Best Time for a Greek Road Trip
The best time for a road trip in Greece is in shoulder season. April, May, and June, but also September and October, are ideal for avoiding big crowds and having more comfortable temperatures. In this guide, we focus on a few key road trips in Greece, with a focus on the mainland.
Renting a Car
It’s good to prepare for your Greek road trip by renting a car. Be sure to pre-book before you arrive if it is the high season. You need to be at least 21 years of age and have your license for at least a year. If you are under 25, you may pay slightly more. You will also need an international driver’s license or a valid EU license. Read our full rental car guide here.
A Word on Planning
When you plan your road trip in Greece, it’s good to have a rough itinerary, but to leave room for changes. You might love the destination as much as you thought, or you might prefer to move forward somewhere else. It’s ideal to have flexibility when planning your trip to Greece. In the high season, of course, it is ideal to book accommodation in advance.
But also, it might happen that, given the spontaneous nature of traveling Greece by car, you decide not to book accommodation in advance. This would not be a severe issue in winter, but in the high season, you might have to change the village you stay in because all accommodation is booked.
Peloponnese Road Trip (1 week)
The Peloponnese is the land of Sparta, Kalamata, and many ancient sites with UNESCO Heritage distinctions.
Days 1-2
Start in Athens and wander south to the olive groves and quiet villages of Sparta and Olympia. Here you will see a big contrast to the fast movement of Athens. Make sure to stop at the village of Levidi and head to Nafplio for a taste of greek history and an ice cream on the beach.
Days 3-4
Head to the far reaches of southern Greece and the rocky land of Mystras, which was once a Byzantine capital and is a UNESCO Heritage Site. Once here, you can slow down the pace and stay at a rural town, or you can go west to Costa Navarino. The hotel has art from the Benaki Museum.
Days 5-6
Slowly make your way back to Athens on the beautiful Peloponnesian roads. Stop at ancient Messini and Mycenae further north, 2 impressive historical sights. End your trip back in the Greek capital of Athens.
Ancient Sites (2 weeks)
This trip is for history lovers and covers many UNESCO Heritage Sites in Greece. It starts in Athens.
Days 1-3
Start in Athens and head to the coast town of Athens. It is worth stopping in the coast town of Nafplion and the Theater of Epidaurus. Relax in Nafplion for a day or two and continue to Olympia. There, explore the ancient site of the Olympic Games and see the on-site museum.
Days 4-6
Stay in the modern town of Delphi and visit the Sanctuary of Delphi, visiting as early as possible in the day. Walk along the path to the theater and take in the views of the mountains. In your down time, explore the olive groves in the area of stop off at the beach to cool off.
Days 7-10
From Delphi, drive north to Kalabaka, where you will visit the Meteora monasteries, which are one of of the most popular UNESCO Sites in Greece. One of the best ways to enjoy the monasteries in the area is to hike, exploring the caves and paths that are off the beaten track. You can stay in the nearby towns at the base of the mountains or even in Trikala nearby.
Days 11-14
Finally, drive from Meteora to the city of Thessaloniki. Stop in Pella on the way to see the birthplace of Alexander the Great, see the ancient agora and archaeological museum with its impressive mosaics. Finish your road trip with a few days in Thessaloniki to explore the Byzantine and Roman-era sites.
Athens to Lefkada (2 days)
The island of Lefkada is one of the only islands in Greece that can be visited by bridge. So it makes for a good trip from Athens. It can be done in 1 day, but it takes about 4 hours to drive from Athens to Lefkada, so it is more comfortable to stay overnight.
First, stop in Corinth to admire the Corinth Canal, and drive along the coast road until you reach the impressive Antirio Bridge. It is nice to stop for a meal in Preveza before you reach Lefkada so you can enjoy the fresh seafood and small marina with lovely taverns. The best known dishes of the area feature shrimp.
Once you get to Preveza, make sure to enjoy its best beaches and natural beauty. For a guide on what to do in Preveza, read our full feature on Preveza here.
West Crete (6 days)
Days 1-3
The island of Crete is best explored by car. Start in the city of Chania to see the Ottoman Sites and enjoy the old town and Egyptian lighthouse. The town, market, cathedral, and port are best explored on foot. Make your way to the Lagoon of Balos and stop at the Samaria Gorge for an excursion into Crete’s nature.
Days 4-6
On day 4, take time to relax on the famous pink beach of Elafonissi. Drive to the Akrotiri peninsula and stop at the coastal monasteries. Go for a swim at the Seitan Limani Beach. Finally, visit Kournas Lake on your way to Rethymnon. Go for a nice walk in the city and in the afternoon visit the Arkadi Monastery and Melidoni cave.
What’s Next?
This is by no means a complete list of the road trips you can take in Greece. The beauty of having a car in Greece is that you have flexibility on where and when you travel. You can combine different parts of the trips we outline above, or create a travel plan that is totally your own. Then, you will need to think about the logistics, like renting a car. For more information on how and where to rent a car, read our rental car blog here.
