There’s a lot more to Greece than island hopping and boat trips. Travelling around Greece by car can be an exhilarating experience that covers ancient sites, beautiful beaches, UNESCO World Heritage Sites and stunning mountains among other things. Depending on how long you have and what you want to see, there are many options you can take if you’re looking at a road trip in Greece. For a 7-day road trip across Greece, we’ve detailed a list of key destinations that you simply cannot miss.
Starting with Athens, let’s dive in and found how to explore Greece’s best sites by car.
Day 1 – Driving in Amazing Athens: What to See
Starting in the Greek capital, a feast of touristic delights makes Athens a simply amazing place to start your week’s road trip in Greece:
- The Acropolis juts out from a rocky crag as it has since ancient Athens. Dedicated to the goddess Athena, it is surrounded by fabulous religious festivals going back to early cults and has played a big part in the city’s history.
- In Plaka, you will find the illustrious Pandora Art Gallery, a must-see for culture vultures in the shadow of the Acropolis. Since 1975 artists have created and reproduced traditional, modern and contemporary Greek art.
- Monastiraki is also set against the dramatic backdrop of the Acropolis with a network of alleys and pedestrianised streets that have a distinctly ancient feel to them. Find souvenirs galore in the official Flea Market or take some time out in one of the charming cafes.
- The Agora is one of the main attractions of ancient Athens, along with the Acropolis. The stoa of Attalos has been reconstructed and is now a museum and you will also find a Byzantine church and the Temple of Hephaestus, one of the best-preserved Ancient Greek temples.
- Take a walk to Mount Lycabettus through the neighborhood of Kolonaki and from there take the funicular which runs every 20 minutes for a 3 minute ride.
Day 2 – Mycenae and Epidaurus
Take a full day to explore Epidaurus and Mycenae for historic sites and natural beauty. Drive along the scenic Saronic Gulf coast, and then explore the ancient ruins of Mycenae on foot, visit the pretty town of Nauplia, and see the stunning ancient theater of Epidaurus.
Day 3 – Nafplio to Monemvasia
Take a trip to the lovely seaside city of Nafplio where you can walk up to Palamidi Castle for spectacular views of the bay. Then drive to Monemvasia, a walled town with hotels replete with period rooms to spend the night inside the walls of a 14th century village.
Day 4 – Mystras
This is justifiably a UNESCO world heritage site, this is one of the most fascinating places you may find in your travels in Greece. It’s a very large rambling site, which easily needs at least a half-day to appreciate and be sure to be prepared for some steep climbs.
Day 5 – Olympia
Visit both the archaeological site and museum of Olympia and the museum of the Olympic games to get a feel for the historic resonance of the place.
Day 6 – Delphi
Another fabulous place for its historic vibrancy with the archaeological site and museum, the Temple of Apollo and the Tholos of Delphi to explore.
Day 7 – Return to Athens
Having ticked off the many chance-of-a-lifetime experiences in your week driving your car in Greece it is time to head back to Athens and get the flight home!
If you’re looking to hire a car with a debit card in Greece to fulfill your dream road trip, take a look at some of the locations where you can hire a car without a credit card through us.
Locations – Greece Car Hire With A Debit Card
We cover all major cities, airports and train stations so we can make car rental more accessible to you all. Car Hire without a credit card is not a myth anymore!
