The Complete Guide to Cycling Greece

Cycling Greece is a journey through the “cradle of humanity” that can enrich your soul and cultural knowledge! In this southern corner of Europe, you can expect to climb virgin mountains, explore rugged flowerful coasts, eat delicious foods to your heart’s content, and most of all, be welcomed by one of Earth's most welcoming, loud, and cheerful locals!

In this guide, you will find everything you need to know to design your Greece cycling tour and make it a truly EPIC journey that will check all your boxes: let’s dive right in!

Topography

Greece is a fascinating peninsular and mountainous country, located in Southern Europe, at the edge of the Balkan peninsula, spanning a whooping 131,957 km2 (50,94 sq mi).

The country, which stretches from Turkey (to the east) to Albania (to the north-west) has the largest coastline in Europe (13,676km) due to its numerous islands.

Indeed, Greece has an incredible 6,000 islands and islets scattered throughout the Greek Seas (Ionian Sea, Aegean Sea, Sea of Crete, and the Mediterranean Sea), of which 227 islands are inhabited.

As for the Greek mainland, the land of Greece is 80% composed of mountains, which historically gave birth to the six main regions of the country (Thrace, Macedonia, Epirus, Thessaly, Central Greece, and the Peloponnese), and greatly influenced their different development through the ages.

The highest point in Greece is the peak of the world-famous Mount Olympus (at a height of 2,917m / 9,570 feet). The mythological “home of the gods”, as Greeks also referred to the holy mountain, belongs to the Olympus massif mountain chain near the Gulf of Thérmai on the Aegean Sea and lies astride the border between Macedonia (Makedonía) and Thessaly (Thessalía).

Also called “Hellas” by locals (“Greece” in the Hellenika language), Greece is located in the Northern Hemisphere, with a latitude comprised between 31° and 39° N and a longitude from 19,9 to 28.2 E.

All in all, the country is a curious mix of tiny islands, impressive coastline, historic cities, and tall, untouched mountains, all facing the warm and homely Mediterranean Sea. Greece is a country dominated by nature and its incredibly different and finely crafted panoramas.

Whether you’re looking for a relaxing tour by the sea or a challenging multiple-day bicycle tour through the mountains, you can be sure that the diverse morphology of Greece can offer what you’re looking for!

Flora

Getting out from the main cities of Athens, Patras, and Salonikko, all you are going to witness is nature! Let’s start with the forests, which cover a whopping 30% of all the Greek territory.

While cycling at high altitudes through the North-Western part of the country (in Sterea and Peloponnese), you can expect to cross typically alpine trees such as fir trees, pine trees, and bushes (the most typical continental European trees!).

Forests in lower altitudes instead, are mostly composed of oaks, poplars, plane trees, and elegant cypress trees. In addition to tall plants, Greece is famous for the incredible variety of flowers that every spring transform its inland and islands into a spectacular Arlequin of colors.

The most curious are the pink Micromeria Acropolitana (flower of the acropolis), the red Greek peony, the purple Laconian Thyme, the white autumn-blooming Saffron Crocus, the yellowish Olympus Yarrow, and the decorative multi-color Chrysanthemum, the most popular domestic flower which adorns the balconies all over the country. The national flower of Greece is the “Bear's Breech” which also goes by other various names including Sea Dock, Oyster Plant, and also its biological name, Acanthus Mollis.

The coastal areas and the islands of Greece instead, are adorned by typical Mediterranean plants and crops such as olive trees, citrus fruit trees, vineyards, and currants.

The largest Greek islands of Korfu, Lesbos, Rhodes, and Krete become in the good season truly enormous gardens by the sea, where the plants’ greens embrace the seas’ blues in a harmony of colors and peace difficult to find anywhere else in Europe!

Last but not least, Greece is the largest producer of cotton in Europe, and between October and November the wide cultivated fields tint in white for the harvest season, a good addition to your trip if you’re choosing to visit the country in autumn!

Fauna

Most of the mainland away from the main Greek cities is still today hardly accessible due to the mountainous morphology of the Greek territory.

Because of this, the natural fauna is still well-lively and diverse!

Between larger, carnivorous mammals, in Greece live the European wildcat, the red fox, the golden jackal, the Balkan lynx, the grey wolf, and the Eurasian Bear among many other smaller predators.

As for omnivorous mammals, in Greece is possible to witness over 20 different species of bats, and 15 species of whales, porpoises, and dolphins!

For herbivorous, common sightings are wild boars, red deers, fallow deers, cute white-breasted hedgehogs, chamois, hares, and rabbits.

As for last, we need to highlight that both waters and skies of Greece are extremely lively too with over 450 species of recorded birds, and a diverse range of around 160 endemic freshwater species!

Climate

Being positioned almost halfway between the North Pole and the equator, Greece enjoys four well-defined seasons.

That said, due to its unique geographical and morphological diversity, different regions experience extremely different temperatures and climates (it’s a country made of mountains and islands after all!) and carefully planning where you are going to cycle and when it’s overly important to avoid temperatures extremes and unfavorable weathers.

The northern part of the country is characterized by a mild climate, where temperatures during the day range around 8-14°C (46-57°F) in winter and 27-32°C (80-90°F) in full summer. Here, the rainiest month is December (8 days of rain on average) and the least rainy is August (3 rainy days on average).

The Southern Peloponnese Peninsula instead, enjoys a typical Mediterranean climate, with mild, wet winter months, and hot dry summers. Here rains fall mostly between October and March, while summers are mostly dry with scorching temperatures that may easily reach up to 40°C (104°F).

The hundreds of Greek Islands, all enjoy a Mediterranean climate too, becoming slightly hotter the southern you move: the “fresher” islands are the western Greek Islands (such as Korfu or Lefkada) and the North Aegean Islands (such as Thasos or Limnos), while going south we encounter a warmer climate in the Cyclades, the Dodecanese islands and Crete.

Economy

With a GDP of 217 thousand billion (2023), Greece is the 21st largest economy in Europe (behind Portugal) and the 54th worldwide.

The economy of Greece is famous for having crumbled during the financial crisis of 2009, following local politicians faking the state accounting to promote speculation, and since then the Greek economy never fully recovered, becoming rather stagnant ever since.

The GDP per capita though, it’s only 20.800 euros (roughly 22.000$), which is roughly 30% lower than the European average (comparable to those of Latvia, Russia, or Romania.

The economy of Greece, as it happened with many European countries in recent years, shifted greatly toward the service sector (67,35%), with tourism contributing to a whopping 20% of the total national income and giving 20% of national jobs (in 2023, Greece welcomed over 33 million international travelers!)

Apart from services, the most important industries of Greece are :

• Olives and Olive oils (you’ll see olive trees everywhere while cycling Greece!)
• Foods such as Cheese, Vinegar, Nuts, and Alcohol (such as Ouzo, Tsipouro, and Raki!)
• Handicrafts, rugs, carpets, and leather products
• Jewelry – mostly inspired by Greek ancient history and mythology

According to Numbeo.com, the cost of living in Athens (the capital of Greece and its most expensive city), is roughly 40% less than the one in London, which is surely important data to keep in mind when budgeting your trip!

Also keep in mind, that most of Greece is much cheaper than Athens, and prices can be up to 40-50% lower in the countryside too, making Greece an extremely convenient destination to visit from an economic standpoint.

Greece is the cradle of democracy, mathematics, European languages, philosophy, and even medicine! Cycling through Greece is not only a leisure or sport activity, but also a mesmerizing adventure into the ancient history of European civilization!

From a natural perspective, of course, Greece has plenty to offer: the classic coastlines of Cephalonia and Corfu, the massive stone pillars of Meteora, the humid and verdant valleys near Mount Olympus, the blue sea, the emerald sea, turquoise sea till your eyes can watch!

That siad, the country differentiates itself from other European countries thanks to its incredible historical heritage: 19 UNESCO World Heritage sites (of which 17 are cultural!), it’s countless islands (each one special in its way!), it’s hardly rivaled food culture (of which we are going to talk soon!), and the warm, loud, smiling, and welcoming Greek locals will make you feel at home anywhere you stop!

In brief, why should you visit Greece?

• Diverse Panoramas
• 19 UNESCO World Heritage Sites
• Floating Gardens by the Sea
• Tasty Mediterranean Cuisine and Wines
• Warm and Friendly Local Culture
• Temples, Monasteries and Ancient Ruins

Following you find our five cherry picks for the best regions to cycle in Greece:

1. Kalambaka Valley and Meteora

The village of Kalambaka sits right on the foothills of the towering pillars of Meteora, some characteristical sandstone and conglomerate towers unique in the world and inscribed in the list of UNESCO World Heritage sites since 1988. On top of Meteora, sit 7 medieval monasteries (once upon a time were 30!) that seem literally to have been dropped from the sky, built like eagle nests on top of the pillars, in an attempt to reach the gods above. The nature of the Kalambaka Valley is verdant and the views are spectacular, the ideal place to join a cycling day with a cultural experience.

2. Corfu Island

Corfu is a garden on the Adriatic Sea and the paradise on Earth you don’t expect to find! Imagine an island jagged with elegant cypresses, olive trees, citrus trees, and adorned with colorful flowers year-round, all of which they enjoy the azure and eye-watering backdrop of the quite Adriatic sea: that is Corfu! Cycling the whole island takes a couple of days. While not overly extensive, the roads on the island are long and kinked due to its mountainous and uneven terrain and it’s an island ideal for those who are looking for a medium-challenging cycling experience.

3. Kos Island

Kos has a stunning coastline and nature. With golden sandy beaches and colorful coastal villages, Korfu is the ideal place for those who want to combine a cycling experience with some hours of relaxing by the sea. The island, located just 5km (3,1 miles) from the coast of Turkey, is relatively tiny (20km/12 mi side by side) and it’s ideal for those looking for a chiller pedaling experience without many ups and downs.

4. Peloponnese

The peninsula of Peloponnese is a paradise for cyclists. Located in the southernmost part of Mainland Greece, the region on the map looks like a hand with three fingers: Lakonia, Mani, and Messenia. Cycling here, you can expect to pedal side by side with orange groves and feel the scent of oregano in the air, medieval towns, ancient temples, archeological sites, and white pebble and sandy beaches immersed in crystal waters.

5. Krete

Krete is the island where to cycle when all the rest of Europe gets covered by snow and rainfalls as here winters are mild. The island, of which more than 50% has an elevation above 500m above sea level, offers incredible routes both for road-cyclist and mountain bikers. Nature in Krete is still pretty untamed, and you can expect to cycle through incredible panoramas such as the Kournas See, the old town of Analipsi, the Knossos Palace, or the National Park of Samaria (Mediterranean mountains!).

1. The Ionian Island Bike and Boat Tour

Greece is a paradise for cycling, but of course, hopping from island to island is not always that convenient…or isn’t it? Good to know, one of the most popular cycling routes through Greece also involves a boat trip with hop on-hop off: during the day you can choose to cycle the trail that best fits your preference, and during the night swiftly sail to the next destinations. The Boat and Bike hopping tour is a meticulously curated experience to help you enjoy the best that the Peloponnese and the islands of Zante and Kefalonia have to offer, without the stress of planning too much ahead.

2. The Great Corfu Loop

tarting from old Corfu Town (UNESCO World Heritage site), venture south toward the coastal town of Benitses, before climbing up to the tiny Capel of Agia Paraskevi, and taking directions to the southern sand banks of Issos. From there, you can cycle up the island to the cliffs of Pelekas, the picturesque Palaiokastritza, and, if you’re in very good shape, up to the rewarding Angelokastro Castle (one of the most unknown, yet unbelievable places in Corfu). We recommend at least 4 cycling days to enjoy at the best pace that Corfu has to offer😊

3. Kalambakka & Meteora Loop

No trip to Greece is complete without a visit to the monasteries of Meteora. Your best bet is to start your trip either from Trikala or Kalambakka and make your way upwards to the Meteora. A day trip is enough to see the highlights, while two or three days will give you a chance to explore also the wider Kalambacca valley and its verdant nature.

4. Crete Loop “Road of the Gods”

From Heraklion, crossing the dorsal spine of Krete to reach the blue Paradise of Myrthianos Plakias through the Kotsifou Canyon, this cycling route is a 93km-ride (57 miles) of medium level that will let cycle through all the beauties that Crete has to offer: temples, flower-covered mountains and the ever-present Mediterranean scrub. As ups and downs are frequent and the road quite long, you might consider renting an e-bike to make the ride easier.

5. Kos Loop

3-4 days are more than enough to see all of Kos by bike. If you’re short on time though, the itinerary we would recommend you is the loop from Kos Town to Asclepeion, Lampi, Mastichari, Marmari, and back. The whole ride measures approx- 62km (38 mi) and brings you through both nature and archeological sites. Picture ancient Greek columns, old amphitheaters (Asclepeion), white beaches (Lampi & Marmari), and east-Mediterranean vibes. Last but not least, while on the way, don’t forget to stop in some local restaurant and try the typical picaridin (lasagna boiled in meat broth

Best Season

Greece, being located on the southern edge of the European continent, is one of the hottest countries in Europe, with short rainy winters and scorching hot summers.

Because of this, the best season to cycle Greece (both mainland and islands!) is usually the mid-seasons that go from early March to mid-June (best temperatures and low chances of rain!), and from mid-September to October (enjoyable temperatures and fairly poor rains).

During the mid-seasons restaurants are also emptier, the roads are not that busy, and the weather is pleasant for cycling.

Peak Season

Peak season in Greece is the summer months that go from late June to mid-September, with August being the most crowded month.

Luckily, the busiest months are also the hottest, which do not coincide with the best months for cycling, which as we’ve just seen are the mid-season months.

Because of this, by choosing mid-season you’re selecting the best time for cycling in Greece, and as well you will likely enjoy better prices too!

Off Season

The winter months of November, December, January, and February are low season in Greece. Those are the coldest months when the highest peaks become covered in snow, most tourist shops close, and rains are at their top.

These months are not great months for cycling (quite nightmarish actually!), nor for visiting any Greek region.

Baked Moussaka (layers of fried aubergine, minced meat, and potatoes with creamy bechamel sauce), Stuffed Yemista (roasted vegetables stuffed with rice), Loukoumades (small-fried doughnut balls with syrup and toppings), souvlaki (grilled meat skewers), Tsatsiki (garlic sauce), Pastisada (pasta with meat) Spanakopita (traditional spinach pies), gyros kebab, baklava pastries, keftedes (Greek meatballs

Greece is a member state of the EU and part of the Schengen Area.

If you’re not a citizen of a member state, you can apply for a Uniform Schengen Visa which will allow you to stay in the country for up to 90 days.

You can find more information on the EU Page for the Schengen application

Currency

The official currency in Greece is the Euro, which as of 2024 stays at around 1 Euro = 1,10USD.

In the country, all major credit card circuits are accepted (Visa, Mastercard, Maestro, American Express), and all merchants are obliged by law to offer the possibility of paying by card.

This makes carrying liquid cash quite optional in Greece, although having a small amount of you is always a good idea as sometimes you might find vendors that won’t leave you a receipt for their services, or especially on islands, the annoying “Wifi Not Working” problem.

Transport

As seen before, Greece is split into several regions by mountain chains and this widely affects public transport too. The train network is quite underdeveloped, with only a few major connections between Athens, Lianokladi, Patras, Kiato, and Thessaloniki, and some minor ones to nearby towns.

All trains in Greece are suited to carry bikes though, as the Hellenic Trains company is completely aligned with the EU Regulation which dictates that all train companies should enable space for bicycle transportation in Europe. Bike carrying costs an additional 5 euros on the train ticket price.

Most of the other connections through the peninsula, as well as on the islands, are then left to public buses, which instead are still quite unsuited for carrying bikes. Each bus normally has only one place to carry a foldable bike in the trunk.

All in all, while public transport might be relatively fair priced in Greece, it’s mostly unsuitable for displacement with bikes, and a better option is sure renting bikes locally or self-drive (for the greatest degree of freedom!).

Language

Greek is the most defining Western language of antiquity and one of the oldest living languages in the world. Even the Greeks of today are speaking Greek, which is not that far from those that were spoken 3500 years ago by Socrates or Pluto.

Greek utilizes the Cyrillic alphabet (fun fact: it was the first alphabet to introduce vowels!), which makes it harder to read for travelers speaking languages that utilize the Roman alphabet (such as English, French, Spanish, Italian, German, etc.).

Fortunately, almost everywhere the Greece (especially in touristy hotspots), the local alphabet is sided by the same writings in Roman characters.

On a side note, keep in mind that only a small percentage of Greeks speak English (most concentrated in tourist-related jobs only”), so both downloading Google Translate and quickly learning the basics of the language might help you to open up more possibilities and make better friendships along the route.

Culture and Religion

According to 2022 statistics, about 86% of Greeks identify as Greek Orthodox, about 12% percent as atheist (one of the lowest percentages in Europe!), and 2 percent as Muslim.

The orthodox faith of Greece shines easily to the eye the moment you enter the country.

The roads are jagged with tiny and colorful miniatures of orthodox churches (while cycling, you’ll see them on the sideroad everywhere!), and the annual religious celebrations follow the orthodox Julian calendar (Easter for example is celebrated in Greece about 13 days after the rest of the EU, and Christmas also on the 6th of January!).

The Greek culture is blunt and direct, locals are extremely friendly, but if they do not like they generally do not hesitate to loudly speak it out.

The Greek volume of voice is the loudest in Europe, even more than Southern Italians and Spanish, and coming from abroad it is common to hear people “shouting” one another.

Do not get afraid though, it is just their normal level of voice, most of the time they are just friendly speaking “Greek” to one another 😉

Appliances and Devices

Electricity in Greece, as in most of the European continent, is supplied at 220-240 volts, and Greece uses a frequency of 50 Hz.

The electrical sockets in Greece are Type F plugs (also called “Shuko”) and type C (2 round pins), which are the most common sockets found throughout Europe (same as Spain, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Turkey, and all of Eastern Europe).

Mobile Coverage

Main connecting routes and cities such as Athens, Thessaloniki, Patras, and most of the islands, enjoy an extensive coverage of both 4G and 5G signals.

Said that many “dark” remote areas between the Greek mountain chains remain where neither internet nor phone signals are available.

For this reason, if you plan to venture into the Peloponnese, ….. region or to the …………is always a forward-looking idea to download some offline maps in advance, or get yourself an old-school physical map.

The main Greek phone companies are Cosmote, Vodafone, and Nova, and all offer prepaid sim card options for travelers.

You could also think about getting an e-sim by e-travelsim, Maya mobile, Airalo, or Holafly.

Time Zone

Greece is typically in the Eastern European Time (EET) zone, which is UTC+2:00. However, during daylight saving time, it switches one hour forward to UTC+3:00 (from March to October).

Read: Colossus of Maroussi (Henty Miller, a book about discovering the beauty and good life of Greece), Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes (Edith Hamilton), Zorba the Greek (Niko Kazantzakis, a light novel with deep meaning)

Listen: Nana Mouskouri, Haris Alexiou, Demis Roussos, Sirtaki and Bouzouki Music, Ela – Despina Vandi (traditional song about Greece)

Watch: Zorba the Greek (1964 – same as the book), Mama Mia (2008 – musical), My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002 – light, funny and accurate movie about Greek culture), the Big Blue (1988), Mediterranean (1992), Herkules (for children!)

Eat: Baked Moussaka (layers of fried aubergine, minced meat, and potatoes with creamy bechamel sauce), Fasolatha (bean soup), Stuffed Yemista (roasted vegetables stuffed with rice), Loukoumades (small-fried doughnut balls with syrup and toppings), souvlaki (grilled meat skewers), keftedes (Greek meatballs), Spanakopita (traditional spinach pies), gyros kebab, baklava pastries, Tsatsiki (garlic sauce), Pastisada (pasta with meat)

Drink: Assyrtiko wine from Santorini, Malagousia Wine, Moschofilero Wine, Mythos Beer, traditional Ouzo (distilled grapes with anise, fennel and other herbs)

Learn: the history of ancient Greece, how Greeks influenced all languages in the world, the history of Meteora, the Mythology of Greek Gods, preparing tzatziki, and the curious Christian Orthodox traditions.

Experience: climb to the top of Monte Olympus, visit the Acropolis of Athens, walk the Thessaloniki waterfront by sunset, cycle or walk around the crest of a volcano crater in Santorini, enter one of the Meteoras monastery, explore the overflowing nature of Corfu and reach the summit of Angelocastro fortress, relax on one of the many idyllic beaches, watch the night sky without light pollution from the Peloponnese mountains, Corfu Eastern and the Pot Smashing tradition, dance a sirtaki

Our Greece bike tours are designed for travelers who want to not only observe the natural beauty of Greece but also experience its millennial history, its folkloristic traditions, and its rich mythology.

Each guided bike tour we offer is organized by a passionate local leader, who will provide you with all the support you need, world-class bikes and equipment, and plenty of tips and information on what to visit, where to eat local, and what to try.

Electric bikes are also available for this trip.

Get ready to immerse in the convivial atmosphere of Greek culture, savor the history, and get stunned by the natural marvels. Come to enjoy the Greek roads with us!

For more information on cycling the most exciting destinations, why not have a look at our complete guides to cycling in Italy and cycling in Japan.