In a world obsessed with speed, slowing down has become a luxury, so has peacefulness. For many, travel is all about doing things differently. It’s also about disconnecting and experiencing something new or uncommon.
Nowadays, finding places where you can still hear the sound of footsteps, people chatting, church bells tolling, or the whisper of the waves instead of angry car horns is rare. And yet, in Greece, such places still exist.
Welcome to “All About Greece”, part of “TO BHMA International Edition Travels Greece with You” series. Here we answer your questions and introduce you to this wonderful country we call home and you call vacation!
Of the roughly 200 inhabited Greek islands, only a handful are still car free. Some 20 years ago, cars were a rare sight on many isles and in mountain villages – which meant that you could immerse yourself in the sounds of traditional Greek life.
For travelers seeking slower, cleaner, and more sustainable holiday spots, there are three Greek islands that attract the crowds exactly because there are no cars but there are also some, where cars are few and far between. Here, city noise is replaced with the soothing sound of the sea.
Hydra – Timeless Elegance
Hydra is perhaps Greece’s most famous car-free island. It’s no wonder songwriter Leonard Cohen had a home here as do many artists, writers, and film stars.
The island banned all motor vehicles decades ago and instead locals still rely on donkeys and handcarts to carry goods through the narrow, stone-paved streets which were never meant for cars. This is true, of course, for most if not all Greek islands. On Hydra, strict preservation laws ensure it stays this way.
The result is like traveling back in time. You can hear the bells, the sea, people talking against the postcard-like backdrop of aristocratic 18th-century mansions. Without traffic, Hydra’s harbor remains as elegant as it was back then. These neoclassical manors now house boutique hotels and art galleries, while quiet alleys lead to to viewpoints overlooking the Aegean.
Life here is slow and relaxed. You can walk between beaches or hire a water taxi to reach more remote coves. The combination of history, quiet, and Greek island charm makes Hydra an enduring favorite.
Hydra is an hour and 30 minutes from Athens and you can get there by ferry from Piraeus.
Spetses – Style and Grace
Spetses island, Greece
Another car-free Greek island is Spetses, where horse-drawn carriages and bicycles replace taxis and cars in the old town. The island – ideal for a weekend escape due to its close proximity to Athens – is a popular filming location thanks to its well preserved neoclassical mansions and the impressive Poseidonion Grand Hotel overlooking the harbor. Spetses also hosts the annual Tweed Run when visitors ride vintage bicycles around the island dressed in tweed, and dozens of sports events.
Cars are prohibited in the old town and around Dapia harbor, making it ideal for cyclists and walkers. Beyond its beauty, Spetses boasts a rich naval history having played a key role in Greece’s War of Independence. Today, it draws visitors for its culture and sports events, lively cafes, and romantic sunsets.
You can get there on a short ferry ride from Porto Heli (Peloponnese) or from Piraeus.
Halki – Peace of Mind
Halki, Greece
Far from Athens, the small island of Halki, near Rhodes, is one of the most peaceful islands in the Dodecanese. Halki has fewer than 300 residents and no cars. Life centers around the Nimborio, the main village, and stretches along a horseshoe-shaped harbor framed by pastel-colored neoclassical houses.
Everything here happens on foot. Walking trails lead from the port to beaches and it takes less than an hour to cross the island from one side to the other.
You can get to Halki with a ferry from Rhodes and Tilos.
On the Quieter Side of Greece
One of the things that attracted visitors to Greece over the decades was the slow pace, the simplicity and the connection with nature and others around you. This is today a luxury. Thankfully several places in Greece still preserve this way of life.
Other islands that are for the most part car-free include the twin Koufonisia isles where walking is the norm, no rental cars are available and footpaths connect one beach to another.
Donousa, Schinousa, Agistri, Lipsi, Gavdos, Poros, and Antiparos, where cars are allowed but are few and far between with locals and visitors preferring bicycles or walking, which suits the relaxed way life.
As of late, many Greek islands and mainland destinations are restricting traffic and encouraging cycling as a means of transport and leisure.
* Have questions about Greece? Send them to Maria Paravantes at mparavantes@tovima.com
