Car & Van Hire - Preveza

Preveza is the capital of Epirus region and has much to offer to visitors interested in culture and active holidays. The majority of tourist attractions are located on the Gulf side of the city, between Leoforo Irinis road and the port. This area is teeming with traditional Greek tavernas, seafood restaurants, pizzerias, ice cream shops, bakeries and cocktail bars.

Near the entrance to the tunnel that crosses the Gulf is St George's castle, built during the Ottoman era and a good place to catch the sunset and take in the views. A short walk takes you to Pantocrator Castro, a historical landmark consisting of the remains of a Venetian castle and fortress. From the Castro, a 10-minute walk takes you to a small marina, which is also the starting point of Pantocrator Promenade.

With car hire in Preveza, a 10-minute drive north takes you to the archaeological site of Nicopolis, where you can walk around the remains of the Roman capital of Epirus, built in the 1st century. From the downtown area, you can drive to Lefkada in 30 minutes. This is one of the few Greek islands you can drive to. Lefkada is perfect for a day out with the family, as it has several child-friendly attractions like the picturesque Nidri waterfalls and Fabbrica Olive Museum, built on the grounds of an old olive oil factory.

Other options for visitors with kids include spending a day at the town beaches (Alonaki, Arosias, and Kiani Akti), driving to Amvrakikos Wetlands National Park combined and to the nearby Salaora wildlife park, where you can spot sea turtles, flamingos, dolphins and dozens of bird species.

If you're an adventure sports fan and have arranged a car or van hire in Preveza, you can drive 55 kilometres north into the heart of the Epirus region. The main attraction here is Acheron river and springs, where you can go zip lining, kayaking, whitewater rafting, canoeing and more. In the same area, you can visit Acherontas Canyon and Kiafa Fortress.

Shops in downtown Preveza sell everyday necessities, and the stores located near the waterfront are a good place to find handicrafts, gifts and souvenirs. The best place for this type of shopping is Saitan Pazar (the Devil's Bazar), a group of narrow cobblestone alleys located in the downtown area.

One of the top events in Preveza is the Nikopolia festival, held between June and September and featuring theatre plays, traditional and classical music by Greek and foreign bands, jazz nights, as well as dance and visual arts performances. Other popular events include Preveza Jazz Festival (May) and Choral Music Festival (July).

If you're new to driving in Greece, it's worth going over the basics of defensive driving before your trip. This is necessary due to local driving habits, which may increase the number of hazards on the road. For example, you'll want to leave ample space between you and the car in front since drivers don't always signal before turning or crossing lanes.

Always be aware of your surroundings and scan the road ahead and to the sides. In urban settings, you want to watch out for pedestrians crossing the street in areas where they don't have the right of way. You'll also want to be vigilant when driving in streets where cars are parked or double-parked since drivers and passengers may open the door and exit the vehicle without checking if it's safe.

Motorcycles are a common sight in Greece. The most frequent infractions among local motorbike drivers are speeding and not stopping at red traffic lights. Keep in mind that many mopeds are driven by tourists, who may be inexperienced driving this type of vehicle. Always give motorbike drivers ample space. When driving on winding mountain roads like those near Acheron river, be extra vigilant when going around corners, as vehicles often park in dangerous spots to take photos.

Speeding is notoriously common, so keep your speed within the legal limit and stay on the right side of the lane, allowing speeding cars to overtake you. Speed limits are 120 km/h on motorways like the A52, which runs east of Aktion and the airport. In built-up areas, the speed limit is 50 km/h unless otherwise indicated. On national roads, the maximum speed is set to 90 km/h.

There's a toll booth in Aktion tunnel, which you'll need to cross when driving to and from the airport and to get to Lefkada. Tolls can be paid in cash or by card.

With regards to parking, there's a large free parking lot by the harbour/marina area. If possible, try to avoid parking on the narrow streets near Saitan Pazar, as there's a higher chance that your vehicle will get scratched.