Greece eases camper van ban after mass protests, with conditions

Demand for motorhome rentals in Greece is rising, with daily rates from €120 to €180. Summer bookings start as early as January, but the country lacks sufficient parking infrastructure

The Greek Ministry of Environment and Energy (YPEN) issued a directive activating forestry and urban planning laws to dismantle motorhomes placed on protected lands. The order references a 1991 regulation on movable property in illegal structures and targets cases where temporary motorhome parking evolves into permanent unauthorized buildings. It mandates the removal of a motorhome in Corinthia and sets a precedent for similar cases nationwide.

The Hellenic Motorhome Club (ELAT) reported unjustified pressure on motorhome owners in the Diakopto area. According to the club, following complaints from the Panhellenic Association of Camping Owners, police inspected the motorhome parking site nine times in three days, finding no violations. The club states that parking and living inside a motorhome is legal as long as no external equipment is deployed, and calls for an end to using police resources to pressure alternative tourism.

On the Greek island of Zakynthos, architecture firm Kasawoo has built a compact house of 16 sq m (2×8 m) without a concrete foundation. The structure is based on the dimensions of a caravan and is intended for family holidays. The house was manufactured in Romania, transported by truck and ferry, then by tractor to the site. Inside are two bedrooms, a kitchen, and a bathroom, with no air conditioning but natural ventilation through barn doors. The facade is painted in a traditional blood-red color for the island. The project is an alternative to mass villa construction, which, according to the architects, exacerbates water shortages on the island.

Cristian Caloeanu, lead singer of the Romanian band 'Haiducii lui 7 Cai', traveled with his wife and four-month-old daughter to the Greek island of Thassos in a caravan. The family stayed at a closed-circuit campsite with a private beach. The journey took seven hours. According to Caloeanu, the baby handled the trip well, and the vacation on the Greek coast was cheaper than on the Romanian coast.

Greece has introduced strict penalties for wild camping, including setting up tents and parking caravans and campervans in forests, beaches, archaeological sites, and public areas. Fines start at €300 and can reach €3,000 with possible imprisonment of up to six months. On April 24, 2026, police cleared Lavrakas beach on Gavdos island of year-round campers, and on Skiathos island, two men were arrested for illegal camping and waste dumping. Authorities recommend using licensed campsites for lawful recreation.