Patras Carnival: Navigating Greece’s Largest Carnival Event

The New Year has come and with that a world of new adventures await. If you’re wanting to start 2024 with a dazzling experience of culture and food, nowhere does that better than the Patras carnival of Greece. Whether you’re vacationing with family or partying with friends; Greece offers no shortage for the chance of once in a lifetime experience, so long as you’re willing to take it.

Cruising into Patras

Once you’ve done the hard part of the long trip. You’re naturally going to need transportation from where you land – but now is the time for you to enjoy your trip and let Indigo do the heavy lifting. With our car hire in Greece, we can support the process so that you can focus on having the vacation Patras can provide. We also have a blog on all the basics you need for driving in Greece!

With the Patras Carnival lasting up to 2 months, there will be plenty of time for you to enjoy every corner of what Greece has to offer. After that trip though you’re sure to be hungry, so why not indulge on the national food of Moussaka? Or perhaps a drink in one of the many bars of Patras will give you the cultural feel the city offers.

The Carnival

If you’re in the mood for an adventure then you no doubt want to experience the heart of the Carnival, with the parades and occasional light show, it’s no wonder why such a Carnival attracts so many. With endless of amounts of food to try, sights to see and people to meet the Carnival will undoubtedly catch the hearts of any visitors. Driving may also prove useful if you’re looking to participate in the treasure hunt, which throughout the entire carnival period will involve a city-wide search of quizzes and puzzles.

Culminating in a personal tour of the city alongside the themed carnival team. This entire experience works to bring a close to the whole event with a grand finale, the ritual burning of the Carnival King! Which (as the name implies) is a ceremonious burning of a huge float; fireworks and lights bring a fittingly extravagant end to the Carnival, though not necessarily your trip.

Travel tips for Greece

If you’re visiting from the UK however there may be some things to consider whilst you’re making the most of our young driver car hire. One important thing to note is that, as opposed to the UK, the Greeks drive on the right with distance being in kilometres as opposed to miles. Regardless of where you’re travelling from, you may also qualify for our no deposit car hire and debit card car hire, a quick enquiry with our team can alleviate any questions or concerns you may have.

Regarding the environment of Greece, whilst the roads are often wide and well maintained, depending on the area there may be steep roads built around the terrain. If you’re travelling exclusively by road within Greece this will unlikely be an issue as the roads between islands are straightforward. Driving is another word for independence, and it’s with such freedom that get the chance to see the most.

Beyond the Patras Carnival

If you aren’t exclusively interested in the carnival then there are an endless number of other experiences, perhaps you’re travelling with family and are looking to travel around to view the historic landmarks of the city. One such landmark is the Patras Castle, a structure that lives up to being called a castle. Originally built in 551 by Byzantine emperor Justinian I, it’s no wonder that an emperor renowned as ‘The Great’ was responsible for an equally great castle.

Adjacent to the fort is also the Roman Odeon, once used during Roman rule where performers and entertainers would gather the city for theatrics and performances. It has since gone under restoration after centuries of damage. Now it stands as a great place to view ancient history, a perfect spot to visit during your trip.

Finally, we have the Holy Church of Saint Andrew, a Greek Orthodox Church of authentic Byzantine style. Considered to be the largest Orthodox Church in Greece by some, it is no wonder why – the scale itself is a marvel. Housing pieces of the apostle Saint Andrew himself hold cultural and historic significance only found in a city such as Patras.

If you’re looking for more inspiration for trip to Greece, take a look at some of our other articles:

How to start

If after reading up on all of this you’re convinced that you’d enjoy such a trip, we at Indigo Car Hire would love to do what we can’t to help ensure you have the best time possible by alleviating the stress that comes with travel. We have a plethora of services that may be suitable for:

If you are unsure whether Indigo Car Hire is right for you, we have had these satisfied customers who experienced a positive experience. Any other questions, inquiries, or concerns – we are available for contact. You’re free to send an email to [email protected] or call us at +44 (0)113 880 0748 – we would love to hear from you!

Working in the marketing for Indigo, there is always something to learn about when it comes to seeing the world and the best way to do so.