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Greece

4,368 bytes added, 15:54, 5 February 2021
Nomadwiki & Trashwiki
{{infobox Country
|country = of Greece
|map= <map lat='39.7916548352534258' lng='21.4672851562547' zoom='6' view='0' float='right' />
|language = Greek
|capital = [[Athens]]
|hitch = <rating country='gr' />
}}
'''Greece''' is a country in [[Southern Europe]], bordering [[TurkeyAlbania]], [[BulgariaNorth Macedonia]], [[Republic of Macedonia|MacedoniaBulgaria]] , and [[AlbaniaTurkey]]. It is a member state of the [[European Union]] as well as the [[Schengen Agreement]].
Contrary to belief, Greek drivers will rarely, if ever, ask for money[[File:IMG_2349. Because there are few jpg|thumb|250px|Hitchhiker [[highwayUser:Whisperingofthestars|motorwaysJass]] thumbing in Greece, the national roads become great havens of locals and long distance drivers pouring in from the south east to west and vice versa, up into the northJune 2008. Hitching in Greece can be a little slow because many Greeks seem to be afraid of Albanians. It's best not to ask too much about it as something close to racism and prejudice comes His hips have seemingly turned inside out. You can cross the border by foot!]]
[[File:IMG_2349.jpg|thumb|250px|Hitchhiker [[User:Whisperingofthestars|Jason]] thumbing Hitchhiking in Greece, June 2008. His hips have seemingly turned inside outcan vary between very slow and very fast.]]
It is very hard to hitchhike using mainly [[petrol station hitchhiking|petrol stations]] – it can cause long waits since they are a little off the motorway and quite small by Western standards. Besides, you can barely find any in the northern parts of A few useful Greece. The best way to get lifts is -particular tips to hitch right on the road (if it is not a motorway). It is not recommended to thumb on the motorways, although some hitchhikers do so anyway since the cars are more likely to stop, and the police are pretty liberal about it; however, make it is at your own risk.faster:
It would be smart 1. '''Signs''' are usually very helpful. Write the closest reasonably big town - not road numbers and not a faraway destination. The Greeks generally will take your sign very literally and won't stop if they're not to mention Macedonia either – going that far, even if it's the [[Skopje]] issue might be emotional for many (older) Greekssame direction.Write the signs in both Greek and English.
In summer it 2. '''Local roads''' during daytime can get be very hot in Greece, so be careful that you donfast and hitched without a sign. After dark people won't get sunburned be going far and carry plenty many of water with youthem won't stop.
== Number plates ==The number plates of Greece usually consist of 3 letters . '''Motorways''' - Sliproads, ramps etc generally don't work well (from which unless you're in a big city and many cars are taking the first two letters represent road you need). If there's a citymotorway, the best (though not safest) option will be to stand on it. Officially it's illegal, and a numbersome hitchhikers have been asked to move by the police, while others have had no problems at all. It's better to stay away from tollbooths, bridges and tunnels, since you might be seen by people or by cameras. The plates are valid for Safety-wise, there is usually room to stop, and sometimes you can walk on the whole life external side of the vehicle even if its owner moves fence until you get to an other towna good point. * Petrol stations are very small and rare on motorways, so you can hitchhiking from one to another is not be absolutely sure about where a good option. Better stay on the vehicle is frommotorway itself.
[[File:Hhgreece4.jpg|right|thumb|234px|Hh sign on our '''Locals''' can give very good hitchhiking advice (locations, routes, and sometimes they'll even find the next ride for you). Make sure they understand that you're hitchhiking all the way from Turkey (not just to Greece :a bus station) '']]and tell them where you want to be today. They might be able to help!
== [[Camping|Free camping]] ==Free camping in Greece is not allowed, but fortunately, compared with the other Mediterranean EU countries, there are still a lot Many Greeks seem to be afraid of of beaches where you can camp for free and without [[police]] problemsimmigrants. Police may fine you (150 euro) during the summer months (July and August especially), so itIt's best not to ask other free campers when you arrive at a beachtoo much about it as something close to racism and prejudice comes out. Greeks who have lived abroad or have travelled around seem to be much more open to picking up hitch-hikers, as are foreign tourists.
You can camp freely anywhere Because there are few [[highway|motorways]] in Greece, the national roads become great havens of locals and long distance drivers pouring in from the mountainssouth east to west and vice versa, up into the north. Also, tolls have increased as of recently, valleysmaking motorways less attractive for long distance drivers. Greek drivers will never directly ask for money. In very few cases, hillssome might say they don't have enough to pay the tolls, river beds etcor that they have not enough petrol to arrive to their destination and no money to buy more.  You can cross the border by foot! (If youre crossing border to Turkey between Alexandroupoli and Tekirdag it´s not possible to go by foot. Nobody Between greek and turkish border there is a bridge and soldiers will tell you that you have to go by car on this bridge of course because of national security). It would be smart not to mention "Macedonia" as a country. Greeks call "Macedonia" the northern part of Greece. If you're going to chase [[North Macedonia]], and want to avoid the political conversation, just say that you off're going to [[North Macedonia]] or [[Skopje]] [[File:Greece-map-license-plates.jpg|thumb|300px|Map of licence plates. Anyway the law ]]In summer it can get very hot in Greece, so be careful that forbids free you don't get sunburned and carry plenty of water with you. It is also wise to have a large cardboard sign which you can use as makeshift umbrella while you're waiting for cars. == Wild camping == Wild camping was created due in Greece is forbidden by law. If you camp next to economical reasons so that hotels, organised organized campgrounds and all kinds or other kind of tourist accommodation , their owner can flourishcall the police. [[Police]] may fine you (150 euro) during the summer months (July and August especially), so it's best to ask other wild campers when you arrive at a beach. Compared with the other Mediterranean EU countries, which means that if there are still a lot of of beaches where you can camp where there for free and without police problems. You can camp freely anywhere in the mountains, valleys, hills, river beds etc. Nobody is no tourism nobody will come after going to chase youoff.
== Cities ==
* [[Athens (Greece)|Athens]]
* [[Thessaloniki]]
* [[Patra]]
* [[Ioannina]]
* [[Kalamata]]
* [[Florina]]
* [[Igoumenitsa]]
* [[Florina]]
* [[Patra]]
* [[Greek islands]]
* [[IoanninaKavala]]* [[Xanthi]]* [[Volos]]
== Getting away ==
* To [[Ferries between Italy and Greece|Italy]]
You can get a ferries from Igoumenitsa or Patra. A lot of trucks going through Igoumenitsa.
Ferries are expensive and time consuming, but there is a shower and you can sleep on the deck. Crossing in the truck cab - dangerous and illegal. There are discounts for students. If you are under 25 - ask for a discount!
 
== Personal Experiences ==
 
''August 2016 - I was just crossing Greece from Bulgaria to Turkey and I expected easy way but it was totally different. I spent there about 4 days hitch-hiking full of depressions. Greeks just didn't stop and waiting time about 3 hours wasn't anything special. For me it was the worst hitch-hiking country ever. For me Greece was even worse than'' Italy or Spain! (Local's answer : There's a big wave of refugees since the war in Syria and people are scared. A driver could be detained for trafficking, if he's carrying passen''gers who entered Greece illegally. If you try NOT to look like a refugee and speak to people in gas stations, East Macedonia + Thraki could be crossed in less than 48h).''
 
 
''Early September 2018 - Hitchhiking to Athens seems to be extremely easy. In fact we only needed one car all the way from Thessaloniki and even on the way back people were offering us rides to Athens on gas stations and certain points. Hitchhiking north however is an absolute nightmare! Barely anyone outside the bigger cities speaks even elementary English and it seems some pretend not to as to avoid conflict. The national road not only has an exit to every village (which means people go 5km ahead like on local roads) but it's also illegal to be on it. We got displaced by the yellow inquisition multiple times for walking or hitchhiking on it so if you're not the entrance you've got high chances you'll get to meet them too. The police doesn't seem to care but these guys are ruthless. Local roads are sometimes way easier to hitchhike (From Kastro to Tragana you have a good chance to ride in the back of a pick up truck) often with nicer people but their layout is a bit nonsensical, and drinkable water isn't a standard in a big part of Greece. Overall it's not an easy journey (at least in the southern and central parts) but definitely a fun challenge! SO if you're looking to test your willpower and strength, this is the way to go! If you're looking for speed on the other hand and are going north of Athens I recommend not settling for cars that will take you to villages/smaller towns. It might seem like it's taking longer but a single truck driver is way better than spending 2 days on some national road entrances in the middle of nowhere.''
 
== Links ==* [http://ide''November 2018 - hitched from Kulata (Bulgaria-Greece border) to Thessaloniki then to Evia (Island E of Athens) solo male.li/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=218 14 hours Hard getting lifts, parent generation of autostop] – the hitchhiking adventures Greeks very friendly once you've had a conversation with them; one family gave me a cornucopian meal, bought me a pack of Georgi Kalendarov cigarettes gave me some wine and Diljan Vulev, paid for my ferry ticket. But was after 3 days of being stuck trying to hitch out of Bulgaria, in Greece Larissa. Hitchiking from Meteora to Albanian border very hard. Getting rides on islands is easier.''
== Nomadwiki & Trashwiki ==
 
{{nomadwiki}}
{{IsIn|Balkans}}
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[[trash:Greece]]
[[wikipedia:Greece]]  
[[Category:Route to Istanbul#From Greece|Turkey]]
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