TRANSPORT
CAR & MOTORCYCLE
this causes confusion among
Greeks and tourists alike.» (^) You can board a bus with-
out a ticket and pay on board
but, on a popular route or
during high season, this
may mean that you have to
stand.
» (^) The KTEL buses are safe
and modern, and these days
most are air conditioned – at
least on the major routes.
In more-remote rural areas
they tend to be older and less
comfortable. Buses on less-
frequented routes do not
usually have toilets on board
and stop about every three
hours on long journeys.
» (^) Smoking is prohibited on
all buses in Greece.
Car & Motorcycle
No one who has travelled
on Greece’s roads will be
surprised to hear that the
country’s road fatality rate
is the highest in Europe.
More than 2000 people die
on the roads every year,
with overtaking listed as the
greatest cause of accidents.
Ever-stricter traffi c laws have
had little impact on the toll;
Greek roads remain a good
place to practise your defen-
sive-driving techniques.
Heart-stopping moments
aside, your own car is a great
way to explore off the beaten
track. The road network has
improved enormously in
recent years; many roads
marked as dirt tracks on
older maps have now been
asphalted, particularly in
more remote parts of Epiros
and the Peloponnese. It’s
important to get a good road
map (for more information,
see p 772 ).
There are regular (if
costly) car-ferry services to
almost all islands. For more
information, see p 31.
Practicalities
Automobile Association
Greece’s domestic auto-
mobile association is ELPA
(Elliniki Leschi Aftokinitou kai
Periigiseon; %210 606 8800;
http://www.elpa.gr in Greek; Leoforos
Mesogion 395, Agia Paraskevi,
Athens).
Entry EU-registered ve-
hicles enter free for up to
six months without road
taxes being due. A green
card (international third-
party insurance) is required
along with proof of date of
entry (ferry ticket or your
passport stamp). Non-EU-
registered vehicles may be
logged in your passport.
Driving Licence EU driving
licences are valid in Greece.
Drivers from outside the EU
require International Driving
Permits, which should be
obtained before you leave
home.
Fuel Available widely
throughout the country,
though service stations
may be closed on week-
ends and public holidays.
On the islands, there may
be only one petrol station;
check where it is before you
head out. Self-service and
credit-card pumps are not
INTERNATIONAL FERRY ROUTES
DESTINATION DEPARTURE POINT ARRIVAL POINT DURATION FREQUENCY
Albania Corfu Saranda 25min 1 daily
Italy Patra Ancona 20hr 3 daily
Italy Patra Bari 14½hr 1 daily
Italy Corfu Bari 8hr 1 daily
Italy Kefallonia Bari 14hr 1 daily
Italy Corfu Bari 10hr 1 daily
Italy Igoumenitsa Bari 11½hr 1 daily
Italy Patra Brindisi 15hr 1 daily
Italy Corfu Brindisi 6hr 1 daily
Italy Kefallonia Brindisi 12hr 1 daily
Italy Zakynthos Brindisi 15hr 1 daily
Italy Patra Venice 30hr 12 weekly
Italy Corfu Venice 25hr 12 weekly
Turkey Chios Ċeşme 1½hr 1 daily
Turkey Kos Bodrum 1hr 1 daily
Turkey Lesvos Dikeli 1hr 1 daily
Turkey Rhodes Marmaris 50min 2 daily
Turkey Samos Kuşadası 1½hr 2 daily