All you need is a positive attitude, and you'll be good to go. Driving on the islands is good when you become familiar with the narrow streets and the parking rules. At the same time, driving in major cities such as Athens with your rented car is often much more chaotic and, as a result, a bit more difficult.

Driving in Greece in 2026 is a "tale of two environments." On the mainland, modern motorways like the Attiki Odos and Egnatia Odos are world-class, making travel between major cities like Athens and Thessaloniki very easy. However, driving within central Athens is notoriously difficult due to heavy traffic and aggressive local maneuvers. On the Greek Islands, the experience shifts to narrow, winding, and often unpaved roads where you must navigate hairpin turns and occasional livestock. For North Americans, the transition is manageable as Greeks drive on the right side of the road, but a manual transmission is still the standard for many rental fleets. An International Driving Permit (IDP) is mandatory for non-EU license holders. While signage is bilingual (Greek and English), the "assertive" local driving style requires a high degree of defensive driving and constant vigilance.