We will be in Greece for 15 days in Sept/Oct. Four days in Athens and the rest on an island (we're thinking Santorini). Will we need to rent a car or will public transportation be sufficient?
2007-02-20 02:32:36 · 10 answers · asked by yogazen 4 in Travel ➔ Europe (Continental) ➔ Greece
You won't need a car in Santorini cause it's fairly small. As for Athens, you probably will be better served by using public transportations cause, depending on where you come from, you may find Athens' traffic a bit too confusing. Well, I've already rented a car in Athens and I did drive there but I had lived there previously and I knew what it was like.
2007-02-20 13:49:59 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
AVOID driving at any cost. Get taxis. Greeks do NOT drive. They aim! They are always trying to find a way to pass you REGARDLESS of the situation. Greece has the highest hiway death rate than any other European nation and one of the highest in the world. I do drive there in the summers only when I must. But I carry a stack of Bibles, three Qu'rans and six statues of St. Christopher. Also read the book "Greek Driving and other oxymora and paradoxes" Having said all that, the rates in Santorini are reasonable and you can BARGAIN too. And in Sept/Oct the traffic should not be so bad. The car does give you an independence of movement and you waste little time waiting for the public transport.
2007-02-20 20:57:22 · answer #2 · answered by emiliosailez 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you stay in Athens, you'll be fine with the public transport. If you want to go on excursions, say Delphi or Nafplio etc, you can rent a car, there are many agencies at the beginning of Syngrou avenue, near Syntagma metro station. On the islands there are also car renting agencies, you don't need to take the car from Athens with you, the ferry ticket is rather expensive for a car.
2007-02-21 04:34:46 · answer #3 · answered by cpinatsi 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm from CA, but I live here on Crete. Trust me, driving a car here is like commiting suicide. The stop signs are considered a street decoration, and the law of the road is...there is no law!!!!! Maybe in Sept and Oct most of the tourists will have gone, but for the love of the almighty, don't rent a car in Athens. There is a perfectly good metro system that will take you anywhere, and Santorini is so small you can walk everywhere (there are hourly buses as well as donkeys...no I'm no kidding). On bigger islands like Crete, yes, you will need a car, but get life insurance first!
2007-02-20 02:39:27 · answer #4 · answered by Starjumper the R&S Cow 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I live in Athens and drive daily, so I would not recommend it to you: too much traffic, too hostile driving, plus if you don't know your way you will be making endless circles and you will spend hours trying to find a parking place. So in Athens you will have a much more relaxed time walking and taking the metro.
However, in Santorini in September you'd rather rent a car - there are many places to visit on the island, there will not be so much traffic during that period and the cars' prices will not be so high.
Have fun!
2007-02-23 22:45:53 · answer #5 · answered by yiotadelta 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Personally, I certainly wouldn't attempt to drive in Athens. Absolute nightmare. Greeks are maniacs on the road (no offence!) and the traffic in Athens is unbelievable. They are even stopping cars on alternate days of the week from coming into the main bits because of the pollution that is knackering the Acropolis and other major antiquities.
As for Santorini, look at the link below.
2007-02-20 02:38:10 · answer #6 · answered by emsr2d2 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Oh those other answers are sooooo true...believe me!! I drive all over the US but would never drive in Athens. They even make new lanes on a street if they need to go ahead of 2 other lanes. Its like something you have never seen. My daughter now she rents one every year and has no trouble but she just gets wild with them....for me, I use the buses, taxis, metro or we just plain walk.....Very easy to get around with all they have there without the use of the car in Athens.
2007-02-22 14:10:20 · answer #7 · answered by Gypsygrl 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The public transport in the center of athens is very good,buses,metro,train..if you use car you will have more delay and traffic jam..
2007-02-20 07:44:42 · answer #8 · answered by free3yourmind 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
If you are American you should know there are not that many rental cars in Greece that are automatics.
2007-02-21 12:19:57 · answer #9 · answered by eric c 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'd rent a car !! You'll need this www.idl-international.com & www.holidaycars.com !!
2007-02-20 02:42:13 · answer #10 · answered by MR.Truth !! 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋