The best motorcycle roads in Greece

Greece is mostly mountains, and most of its mountain roads are empty. Away from the islands and the main motorways you get hairpins above the sea, stone villages, gorges and more bends per kilometre than almost anywhere in Europe.

At a glance

The Peloponnese

Cross the Corinth Canal and you're on a peninsula that could fill a two-week holiday on its own.

• The Mani. The middle finger of the Peloponnese, south of Areopoli: a dry, rocky coast road past stone tower houses to Gerolimenas and beyond.
• Kalamata to Sparta. The road over the Taygetos mountains climbs through a narrow gorge with tight bends and big drops.
• Arcadia. Mountain villages like Dimitsana and Stemnitsa, linked by quiet, twisty roads through the hills.
• The east coast. From Nafplio south along the coast to Leonidio, then up the climb into the mountains behind it.

Tips: base yourself in Nafplio or Kalamata and ride loops. Distances look short on the map and take far longer than you think.

The Pindus mountains

The Pindus is the spine of mainland Greece, running north to south between Epirus and Thessaly. The classic crossing is the old road over the Katara Pass between Ioannina and Kalambaka, via the mountain town of Metsovo. Since the Egnatia motorway opened, most traffic takes the tunnels below, and the old road is left to riders and the odd truck.

Tips: the high sections can see snow late into spring. Fuel up in Ioannina, Metsovo or Kalambaka, as there's little between them.

Meteora

Above the town of Kalambaka, monasteries sit on top of huge rock pillars. The road that loops up from Kastraki between them is short, but every bend has a view. Ride it in the early morning, before the tour buses, and stop at the viewpoints rather than in the road.

Tips: the monasteries have dress codes and closing days. If you want to go inside, check before you go and bring long trousers.

Zagori

North of Ioannina, Zagori is a region of grey stone villages, arched stone bridges and the Vikos Gorge, one of the deepest gorges in the world relative to its width. The roads between the villages are narrow and full of hairpins, especially the climb to Papingo.

Tips: stop at Monodendri and walk to the viewpoint over the gorge. Village roads can be steep and narrow, with tight turns into the squares. Park at the edge of the village.

Good to know

• Tolls apply on the main Greek motorways, paid at booths. Check the current rates for motorcycles.
• Goats, gravel and diesel. Expect animals around blind corners and loose stones on mountain roads.
• Fuel is sparse in the mountains. Fill up whenever you can.
• Ferries from Italy land at Igoumenitsa and Patras, close to Epirus and the Peloponnese.
• Heat. July and August are very hot. Ride early and stop in the shade at midday.

Season

April to June and September to October are best: green hills in spring, warm sea in autumn, and quiet roads in both. July and August are hot and busy on the coast. The mountains are cooler then, but snow can close the high roads from late autumn into spring.

Ride them with others

Find group rides in Greece in MotoBFF, or post your own and meet riders at the start of the climb. The city chat where you start from is the place to ask about conditions in the mountains.