OVERNIGHT PARKING FOR MOTORHOMES ON THE MAINLAND OF GREECE

Places to park overnight on the coast of the Peloponnese, described anti-clockwise from Patras, include:

1. Patras: At the harbour, or in a cul-de-sac leading to a closed campsite a mile or 2 N of the port along the sea front.

1a. Kato Achia: Colin and Jan report a quiet night outside the closed Camping Kato Alissos, on the Old National Road, about 12 miles west of Patras. They even found water!

2. Kalogria Beach: About 20 miles S of Patras, turn right off the New National Road for Kalogria. After the Arachos air force base, 5 miles along, turn left for another couple of miles to Kalogria Beach. Several places to stay in winter, under the pine trees by the shore or on the car parks of empty tavernas and cafes. Warning!!! In March 2008, Colin and Jan wrote to say that they were disturbed at night by a group of youths on motorbikes throwing rocks at their motorhome. On the other hand, we had a quiet night there in December 2007.

3. Killini: 45 miles SW of Patras. The port for Zakinthos and Kefalonia. On the harbour, or on the sea front W of the harbour.

4. Loutra Killinis: 5 miles S of Killinis. On the sea front at the end of the cul-de-sac, in a turning circle. The abandoned EOT hotel and former campsite (now being rebuilt) provide other opportunities in winter.

5. Thinnon Forest: 3 miles S of Vartholomio (which is between Gastouni and Loutra Killinis). On the beach by the tavernas in a large car park.

6. Amaliada: Several lanes lead to quiet seaside parking areas SW of Amaliada.

7. Pirgos: The car park of the AB on the right of the main road (the New Nat Road), waiting for the supermarket to open!

8. Lake Kaiafas: 5 miles N of Zacharo by the warm springs and baths at Kaiafa Lake. Approach on gravel road leaving main road N of lake. There is a 'No Camping' sign, but no-one has troubled us during overnight parking in winter, when the complex is closed.

9. Giannitsohori: 10 miles S of Zacharo. One of several cul-de-sacs leading to seafront parking.

10. Kiparissia: On the sea front off the road leading to the campsite (which is closed in winter).

11. Marathopoli: 3 miles W of Gargaliani on minor seafront road. By the small fishing port.

12. Gialova: 10 miles N of Pylos. Follow tracks leading to headland on N side of Navarino Bay (you will probably have company near one of Greece's best beaches).

13. Pylos: Excellent overnight parking on the harbour.

14. Methoni: On the extensive harbour car park.

15. Petalidi: On the waterfront south of the town centre.

16. Nea Itio: 4 miles N of Areopoli. Leave the main road to the N of Nea Itio to find small splendid parking (signed) by a fish taverna, which is closed in winter. Alternatively, park by the shore. Road through the village is very narrow - leave the way you entered.

17. Gerolimenas: Near the foot of the Mani, west side. Small gravel car park behind the tiny harbour, behind hotel, W of the road. Great place from which to cycle to Cape Matapan.

18. Marmari: Near the foot of the Mani, east side. Parking area before the hotel at the end of the road, signed 'Parking for Car and Mobile Homes'. Even nearer to Cape Matapan.

19. Gythion: On the promenade on the N side of town, on road towards Skala.

20. Glikovrisi: 20 miles NE of Gythion. On the beach outside the (now permanently closed) campground.

21. Monemvassia: By the harbour, S of town, before Camping Paradise (closed in winter). Alternatively, continue past Paradise for a couple of miles to park on a little cove.

22. Paralia Astros: A long way N of Monemvassia. 18 miles S of Argos. Main road bypasses town. In car park for nature reserve, just N of town of Paralia Astros.

23. Nea Kios: 5 miles S of Argos, 5 miles W of Nafplio. In large car park on seafront road.

24. Nafplio: Lots of opportunities in large parking areas around commercial harbour and railway station.

25. Epidavros, ancient site and theatre near Asklipio, 20 miles E of Nafplio. In the extensive free car park. (Not to be confused with Palea Epidavros on the coast, where there are seasonal campsites.)

26. Corinth: At Isthmia, the far E end of the Canal. In large car park at the very end of the canal near control station or, just S, on a small sea-front road near gardens.

27. Rion: 5 miles NE of Patras. Ferry port or new bridge to cross the Gulf of Corinth. Lots of space on large waiting areas for ferry.

In January 2010, John Hughes added the following information based on a motorhome tour of Greece earlier in 2009. His experience seems to show a greater use of overnight parking opportunities by motorhomers, more notices 'prohibiting' overnight parking and some evidence of police activity in at least one location.

Given the extent to which Greeks park their cars, vans and trucks at any time of the day or night, it seems to us that such notices are not enforceable. It is more likely that nearby campsite owners are using their 'contacts' to erect such notices to force or con motorhomers onto their overcharging sites. At the time of writing, Greece is in no position to oppress tourists and new legislation brings in, for the first time, the chance to question the questionable actions of the police (for an example of oppresive police action against tourists see, for example, our own bad experiences in: The Siege of Kalithea)

John Hughes writes:

"Last year we spent some 8 weeks, in spring, exploring Greece. As this was our first visit to the country using our motorhome, we are indebted to you and all the information on your website. Apart from a rather out of date German publication (Stellplatzen in Griekenland), we relied heavily on the information we had printed from the Magbaz website in order to find suitable places for overnight halts.

Below are a few notes I made which may help you keep your invaluable list up to date.

* Nafplio: We, plus all the other motorhomers there during the day, were warned by a police roving patrol that there was definitely no overnight parking on the large parking lot in the docks. (Late April 2009)

* Mycenae, Messene and Mistras: Overnight parking signs were very prominent in the car parks at the ruins.

* Monemavasia: Water tap at harbour parking. This is the large parking lot by the fishing harbour. The parking by the causeway had signs up forbidding overnight parking.

* Parolio Beach: No parking at Parolio Beach but just north of the town we found a large beachside car park at Vernena Beach (not the nature reserve where the car park was very muddy and totally unsuitable). A tap was available out of season.

A couple of other excellent free stopovers we used (not on the Peloponnese) were:

* Vliho on Lefkada: Harbourside

* Xiliadau: Some 15 kms east of the northern end of the Rio bridge - this was a tranquil spot with a tap and a taverna next to the harbour-side parking. We shared the spot with two Dutch motorhomers, who said that it was listed on Dutch websites.

* Vergina: Two spots - the car park for the ruins, which was free, and a private car park in the village for 3 euros and well signed. This spot is listed in the German Bord Atlas

Various Dutch motorhomers whom we met during our stay in Greece recommended the following Dutch and German websites:

www.griekenlandmetdecamper.nl (means 'Greece with the Motorhome'). In Dutch. Many free camping places in Greece, with maps and GPS co-ordinates.

www.campercontact.nl (means 'Motorhome Contact'). In Dutch. 6 free camping places in Greece plus many sites in many other countries.

www.campervriendelijk.nl (means 'Motorhome Friendly'). In Dutch. Look under 'Camper Plaatsen' ('Motorhome Places') then 'Buitenland' ('Abroad' if you are Dutch). Many free and paying camping places in Greece and elsewhere including 1 in Albania.

www.womo.de (means 'Motorhome') In German. Devoted to selling books of free camping places.

I am not sure how useful these sites are but both Dutch and German motorhomers seemed to have a wealth of detail of safe places to stay in Greece."

Note that Greece is unlikely to be included in SatNav systems: their definition of Europe often ends at Italy and Austria!

Most maps made and sold in Greece are simply misleading: they are hard to read, inaccurate and very selective in their content. This is equally true of the atlases that are on sale at inflated prices. If you do buy an atlas, check that all the pages are there, in the right order! (We once returned a faulty one bought in Igoumenitsa, to find they were all alike!)

The best map of the Peloponnese, made and available in Greece, is number 5 in the 1:250,000 series 'Road Editions' which cover Greece in 5 overlapping maps (Crete is the 6th). There is an index in Greek and English, including separate indices to monasteries and ancient sites, and street maps of key towns. Of all the road maps of Greece, this one does the most to show contours. The Greek Islands are covered separately in 18 maps with scales ranging from 1:20,000 to 1:1,000,000. Another series for walkers covers 8 mountain areas at 1:50,000 (roughly 1 mile = 1 inch).

Available in the UK, but not seen on sale in Greece, is the much cheaper option, the 1:300,000 GeoCentre Euro Map 'Greece and the Islands', published by RV Verlag GmbH in Stuttgart. Available from good bookshops in the UK; we bought ours in Blackpool. Printed on both sides, it covers the whole of Greece on a good scale, clearly and with considerable accuracy. All the islands are included and there is a splendid little map showing the regions. The index is in English only, with a very few street plans.

Stanfords of Covent Garden, the best map and guidebook source in the UK, will post maps and guides to Greece, to a Poste Restante for example, paying by credit card. Their International Mail Order Service Number is +44 (0)207 836 1321. Website: www.stanfords.co.uk

And, of course, there are the Google maps!