Nobody can disagree that renting or having your own car is very common during your holidays in Greece! Either you choose the Greek islands or the mainland, distances between the beaches, the villages, the monuments or the nightlife are usually not easy to be covered on foot or by local bus or taxis. (and there is no tube obviously!)
Continue to read if you :
- don’t like the big distances during your holidays
- just prefer islands discovered on foot
- want to relax without driving
- don’t drive
- don’t want to rent a car
- want to avoid these extra expenses Angel’s tip: The average daily car hire in the Greek islands during summer is 50-60 euros.
- want to avoid the risk of driving in a Greek island that drivers many times are not the best or the roads are not the easiest
Below I have for you 9 islands in Greece you don’t need a means of transportation and you will be great: (and consequently you save money)
- Koufonisia island: in Koufonisia(Ano Koufonisi actually) cars are allowed but for sure are not necessary! All nightlife & most of the restaurants are in the main town and you can use taxi boats for the beaches! Perfect?
- Donousa island: Cars are allowed too in this island of Cyclades island group but there is no gas station fyi! To be honest though, you can easily come here without a car as island is tiny and there is an excellent bus service(+1 taxi)! Access to the main amazing beaches of the island can be made by the one local boat or on foot!
- Symi island: Another small island in the Dodecanese island group that car is not necessary as there are taxi-boats for the beaches and all “life” is mainly in the town/port where I suggest you to stay! Wonderful. You can read more about Symi here.
- Trizonia, a tiny island in the Corinthian gulf, 5 minutes by boat from the mainland on the opposite side (Glyfada village in Phokida) which is 20 minutes drive from Nafpaktos city. And yes, no cars/motorcycles are allowed! Angel’s tip: For sure though you need to figure out how you will reach Glyfada village, local bus (ktel) can help you!
- Spetses island: Not only car is not necessary but it is actually not permitted on the island. Stroll around this small island on foot, by boat, bike, horse carriages or use the few taxis of the island! Spetses is only 2 hrs by ferry from Piraeus port or 5-10 minutes from the mainland opposite! You can learn more about Spetses here.
- Hydra island: A small island only 2 hrs & 40€ by ferry from Piraeus port or by boat from the mainland on the opposite side. Fyi no cars/motorcycles and not even bikes are allowed in Hydra! Read more about Hydra here.
- Chalki: A wonderful small island of the Dodecanese group with a few ferries from Piraeus port directly or from Rhodes island close by! You have access to the beaches either on foot or by boat, how much easier?
- Kastellorizo: The beautiful Greek island very close to the southwestern cast of Turkey and the most easternmost island of Greece!It is quite small, consequently car is not necessary. Most of the attractions are within walking distance.
- Arkoi: An island for peaceful holidays with not much to do! A so small island close to Patmos with 2 settlements, one of which is the picturesque port with the restaurants and cafeterias. Tiganakia beach is 25 minutes on foot and car is for sure redundant.
City trips without the need of a car:
There are some cities in Greece that car is not absolutely necessary since they have tube or/and distances are small and you can go around on foot or use sometimes a taxi. Important condition though: stay in the city center.
You can see below some examples, provided you have found a way to reach there:
-Athens, the Greek capital
-Thessaloniki, the 2nd largest city of Greece
-Volos city
-Trikala city
A few more islands not so difficult if you don’t have a car
Please note that there are many islands in Greece that cars are compulsory to stroll around the villages, the beaches and the hotels! Some examples of big islands are Crete, Naxos, Rhodes, Corfu, Kefalonia, Zakynthos, Samos etc
There are though some other islands that are small and in my opinion it’s good to have a car/scooter to make your holidays much easier and more pleasant but it’s not sooo difficult if you don’t. This is because there are not many villages or beaches or because there are taxis or a good bus service with small distances.
Some examples:
- Agistri
- Aegina
- Poros
- Kimolos
- Folegandros
- Antiparos
- Irakleia
- Schoinousa
- Gaudos
- Leipsoi
- Pserimos
- Paxoi
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IG: angeliki.a_