| Athens is the capital of Greece and one of the world's | | | | beautiful cities in Greece! Nafplion was once the capital |
| oldest cities, so it's rich in culture, heritage and history. | | | | of Greece and today is one of the major tourist |
| Surrounded by three mountains, Athens is now a | | | | destinations - especially if you're looking for sun, sea |
| sprawling modern city which is dotted with some of | | | | and sand. The city has a beautiful coastal setting, |
| the world's most spectacular historic features and lots | | | | narrow streets and lots of attractions like the Museum |
| of Roman and Byzantine attractions. It has one of the | | | | of Nafplion, the Peloponnese Folklore Foundation and |
| longest histories in the world and has been inhabited | | | | the The Palamidi Fortress - one of the country's |
| for over 3,000 years. | | | | greatest attractions. |
| We recommend you park the car outside the city and | | | | By following the National Road Corinth - Athens you'll |
| use the public transport to get around and see top | | | | end up back in Athens or if you're travelling on to |
| attractions like the Acropolis, the ancient fortified town | | | | Olympia travel along the mountain road from Kalavrite |
| where the Parthenon is to be seen. You could also | | | | or along the coast via Patras and Pyrgos. The historic |
| visit the National Archaeological Museum (the largest | | | | city of Olympia hosted the first Olympic Games. There |
| and most popular museum in the city) and the | | | | is an interesting museum here and also the famous |
| Byzantine Museum. | | | | Temple of Zeus, which was once the home to the |
| Greece Car Hire Tip: In Greece you drive on the right | | | | statue of Zeus, one of the Seven Wonders of the |
| hand side of the road. | | | | Ancient World. |
| Piraeus is the city's main port and is about 11km | | | | Greece Car Hire Tip: It is illegal to use the car horn in |
| southwest of central Athens. It is said to be the | | | | built up areas except in the case of an emergency. |
| biggest port in Europe and the 3rd biggest in the world! | | | | About 180km north of Athens is one of the most |
| From Piraeus you can take your car hire by ferry to | | | | popular archaeological sites in Greece, Delphi. This trip |
| different Greek Islands like Crete, Santorini, Mykonos, | | | | to Delphi comes highly recommended and can be |
| Zakynthos, Rhodes and Paros. | | | | done in a day if staying in Athens. In ancient times, |
| Drive the stunning Apollo Coast, which runs from | | | | Delphi was a very special place, so special it was said, |
| Piraeus to Cape Sounion - about 70km south of | | | | that it was centre of the world and a place where |
| Athens on Route 91. Cape Sounion is where you'll see | | | | heaven met earth! Delphi has long been associated |
| the famous Greek Temple of Poseidon, which was | | | | with the God Apollo and this was where people would |
| built about 444BC about the same time as the | | | | flock to worship him. Explore the famous Oracle and a |
| Parthenon. | | | | collection of temples like the Sanctuary of Appollo, |
| Greece Car Hire Tip: It is illegal to use your mobile | | | | Temple of Pronaia Athena and the Theatre where |
| when driving in Greece. | | | | chariot races were common place. |
| If you head west of Athens on the E94 highway in the | | | | For the ski enthusiast, the slopes of Mount Parnassus |
| direction of Corinth, you'll pass the Corinth Canal which | | | | which are over 8000 feet lie between Athens and |
| separates the Peloponnese Peninsula with mainland | | | | Delphi and from December to April are extremely |
| Greece. As you enter the peninsula you'll pass through | | | | popular for skiing. |
| the ancient city of Corinth, which was founded about | | | | Greece Car Hire Tip: Try to avoid driving in Athens - it |
| 6,000 BC. Here you can see the spectacular Temple | | | | suffers from severe congestion, roads are confusing |
| of Apollo. | | | | and trying to find a parking space is next to impossible! |
| With a car, it's highly recommended that you visit | | | | A drive to the vibrant Greek city of Thessalonika from |
| Mycenae (a UNESCO world heritage site), which can | | | | Athens is quite a pleasant experience, and although the |
| be found 48km south of Corinth. Mycenae was one of | | | | two cities are about 500km apart, they're connected |
| the main centres of civilisation in Greece during the 2nd | | | | by one of the best highways in the country. |
| millennium BC. What you'll see here is the ruins of | | | | Thessalonika is the second largest city in Greece, and |
| palaces on the acropolis and ruined walls which are | | | | like most Greek cities it has its fair share of |
| much older than most of the monuments in Classical | | | | archaeological attractions and ruins. It's a vibrant city so |
| Greece. | | | | if it's good Greek cuisine, fine wines and beers and a |
| Greece Car Hire Tip: Usually the speed limit is 50km/hr | | | | rip roaring nightlife you're after, then this is the place for |
| in built up areas, 110km/hr outside of cities and 120km | | | | you! |
| hr on motorways. | | | | If you're up for a challenge then head for Mount |
| Travel onto Sparta - once known for being a military | | | | Olympus, which is located south of the city on the E45. |
| state with one of the best armies in the Greek world. | | | | It's the highest point in Greece and was believed to be |
| A major attraction in Sparta is the Temple of Artemis | | | | the place where the ancient Gods lived! |
| Orthia - it was here that young Spartan men would | | | | Hope this gives you an idea of what to see when |
| receive brutal public floggings. Or visit the Acropolis and | | | | driving in Greece. Remember you can also hire a car in |
| Ancient Theatre, which was at one time, the largest in | | | | the popular Greek Islands of Corfu, Crete, Rhodes and |
| Greece with a capacity to hold up to 16,000 people. | | | | Mykonos. So for a relaxing and casual look at beautiful |
| Also on the Peloponnese Peninsula you could visit | | | | Greece, get a good map and take to the road. |
| Nafplion and you'll definitely see one of the most | | | | |