Greece on a Swedish Licence — Faster Roads, a Looser Limit, Real Hazards

Swedish drivers arrive in Greece with the easy part done: you stay on the right, and an EU licence is recognised throughout the EU, so no international permit is needed. What takes adjustment is everything Sweden engineers out of its roads and Greece does not.

A looser alcohol line

Greece allows 0.05% for experienced drivers, more than double Sweden’s 0.02%, and holds young and novice drivers to 0.02%. The higher number is not a margin to spend: UK advice warns that being over the limit can bring a fine and possible prison. Keep your Swedish habit and drink nothing before driving.

New town limits, fast motorways

Greece rewrote its road traffic code in 2025. Since 1 January 2026 the default limit in built-up areas is 30 km/h, rising to 50 only on one-way roads with two or more lanes, two-way roads with two lanes each way, or roads with a central median, unless signs say otherwise. Outside towns a car may do 90 km/h on ordinary roads, 110 on expressways and 130 on motorways, faster than at home. The penalties climb steeply: going more than 50 km/h over costs EUR 700 and an on-the-spot 60-day licence removal.

The roads themselves

UK advice describes Greek traffic as busy, fast and chaotic, especially in the larger cities, and notes that local drivers often ignore speed limits. Expect variable surfaces and tight mountain bends, and on the islands narrow lanes and scooters weaving between cars. Slow down and read the road rather than trusting the posted number. Winter tyres are not required.

Numbers and tools

112 reaches ambulance, fire and police, and Canada’s advice also lists 100 for the police. The Driving Permit Checker confirms paperwork for other stops, the Speeding Fine Calculator estimates penalties, and the Greece driving guide has the full rules.

Sources

• Law 5209/2025 (Greek road traffic code), art. 24: 30 km/h in built-up areas, 50 on multi-lane or median-divided roads, 90/110/130 outside towns, EUR 700 and 60 days for more than 50 km/h over (consolidated text): taxheaven.gr
• WHO Global status report on road safety 2023, Greece profile (0.05 g/dl; 0.02 g/dl young or novice): who.int
• GOV.UK foreign travel advice, Greece safety and security (traffic busy, fast and chaotic; drink-driving fine and possible prison): gov.uk
• Your Europe, driving licence recognition in the EU: europa.eu
• Riksdagen, lag (1951:649) om straff för vissa trafikbrott, 4 § (Sweden, 0.2 per mille): riksdagen.se
• GOV.UK foreign travel advice, Greece getting help (112 for ambulance, fire and police): gov.uk
• Global Affairs Canada, Greece travel advice (police 100): travel.gc.ca