Greece for Brazilian Drivers — Mountain Roads, Ferries & a Looser Alcohol Limit

Greece is made for a road trip: the Peloponnese, the mainland mountains, island-hopping by ferry with the car. A Brazilian driver keeps to the right, exactly as at home, so the first junction holds no surprises. The surprises come from the terrain, the paperwork and one rule that runs the opposite way to what you might expect.

The quick answers

Yes, you can hire and drive. Bring a 1968 International Driving Permit next to your Brazilian licence and passport. Greece’s code (article 94 paragraph 3 of the KOK) treats a licence that is not in Greek or English as needing an official translation, and the IDP is the simplest way to supply one. Fines for the most common offences start at EUR 150 and climb to EUR 700, and the emergency number is 112.

Your licence, in Portuguese

A Brazilian card is printed in Portuguese, which is neither Greek nor English. That is why the IDP matters here more than in, say, an English-speaking country. Get it in Brazil before you fly; you cannot fix it from a rental desk in Athens. Keep all three documents together in the glovebox bag, not in the suitcase.

Alcohol: Greece is the looser one

Brazil’s Lei Seca has enforced zero tolerance since 2012. Greece’s limit is 0.05. Many Brazilians arrive expecting Europe to be stricter, and here it is not. Do not read that as permission. Greek police run roadside checks and penalties are heavy, so one glass at lunch followed by a mountain road is still a bad plan.

What the fines look like

Greece’s speeding bands under the 2025 code (Law 5209/2025, article 24):

Other offences cost more than a Brazilian is used to. Using a phone is EUR 350 and a 30-day licence suspension on a first offence; a repeat is EUR 1,000 and 180 days. No seatbelt is EUR 350 with a 30-day suspension, and a red light is EUR 700 with 60 days. In Brazil the same red light is BRL 293 and seven points, which converts to roughly EUR 50. Suspensions matter for a visitor: the licence and car papers can be taken on the spot.

Speeds compared with home

Rural roads are therefore slower in Greece even though motorways are faster, and the lower figure suits the bends. Town limits are posted and change often, so read the signs rather than carrying a number in your head. Fixed cameras and mobile patrols both operate.

Mountains, islands and Athens

Step off the motorway and Greece becomes switchbacks, narrow village lanes and coast roads that stretch a short hop on the map into a long afternoon. Drive in a low gear downhill, let faster locals pass at lay-bys, and plan extra hours rather than minutes. Parking in Athens is improvised and scooters thread every gap; if you only want the city, public transport is less stressful than a hire car. For ferries, book vehicle space ahead in busy weeks, arrive early for loading and expect to reverse up a ramp. Check the rental contract for ferry cover first.

What must be in the car

Greek rules list a warning triangle, a fire extinguisher and a first-aid kit as required. A reflective vest is only recommended, while Brazil does not require one at all. A hire car normally comes equipped, so just check the items are there at pickup.

Emergency numbers

Greece does not use Brazil’s 190, 192 and 193. Save these instead: 112 for general emergencies, 100 for police, 166 for ambulance and 199 for fire. The Greece driving guide covers the rest, and if a fine follows you home through the rental firm, our note on who pays driving fines abroad explains the process.

Sources

• Greek Highway Code (KOK), art. 94 par. 3 (foreign licences; translation when not in Greek or English)
• Law 5209/2025 (new KOK), art. 24 (speeding fines and suspensions)