# Driving Rules and Road Signs in Greece > The driving rules in Greece explained: speed limits, seat belts, drink-driving, priority and roundabouts, headlights and the road signs tourists should know. | | | |---|---| | Motorway | 130 km/h | | Open road | 90 km/h | | Town | 50 km/h | | Alcohol | 0.05% | Driving rules in Greece match the standard European code, and the signs use international symbols you already know. The rules that catch tourists out are the speed limits, the strict drink-driving limit and priority at junctions. This guide sets out the rules and the signs so you stay legal and safe. ## Speed limits in Greece Speed limits in Greece are 130 km/h on motorways, 90 to 110 km/h on open roads and 50 km/h in built-up areas, unless a sign shows a lower figure. Limits drop sharply through villages and around bends, and speed cameras and police checks are common on the main routes. Hire cars show speed in km/h, so there is no need to convert. ## Seat belts and child seats Seat belts are compulsory for every passenger, front and rear. Children under 12 years old or shorter than 1.35 m must use an appropriate child seat or booster, which you can add to most hire cars for a small daily fee. Reserve the child seat when you book, because island fleets run short in summer. ## Drink-driving limit The drink-driving limit in Greece is 0.05% blood alcohol, lower than in England, and 0.02% for new and professional drivers. Police run roadside breath tests, and penalties are heavy, so the safe approach is not to drink if you are driving. Fines rise steeply above 0.08%. ## Priority and roundabouts Traffic from the right has priority at unmarked junctions, and you give way to whoever is already on a roundabout. Many rural crossroads have no markings at all, so slow down and be ready to yield. Flashing headlights from another driver in Greece often means they are coming through, not that they are giving way. ## Road signs tourists should know - A red circle with a number is the speed limit for that stretch. - A red-bordered triangle warns of a hazard ahead, such as a bend or falling rocks. - A blue circle gives a compulsory instruction, such as the direction you must take. - STOP signs use the English word STOP, as across Europe. - Place names appear in Greek and Latin script on main roads, but Greek only on minor ones. More on driving in Greece [Car hire in Greece](https://fly2greece.net/car-rental/) [Car hire requirements](https://fly2greece.net/car-rental/greece-requirements.html) [Driving in Greece](https://fly2greece.net/car-rental/driving-in-greece.html) [Toll roads & motorways](https://fly2greece.net/car-rental/greece-toll-roads.html) [Licence & IDP](https://fly2greece.net/car-rental/driving-licence-and-idp.html) [Insurance & excess](https://fly2greece.net/car-rental/car-hire-insurance-and-excess.html) [Parking & fuel](https://fly2greece.net/car-rental/parking-and-fuel-in-greece.html) ## Frequently asked questions **What is the speed limit in Greece?** 130 km/h on motorways, 90 to 110 km/h on open roads and 50 km/h in towns, unless a sign shows a lower limit. **What is the drink-driving limit in Greece?** 0.05% blood alcohol for most drivers and 0.02% for new and professional drivers, both lower than the limit in England. **Do children need a car seat in Greece?** Yes. Children under 12 or shorter than 1.35 m need a child seat or booster, which you can add to a hire car for a small daily fee. **Are road signs in Greece in English?** Signs use international symbols, and main-road place names appear in both Greek and Latin script. Minor roads are often signed in Greek only. --- Source: [Driving Rules and Road Signs in Greece](https://fly2greece.net/car-rental/driving-rules-and-road-signs.html) — fly2greece.net, an independent guide to Greece written and photographed by Hans Huisman since 2000. Reviewed July 2026.