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Hiring a car and venturing into the Greek countryside is one of the best ways to see this country. Many tourists prefer this arrangement for its flexibility alone, aside from the thrill of seemingly driving backwards through the centuries when crossing from the metropolitan city centres into the rolling countryside and ancient ruins. However, it's important to drive cautiously in Greece , as the road surface can be uneven at times and the hairpin turns can easily take you by surprise.

Seatbelts are required by law for all front seat passengers and children less than 10 years old need to be secured in a child safety seat in the front section. Traffic drives on the right side of the street, and talking on a mobile phone while driving isn't allowed. The legal blood alcohol limit for all drivers in Greece is 0.5mg/ml.

Finally, cars need to be equipped with a standard emergency kit which includes a red warning triangle, a first-aid pack and a fire extinguisher. The roadside assistance hotline can be reached by dialling 104, and accidents should be reported to police by calling 100.

Athens is Greece's most congested city, with rush hour traffic nearly unbearable. As a result, there's a system in force that only permits locals to alternate driving every other day according to their license plates (odds on one day and evens on another).

Tourists are exempted from this stipulation, as are hired vehicles and those with foreign plates which are permitted to drive any day of the week. Don't be surprised to find complete city blocks of downtown Athens barricaded off during periods of exceptional congestion.

Parking is clearly marked with signposts that read in both English and Greek. Yellow dotted lines indicate an area where stopping and idling is forbidden; otherwise, most public parking zones are by permit only. Generally, you can buy a permit from a booth nearby.

Once you've had enough of Athens, you'll most likely head out into the surrounding countryside. All of the inter-city roads are three-lane toll ways that levy a very light tax for their use.

Heading out of Athens, travel time to Patras is 2 hours (130 miles) and to Salonica 5 hours (300 miles). Filling up the gas tank is no trouble at all. These days, most pumps are equipped with credit card readers that allow for 24-hour service. However, it's not a bad idea to carry around a little cash when you're driving in more remote areas, just in case the refuel stations don't accept credit cards.

As long as you aren't ashamed to exercise a little caution, your time in Greece should be rewarding. Watch out for livestock on the road when driving across country; and on the other side of the spectrum, expect to spend significant time locked up in traffic at the urban centres. Whenever possible, plan your driving time around morning and evening rush hours. In no time at all, you'll see why so many visitors choose to be their own tour guide in this unique place.