Open main menu

Changes

Greece

769 bytes added, 00:08, 9 December 2017
no edit summary
[[File:IMG_2349.jpg|thumb|250px|Hitchhiker [[User:Whisperingofthestars|Jason]] thumbing in Greece, June 2008. His hips have seemingly turned inside out.]]
Hitchhiking in Greece can vary between very slow and very fast. A few 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 same direction.Write the signs in both Greek and English.2. '''Local roads''' during daytime can be very fast and hitched without a sign. After dark people won't be going far and many of them won't stop.3. '''Motorways''' - Sliproads, ramps etc generally don't work well (unless you're in a little slow because big city and 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 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.Safety-wise, there is usually room to stop, and sometimes you can walk on the external side of the fence until you get to a good point. * Petrol stations are very small and rare on motorways, so hitchhiking from one to another is not a good option. Better stay on the motorway itself.4. '''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 (not just to a bus station) and tell them where you want to be today. They might be able to help! 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 tourists.
Because there are few [[highway|motorways]] 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 north. Also, tolls have increased as of recently, making motorways less attractive for long distance drivers. Greek drivers will never directly ask for money. In very few cases, some might say they don't have enough to pay the tolls, or that they have not enough petrol to arrive to their destination and no money to buy more.
 
It is generally 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 Greece. The best way to get lifts is to hitch right on the road (if it is not a motorway).
You can cross the border by foot!
EDIT- If you´re crossing border to Turkey between Alexandroupoli and Tekirdag it´s not possible to go by foot. 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. (Checked in Semptember 2016)
 
It is forbidden to thumb on the motorways, and if the police passes, they will tell you to move out.
If you walk on a motorway and a camera sees you (bridges, tunnels), they will send a vehicle and ask you to move away, and will stay with you until you comply. Toll stations are also considered "motorway". The best legal place to hitch-hike is the ramp just before the "motorway" sign.
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 Macedonia]], and want to avoid the political conversation, just say that you're going to "FYROM" or [[Skopje]]
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 ==
autopatrolled
79
edits