Europe > Greece > Kastoria (KSO)
The Car or no Car advice for Kastoria can be broken down into three similar questions - do you need a car in Kastoria ; is it worth it (based on costs), and ultimately - should you rent one? (a balance of the two).🚆 🚌⛴️ Do we need to rent a car in Kastoria ?
These scores are based on the quality of public transport and other travel options. If these are good enough to see the main points of interest, then you don’t need to rent a car.
💰💶💳 Is it worth hiring a car in Kastoria?
These scores reflect the practical factors that affect whether renting a car is convenient, good value, and stress-free.
Instead of island hopping, Kastoria offers:
-
Lakeside walks and misty mornings
-
Grand 18th–19th century mansions
-
One of Greece’s highest concentrations of Byzantine churches
-
A strong sense of everyday Greek life, not seasonal tourism
This difference is exactly what makes the car vs no car question more important here than on most islands.
🚶 Visiting Kastoria without a car
Perfectly workable if:
-
You’re staying in the old town or near the lake
-
Your plans focus on:
-
The lakeside promenade
-
Churches, museums, cafés, and tavernas
-
-
You’re visiting for a short, city-based stay
What to expect:
-
The town itself is compact and walkable
-
Taxis exist but are limited
-
Buses are functional but infrequent and rigid
👉 For a cultural, slow-paced visit centred on Kastoria itself, you can manage without a car.
🚗 When hiring a car really pays off
A car quickly becomes the better option if you want to go beyond the town.
You’ll want a car if you plan to:
-
Explore Lake Orestiada properly, not just the promenade
-
Visit nearby highlights like the Dispilio Neolithic settlement
-
Reach mountain villages, monasteries, or viewpoints
-
Continue onward to:
-
Florina
-
Prespa Lakes
-
Epirus or North Macedonia
-
Why it matters here:
-
Western Macedonia is beautiful but sparsely connected
-
Distances aren’t huge, but public transport doesn’t link them well
-
Landscapes and side trips are the real reward
👉 Without a car, you see Kastoria. With a car, you see the region.
🧭 Final verdict
Kastoria is one of mainland Greece’s classic “borderline” destinations.
-
No car: fine for a short, town-focused stay
-
Car: strongly recommended for exploration, flexibility, and onward travel
🚗 ✅ ❌ Summary Table
This summary score brings how much you really need a car, whether it’s worth it, driver options, local driving rules, and an overall recommendation.
