency Triangle
First Aid Kit
Fire Extinguisher
Spare Bulb Kit is recommended
SPECIAL NOTES - DRIVING LICENCE
Foreign national driving licence is acceptable.
Minimum driving age is 18.
Drive on the right, overtake on the left.
Driving licence, passport and vehicle documents should be carried in the car always.
Use dipped headlights in reduced visibility.
Do not use main beam headlights in towns.
In towns the use of the horn is for emergencies only.
Road signs are written in Greek and repeated phonetically in English.
SPEED LIMITS
Car only:
Built-up areas = 50 kph
Major roads outside towns = 110 kph
Motorways = 120 kph
MOTORWAYS
Motorways are known as Ethniki Odos.
Toll charges apply on all motorways and must be paid in cash.
SEAT BELTS
Front = Compulsory
Rear = Compulsory if fitted
Children = Under the age of 10 years not permitted in front seats.
FINES
Fines are payable to the Public Treasury directly not to the police.
DRINKING and DRIVING
Blood / Alcohol limit is 0.025%.
EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS
Police, 100 Athens
Fire Service, 199 Athens
Ambulance, 166 Athens
Unleaded gasoline - amOllivthee venzEEnee - Amolubdh Benzinh
Diesel - petrElleo - Petrelaio
Motor oil - LAthee michaneess - Ladi MhcaniV
A final word, nobody explained most of the rules to the Greek drivers who have the worst accident record in Europe - drive with your eyes wide open!
We offer car hire in the following locations in Greece
Alexandroupoli, Athens International Airport East, Athens West Airport, Athens, Halkidiki, Kalamata Airport, Kalamata, Kavala Airport, Parga, Thessalonica Airport, Thessalonica and many other locations on the Mainland, also hundreds of pick up locations on most of the Greek Islands.