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Greece

1,758 bytes added, 15:54, 5 February 2021
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'''Greece''' is a country in [[Southern Europe]], bordering [[Albania]], [[Republic of North Macedonia|FYRoM]], [[Bulgaria]], and [[Turkey]]. It is a member state of the [[European Union]] as well as the [[Schengen Agreement]].
[[File:IMG_2349.jpg|thumb|250px|Hitchhiker [[User:Whisperingofthestars|JasonJass]] thumbing in Greece, June 2008. His hips have seemingly turned inside out.]]
Hitchhiking in Greece can be a little vary between very slow because many Greeks seem to be afraid of immigrants. It's best not to ask too much about it as something close to racism and prejudice comes out. However, if you are patient enough, you will get a ride. Greeks who have lived abroad or have travelled around seem to be much more open to picking up hitch-hikers, as are foreign touristsvery fast.
Because there are A few [[highway|motorways]] in useful Greece-particular tips to make it faster: 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 going that far, even if it's the national same direction.Write the signs in both Greek and English. 2. '''Local roads become great havens ''' during daytime can be very fast and hitched without a sign. After dark people won't be going far and many of locals them won't stop. 3. '''Motorways''' - Sliproads, ramps etc generally don't work well (unless you're in a big city and long distance drivers pouring in from many cars are taking the road you need). If there's a motorway, the best (though not safest) option will be to stand on it. Officially it's illegal, and some hitchhikers have been asked to move by the south east police, while others have had no problems at all. It's better to west stay away from tollbooths, bridges and vice versatunnels, up into the northsince you might be seen by people or by cameras. AlsoSafety-wise, tolls have increased as there is usually room to stop, and sometimes you can walk on the external side of recentlythe fence until you get to a good point. * Petrol stations are very small and rare on motorways, making motorways less attractive for long distance driversso hitchhiking from one to another is not a good option. Better stay on the motorway itself. Greek drivers will never directly ask for money 4. In '''Locals''' can give very few casesgood hitchhiking advice (locations, routes, some might say and sometimes they don't have enough to pay ll even find the tolls, or next ride for you). Make sure they understand that they have you're hitchhiking all the way (not enough petrol just to arrive to their destination a bus station) and no money tell them where you want to buy morebe today. They might be able to help!
Many Greeks seem to be afraid of immigrants. It is generally hard 's best not to hitchhike using mainly [[petrol station hitchhiking|petrol stations]] – ask too much about it can cause long waits since they are a little off the motorway as something close to racism and quite small by Western standardsprejudice comes out. Besides, you can barely find any in the northern parts of Greece. The best way Greeks who have lived abroad or have travelled around seem to get lifts is be much more open to picking up hitch right on the road (if it is not a motorway)-hikers, as are foreign tourists.
You can cross Because there are few [[highway|motorways]] in Greece, the national roads become great havens of locals and long distance drivers pouring in from the border by foot!EDIT- If you´re crossing border south east to Turkey between Alexandroupoli west and Tekirdag it´s not possible to go by footvice versa, up into the north. Also, tolls have increased as of recently, making motorways less attractive for long distance drivers. Between greek and turkish border there is a bridge and soldiers Greek drivers will tell you never directly ask for money. In very few cases, some might say they don't have enough to pay the tolls, or that you they have not enough petrol to arrive to their destination and no money to go by car on this bridge of course because of national securitybuy more. (Checked in Semptember 2016)
It is forbidden You can cross the border by foot! (If youre crossing border to thumb on the motorways, Turkey between Alexandroupoli and if the police passes, they will tell you Tekirdag it´s not possible to move outgo by foot.If you walk on a motorway Between greek and turkish border there is a camera sees you (bridges, tunnels), they will send a vehicle and ask you to move away, bridge and soldiers will stay with tell you until that you comply. Toll stations are also considered "motorway". The best legal place have to hitch-hike is the ramp just before the "motorway" signgo 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 the [[Republic of Macedonia|former Yugoslav Republic of North Macedonia]], and want to avoid the political conversation, just say that you're going to "FYROM" [[North Macedonia]] or [[Skopje]]
[[File:Greece-map-license-plates.jpg|thumb|300px|Map of licence plates.]]
In summer it can get very hot in Greece, so be careful that 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.
== Number plates Wild camping ==The number plates of Greece consist of 3 letters and 4 digits. The first 1 or 2 letters represent a state. The plates are valid for the whole life of the vehicle even if its owner moves to an other town, so you can not be absolutely sure about where the vehicle is from.
== [[Camping|Wild camping]] ==
Wild camping in Greece is forbidden by law. If you camp next to hotels, organized campgrounds or other kind of tourist accommodation, their owner can call 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.
* [[Kavala]]
* [[Xanthi]]
* [[Volos]]
== Getting away ==
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.''
== Personal Experiences ==
" 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!" (August 2016) => 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 passengers 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.
Not looking like a refugee is easily the worst advice I've heard'November 2018 - hitched from Kulata (Bulgaria-Greece border) to Thessaloniki then to Evia (Island E of Athens) solo male. Hard getting lifts, I look like what most people would consider a hipster and still a parent generation of Greeks very nice and helpful worker at a petrol station thought that I'm an Algerian for an hour even though Ifriendly once you've said that I'm Hungarian in Greekhad a conversation with them; one family gave me a cornucopian meal, just because bought me a pack of cigarettes gave me some wine and paid for my Mediterranean complexionferry ticket.However, I didn't have absurd waiting times but the existence But was after 3 days of highways without good possibilities for hitchhikers being stuck trying to use them makes Greece easily the worst Balkans country hitch out of Larissa. Hitchiking from Meteora to hitchhikeAlbanian border very hard.Getting rides on islands is easier.''
== Links ==* [http://ide.li/modules.php?name=NewsNomadwiki &fileTrashwiki =article&sid=218 14 hours of autostop] – the hitchhiking adventures of Georgi Kalendarov and Diljan Vulev, of Bulgaria, in Greece
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