Greece : What’s The Best Way To Get Around The Country?
July 13, 2009 by Luke Shorey
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In this installment of our guide to holidays in Greece we look at the transportation on offer there…
Consider hiring a car or moped in Greece – all you will need is a passport and an internationally recognized driving license. This is a cost-effective option that will give you the freedom to travel wherever you wish. Prices start at roughly $15 a day for a moped and $40 a day for a car, but be careful to ensure that the price you agree to includes all taxes and insurance. While most roads are in good condition, take extra care driving on the islands or in the countryside as some rural roads can be badly maintained and narrow.
The bus system is very efficient and you can travel anywhere on the Greek mainland on the ‘KTEL’ (intercity) buses. It’s great value for money and lets you travel through parts of Greece that you would otherwise never get to see. The bus system was never created to accommodate tourists though so you might encounter some language problems; if you do, most young people in Greece speak a little English and most would be more than happy to assist you.
Taxis are readily available and reasonably priced, and by law every cab must have a meter. Tipping isn’t customary, but continuing to pick up passengers until the taxi is full is a local custom. So you can flag cab that already has passengers as long as they are going in the same direction that you want to travel. On the islands and in the cities, most – but not all – drivers will speak some English.
To travel to and from the islands, you’ll have to take a ferry or a short flight. Many of the more distant islands have airports and can be flown to from Athens or Thessaloniki – distances within Greece are small, so even the farthest islands are less than an hour’s flight.
Ferries are the best option for islands near the mainland. These boats run regularly throughout the day, but trips may be more leisurely than you expect as the ferries can making stop at several islands before reaching their final destination.
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