Moped/motorcycling in Greece

[hlad00]

Hi,

i was thinking of hiring a moped or motorcycle in Naxos or Santorini (Greek Islands). I would like to know the following:

1) Is this a good idea? easy to do?
2) Is it safe? ie high mountains with no barriers?
3) Do you just need your driving licence? How does it work? ie you give a deposit and they also keep your licence?
4) Are there signs or a map you can follow? ie easy to get lost?
5) Basically to sum it up, should i bother doing it or not?

thanks in advance

[mace24]

I was in greece about a year ago and did some mopeding on the island closest to Athens. It was really easy to rent on all you needed was a drivers liscense and a deposit. The mopeds were pretty beat up but they ran well and the rental company gave us a map of the island and told us some site seeing spots that would be good to visit. It was a great way to get around cheap and convenient I would deffinitely recommend it and I am sure that renting is pretty much the same on the other islands as well.

[marc873]

Thats interesting, I am also going to be in Santorini and Naxos etc... And my wife and I had talked renting scoots. Considering I own a scoot, you would think that it would be for sure, but my scoot is a full size Aprilia Scarabeo, and it is to big and tall for her to ride. So now I'm stuck trying to decide if we should chance riding, and possibly have her get in an acident etc..... I've discussed this with people who have been there, mixed opinions. Some say the locals driving would concern them, others say go for it. I just don't want to have some stupid accident happen half way into a month long trip. Ohh what to do? The risk factor

[Travel_girl81]

I didn't rent a Moped in Greece but I did rent a car in Santorini. It was only 25 euros for 24 hours and they only looked at my license. I didn't have to give a credit card imprint either.
About 90% of the cars are standard so if you are going to rent one make sure you can drive a stick.

I have also heard bad things about renting a moped in Greece. But most of the stories have to do with people who have never ridden before being idiots.

[soph1886]

what kind of license do you have to have to rent a scooter there? my full license will arrive for me in the mail at home while i'm away (we have to wait til we're 21 in australia), do you reckon they'll be ok if i have my p's?

[worldwidemike]

I've rented mopeds in both Scotland and Italy. I HIGHly recommend it. In my opionion, it's the best way to see a mountainous, beautiful country. You can stop anywhere (pull over to the side of the road) to take photos, or get off and explore. You don't have to worry about finding a parking space like if you had a car, and you're not tied to public transportation or the vagaries of rides if you're afoot.

Do it. Italian drivers can't be any less crazy than Greek....

Oh, one tip: Avoid tunnels in a moped. It's like driving in a sensory deprivation tank...your headlight doesn't illuminate enough for you to get a feeling of what's up, down, leaning left or leaning right. Pretty scarey.

worldwidemike

[marc873]

Good tip on the tunnels! Haven't experienced that yet. Thanks

[Chocolaty Claire]

i hired out a moped in Zakynthos and thought it was the best way to see the island, i highly recommend getting one!

Although the roads were a little pot holey in areas, they were relatively quiet and felt very safe . You can explore and see tiny little villages and reach secluded beaches people on foot will never get to see.

[Wayner]

I've never ridden overseas, although I tried. In my experience you have to have a motorcycle license in the country you have your driver's license or you can't rent one. That was in Malta.

If you've never ridden a scooter or a motorcycle before than I wouldn't do it as they can be dangerous if you don't know what you're doing.

[zmsmith5]

in my experience with mopeds overseas, it is a practice in complete alertness, as laws of the road are foggy at best in some countries yet have very few accidents relative to the US, i think. this stems, IMO, from the agressive driving of every person on the road. assume you will be cut off, assume you will be tailgated, assume that you may have to wind your way through other cars. every driver ive seen overseas acts this way, but the saving grace is the constant use of the horn, in its intended purpose, to alert other drivers of your presence! whenever i come back to the US, i always remark how odd it is that if you tap your horn out on the road it is immediately perceived as F*** YOU!, instead of a courteous and necessary signal.