Getting There By Road
Main roads are designated by blue signs. Traffic drives on the right. The maximum speed limit for cars is 120kph (70mph) on motorways, 110kph (60mph) outside built-up areas and 50kph (31mph) in built-up areas. It is illegal to carry spare petrol (venzeni) in the vehicle. The minimum age for driving is 18 years. Seatbelts must be worn and children under ten must sit in the back seat. Penalties for drinking and driving over the limit are severe – the maximum legal alcohol to blood ratio is 0.05%, above 0.08% is considered a criminal offence.
A national driving licence is acceptable for EU nationals but nationals of other countries may need an International Driving Permit. EU nationals in possession of a Green Card, which provides international third-party insurance, are permitted to import a foreign-registered car, caravan, motorcycle, boat or trailer for a maximum of six months (or up to 15 months for a fee). A Green Card is no longer a legal requirement in Greece for visits of less than three months, however, without it, insurance is limited to the minimum legal cover. Car registration documents must be carried at all times.
The Greek Automobile and Touring Club (ELPA), Messogion 2-4 (tel: 210 779 1615; fax: 210 778 6642), provides members of associated national automobile clubs with 24-hour assistance on main roads.
Emergency breakdown services (toll free):
ELPA 104
Routes to the city: The PATHE (Patra, Athens and Thesaloniki) motorway runs from Patra in the west via Athens to Thessaloniki and Tsoliades on the FYROM (Former-Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia) border. To reach both Istanbul and Sofia, drivers must head north on the E75 to Thessaloniki. From there, Istanbul is east on the E90, crossing the border at Kipi, while Sofia lies northeast on the E79, crossing the border at Promahonas.
Driving times to Athens: From Thessaloniki – 6 hours 45 minutes; from Sofia – 11 hours 30 minutes; from Istanbul – 16 hours 45 minutes.
Coach services: There are two domestic long-distance bus terminals in Athens – terminal A, Kifissou 100, and terminal B, Liossion 260. Buses link Athens and all the main towns in Attica, northern Greece and the Peloponnese. Bus schedule information is avaiable (tel: 210 512 4910; website: www.ktel.org).
Hellenic Railways Organisation – OSE (tel: 210 529 7777; website: www.osenet.gr) runs regular international bus services to Albania, Turkey and Bulgaria, departing from Pelopónnisos train station, Dheliyáni (tel: 210 513 1601).
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