Cycling Greece: stunning bicycle routes and tips

Cycling in Greece can be enjoyed in every season, thanks to the temperate climate of the Mediterranean area. From the continental backcountry to its many islands sprinkling Ionian and Aegean seas, bicycle touring in Greece will offer many choices, thanks to its many itineraries. Far from the busiest areas, there are so many secondary roads, panoramic gravel paths, unexpected trails that can conquer even the most skeptical travelers. Then you have some breathtaking itineraries, for the views and for the effort, going over 2000 m of altitude, through National Parks, on the tallest peaks of the entire nation and capable of giving unique emotions to every bicycle tourist. 

Greece is one of the countries of the European Union, and it is located in the southern part of the continent. It's not only the islands, the most known and visited during summer! There are many destinations for outdoor activities, especially for bicycle touring. You'll have plenty of choice: the most classical bicycle touring itineraries, or the adventures up in the mountains or in the less common touristic areas, in order to breathe Greece at its purest. We travelled one month in Greece by bicycle, through the Tzoumerka National Park, the UNESCO World Heritage pillars in Meteora, the island of Alonissos and the Thrace, but there are many possibilities to discover this country on your two wheels.

During our bicycle tour in Greece, we came to know this country, and in this article, I'll try to answer the most common questions about cycling Greece. In particular, the questions I'm going to answer are;

How can I reach Greece carrying my bicycle?

There are many airlines, even lowcost, allowing you to reach Greece with your bicycle, but for a personal experience, I can assure you that lowcost airlines usually ask 60€ per flight only for the bicycle.

A valid and comfortable alternative to reach Greece is the ferry, leaving from the Italian East coast (from Venice, Ancona, Bari, and Brindisi): the trip is for sure longer, but it could be comfortable and less stressful than the plane. It depends on how many days you can withdraw from your Greek bicycle trip.

Which documents will I need in order to cycle in Greece?

Greece is a member state of the European Union, and it is part of the Schengen area. So, if you come from Italy or in general the European Union, you'll only have to show your ID. In order to travel from Greece to other countries, it is required a valid passport with 6 months validity. A European citizen can stay in Greece as long as he/she wants, while an American citizen can only stay for 90 days in a 180 days period, without having to require a visa.

Is it safe cycling in Greece?

The definition of "safe" can vary from areas to areas, in the world. let's say that in general Greece is a safe country, with some buts. For bicycle lovers, it's mandatory to stay away from the main and busiest roads, because they may be very dangerous. Greeks are available and trustworthy: they can be very helpful, even if some don't speak English at all, and show you the right way if you got lost. You have to take into account the massive presence of wild dogs. During our last trip, we met dozens of them, but none was aggressive or dangerous. In any case, be aware.The majority of these pets are scared by the movement of the bicycles, so the best practice (instead of pedalling faster and being chased by them) is going slower and even get off your bike, using it as a shield between you and the dog. During our Greece bicycle trip, we were with our dog Nala, but this hasn't changed our approach with dogs and everything went smooth. In the rare case you meet an aggressive bunch, you can try screaming in their direction and looking them in the eyes (this method worked in Puglia!) or using your water bottle or (extreme solution) a pepper spray. In the bigger cities don't leave your luggage unattended without a lock, while in smaller villages, where everyone knows each other, you are out of any danger. This said Greece is generally pretty safe.

Which is the best period for cycling Greece?

How are the roads in Greece?

In general, cycling in Greece can be done on road bikes, with some precautions. Its gravel roads and MTB trails are well signalled only near the main touristic destinations, while in the other areas you have to be prepared and informed from home.

Bikepacking and cycling in Greece: the cycle routes

Greece is not a very developed country in terms of cycling. The cycle paths in the area are rare, often only towns, and to stay away from the dangerous busy roads you need to follow secondary, mountain or rural roads. However, it has to be said that cycling in Greece can become simpler by following long-established cycle routes that have already been tested, this is the case of the Eurovelo, the long-distance routes of our continent, which in three cases also cross the Greek nation. The Eurovelos were created to allow safe cycling between the various states of our continent and if on the one hand they are not always marked itineraries (so before departure it is necessary to download the GPS tracks), on the other they almost always follow roads safe enough for cyclists. Travelling by bike in Greece you can follow the Eurovelo 13, at the border with Bulgaria, the Eurovelo 8 which follows the Adriatic coast to Athens and the Eurovelo11 which descends from northern Macedonia to cut off mainland Greece and the coast of Aegean Sea to the capital.

MTB routes in Greece

With a purely mountainous territory and numerous forest roads and routes at high altitude, Greece lends itself very well to being visited by MTB. From Epirus to the Peloponnese you can follow many different off-road tracks that allow you to discover the most authentic and hidden nation. The best times to practice MTB in Greece are spring and autumn, mild seasons that allow you to pedal even at high altitude without running too much the risk of encountering snow to hinder the success of the adventure. Find several MTB routes in Greece here and a brochure dedicated to the Prefecture of Crete of Rethymno with various off-road routes to download for free on the official tourism website in Greece.

Which maps should I use to cycle in Greece?

Depending on the itinerary you are planning in Greece, you'll be needing a map more or less detailed. If you only want to be cycling in Greece on a road bike on asphalt road, even if I advise against the main roads, you can look for a 1:300000 map (the Marco Polo one is a good one), while if you want to cycle in Greece with an MTB bike look for a more specific map, on the area you are riding in, with a detail 1:50000 to 1:25000.

In order to ride on asphalt and the main gravel roads or on secondary roads, you can take a look at the free maps by OpenStreetMap, to be downloaded on your GPS device or your smartphone before the trip. We personally use the free digital cartography by openmtbmap even if for this country the OSM development level isn't too high and many secondary and gravel roads aren't present. In this case, you can use Google satellite cartography, for example, to evaluate the travel time or the conditions of a trail or a gravel road.

Is it easy to communicate in Greece?

In Greece the language spoken is Greek, but young people can speak English, so it has become easier and easier to communicate with them. Nonetheless, especially if you are travelling to more rural areas, it's a good practice to learn some phrases. Remember: the Greek language uses the Greek alphabet.

• Kaliméra / Kalispéra (written καλημέρα / καλησπέρα): Good morning / good evening
• Ti kanété? (written Τι κανετε ;): How are you?
• Efkharîsto (written ευχαριστώ ): Thanks
• Parakaló (written Παρακαλω): Please
• Né / óchi (written Ναι / Οχι ): Yes / no
• Eínai to póso (written είναι το πόσο ): How much is it?
• Pó̱s na páte se... ? (written πώς να πάτε σε... ; ): How do I get to...?

On Wikivoyage you can find more phrases and words in Greek. 

In Greece, the road signs are usually written in two languages, with the Greek alphabet (more frequently) and the Latin one.

Which are the most beautiful areas in Greece by bicycle?

Crete and Peloponnese usually attract the majority of bicycle travellers in Greece with their itineraries, but sometimes there are adventurers who cross the country towards the East or the South. Peloponnese includes some of the most known and well preserved archaeological sites in Greece, like Delphi and Old Olympia. Crete is the best compromise between a bicycle tour alternate to some beach relaxation. Continental Greece offers the possibility to cross some national parks like the Mount Olympus one or the Kerkini Lake one, but also to immerse oneself in the antique history in territories like Thrace and Macedonia. And then there are the islands! To visit entire Greece by bicycle takes a lot of time, but on many trips you can discover its many areas, trying also the local flavours and the oldest traditions.

If you prefer the sea, pick a cycling island, like Crete or Rhodes or the Peloponnese ring. If you prefer the mountains, go for Continental Greece, with Mount Olympus, the Calcidic peninsula, the Rhodope Mountains and the peaks of the Tsoumerka! If you love the coast to coast trips, from Igoumenitsa you can follow our itinerary until Volos or cross the Peloponnese, but remember that in Greece mountains can reach 2300 m altitude.

If the main aim of your bicycle trip in Greece is to visit the majority of cities, don't miss Athens with its acropolis and all the mundane life of the capitol, or Thessaloniki, the second city of Greece with its interesting archaeological museum, or Corinth and its famous canal or Larissa with its archaeological site and ruins.

Flora and fauna in Greece

Greek territory is pretty vast and variegated: despite the presence of the mountains, the influence of the Mediterranean Sea has conditioned the presence of many floral and faunal species. The typical vegetation of coastal Greece is the Mediterranean scrub (and the Garrigue), characterized by the presence of olives, aromatic plants like rosemary, broom, bay tree, oak, holm oak... The fauna populating Mediterranean areas of Greece counts boars, porcupines, foxes, badgers and the shy Greek tortoise, many insects and reptiles like the horned viper. Then all the roof of the churches and lights poles are full of stork nests. Some areas in Greece, like Lake Kerkini, are affected by the migration of some birds, like the many pelicans that fly there. 

Is it hard to find water and food in Greece?

Along the cycling itinerary towards the belly of Greece, we didn't have any problems in finding water: this area of the nation is rich in fountains, especially on the mountains where water runs fresh also during summer. In the Peloponnese area, however, there aren't many fountains and sometimes you should consider buying more before facing a long leg of your trip through Greece.

Is it possible and safe to wild camp in Greece?

On touristic roads, you'll find plenty of places to stay, but not so cheap (the less expensive ones cost 25€ to 40€ per room during summer, but you have to be lucky!) Campings don't offer many services and cost from 10€ to 20€ per night per two persons.

Free and wild camping is allowed only in some specific areas, but bivouac from sunset to sunrise is allowed (source: visitgreece.info). A valid alternative is asking private citizens to camp with your tent in their front yard or in their fields near the house like we did.

The typical dishes in Greece use a lot of vegetables, olive oil and aromatic plants. Moussakà, many salads, cheeses (the most known is Feta), fish in the coastal areas and Tzatziki can be found pretty everywhere and are served with Greek bread, Pita, and if you want, with some wine. And before dinner? It's mandatory to taste Ouzo, anise distilled usually served with water and ice.

How much does it cost biking in Greece?

In general, it is an expensive country, always comparing to its neighbours,

How developed is telephone infrastructure technology in Greece?

The mobile network is present and good in the city and on the coast, while on the mountains some operators aren't covered. Travelling with a European number, you can use the roaming for free and depending on your operator's fees, you can use your phone data. The majority of the structures, camping included, offer free Wi-Fi connection, as the local cafes and small shops. If you don't have a proper mobile contract, I suggest buying a local SIM card. The re are three operators: Cosmote, Wind-Telecom and Vodafone; you can evaluate their offers and choose the best option that suits your needs.

What should I bring to cycle in Greece?

Some suggested itineraries for cycling in Greece 

• Continental Greece by bicycle: from Adriatic to Egean sea
• Eurovelo 8 -  The Mediterranean route: the Greek part of this long-distance itinerary begins at the border with Albania and ends in Athens
• Eurovelo 11 - The Eastern route: the Greek part of this long-distance itinerary begins at the border with North Macedonia and continues to Athens cutting continental Greece
• Eurovelo 13 - The iron curtain: the Greek part of this long-distance European itinerary runs at the border with Bulgaria until the Black Sea
• One week bike tour in Greece: a Journey across Greece
• Meteora bike tour loop: a tour around the UNESCO site in Greece