Everything you need to know before your Greece tour: entry rules, the best travel season for mainland and islands, ferries, passes and packing list, from a rider's perspective.
Visa, entry, season or route – in the live chat we usually reply within 3 minutes.
Updated: August 2026
Entry
Greece is an EU and Schengen member: for most travellers, entry is a pure formality.
EU / EEA / Switzerland (ID card)
Non-EU, visa-free (e.g. UK, USA, Canada)
Transit through non-Schengen Balkan states
| Visa type | Stay | Cost | Where to apply | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EU / EEA / Switzerland (ID card) | Unlimited (EU freedom of movement) | none | No application needed, no border checks at internal Schengen borders | Valid ID card or passport |
| Non-EU, visa-free (e.g. UK, USA, Canada) | Up to 90 days per 180-day period | none | No application needed, passport check on entry | Passport valid for at least 3 months beyond departure |
| Transit through non-Schengen Balkan states | Depends on the transit country | Depends on the country | Border crossings, e.g. Albania, North Macedonia | Follow each country's own entry rules |
Your own bike
No carnet, no customs formalities, but don't forget the Green Card for the Balkan transit countries.
Checklist for the border
Within the EU, there's no customs check on your motorcycle at the Greek border. The real risk sits on the route there: without a valid Green Card for the Balkan states you cross, you won't get past their border, long before you reach Greece.
Documents
An EU driving licence is enough; non-EU citizens may need an International Driving Permit.
Season
Greece rides well almost year-round, but on the islands, it's the ferry season, not the thermometer, that decides how far you get.
Best season: April to June and September to October
| Region | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mainland and Pindus Mountains | Jan: Rideable, with limits | Feb: Rideable, with limits | Mar: Rideable, with limits | Apr: Best riding window | May: Best riding window | Jun: Best riding window | Jul: Rideable, with limits | Aug: Rideable, with limits | Sep: Best riding window | Oct: Best riding window | Nov: Rideable, with limits | Dec: Rideable, with limits |
| Islands (Aegean & Ionian Islands) | Jan: Not rideable | Feb: Not rideable | Mar: Not rideable | Apr: Rideable, with limits | May: Best riding window | Jun: Best riding window | Jul: Best riding window | Aug: Best riding window | Sep: Best riding window | Oct: Rideable, with limits | Nov: Not rideable | Dec: Not rideable |
Roads & tracks
Modern motorways on the mainland, quiet pass roads in the Pindus Mountains, and often narrow, twisty roads with variable surfaces on the islands.
| Section | km | Surface | Condition | After rain | Daily distance | Fuel | Passes & altitude | Permits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| National Road 6 over the Katara Pass (Metsovo, Epirus/Thessaly) | – | – | Twisty, paved pass road, the historic main link between Epirus and Thessaly | – | – | – | Katara Pass 1705 m, noticeably less traffic since the Egnatia tunnels opened | none |
| A2 Egnatia Odos (Igoumenitsa to the Kipoi/Turkey border crossing) | – | – | Modern, grade-separated motorway through northern Greece, tunnelled through the Pindus Mountains in places | – | – | – | – | none |
Health
No mandatory vaccinations for Greece, but the usual insurance gap for larger-capacity motorcycles applies here too.
Most travel and health insurance policies exclude riding motorcycles over 125cc. Check your policy before booking and, if in doubt, take out additional cover that explicitly includes motorcycling and repatriation.
Packing list
Only what Greece adds on top; a general motorcycle packing list is assumed.
Guided motorcycle tours in Greece, from the passes of the Pindus Mountains to the islands.
Crete with a Guide: Lassithi, Nida & Matala, 8 Days
Guided across Crete: hairpin bends, plateaus and beaches in eight days, rental bike included.
Crete on Your Own: Lassithi & Sitia, 7 Days
Dreamy switchbacks – winding self-guided routes across the whole island of Crete.
Silk Road: Venice, Isfahan & the Pamir, 8 Weeks
Germany – Italy – Greece – Turkey – Iran – Turkmenistan – Uzbekistan – Tajikistan (Pamir) – Kyrgyzstan: eight weeks with return flight.
Neighbouring countries on the same route
Motourismo
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