Travel tips: Greece

Heading out from home? We’ve gathered some tips to make sure your trip is the smoothest it can be.

About Greece

Greece (Greek: Ελλάδα), officially the Hellenic Republic (Greek: Ελληνική Δημοκρατία), historically also known as Hellas, is a country located in Southeast Europe. Its population is approximately 10.7 million as of 2018; Athens, the nation’s capital, is its largest city, followed by Thessaloniki.

Situated on the southern tip of the Balkan Peninsula, Greece is located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa. It shares land borders with Albania to the northwest, North Macedonia and Bulgaria to the north, and Turkey to the northeast. 

Using credit or debit card

Do I need cash in Greece, or can I use my card everywhere?

Nearly every business has a card terminal in Greece, but that doesn’t always mean they will take your card.

It’s not uncommon in tourist areas for a business to insist on cash, often with an excuse like their terminal being broken.

For this reason, it’s a good idea to carry some cash as a backup

What currency do they use here?

The currency here is Euros! The symbol is € or EUR.

Which ATM’s can I use for free?

Free withdrawals at these ATMs.

• Attica Bank
• Bank of Chania
• HSBC

Fee’s for withdrawals at these ATMs. Cash withdrawals at ATMs charges from € 2-3. 

• Piraeus Bank
• Alpha Bank
• Euronet
• Europa Bank
• National Bank of Greece

If I want cash, how much should I take out of an ATM?

€50 should be enough for a few days, since you can use your card for nearly everything.

Staying connected

Can I roam, or should I get a local SIM?

All EU mobile plans should let you roam for free.

If you don’t have an EU plan, you can learn about your local SIM card options here.

Useful things to know

How does tipping work?

Restaurants will normally include a service charge on the bill. This is about 16%, and is often not specified separately on the bill. It should be written somewhere on the menu, look for it towards the end with the other taxes.

When the service charge is added, you don’t need to tip. Often people will still round up the bill to the nearest euro or two, if the service was good.

How much does a 0.5L beer cost?

€ 4,00

How much does an average meal cost?

€ 10,00

What’s the emergency number?

112

What type of plug do they use?

This one! It’s the standard European plug.

What side of the road do they drive on?

They drive on the right side of the road here.

How do I navigate my way around?

Google and Apple Maps both work well in Greece.

Otherwise, we recommend Rome2Rio as the best way to find out how to get anywhere. It even tells you the cost of each option.

Any other good tips?

• There’s so much amazing Greek food to try, from Olives, Amazing grilled meats and fish, Mousakka, Octopus and more. 
• Wash down your amazing greek feasts with a traditional Baklava as dessert. Delicious!

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If you’ve been to Greece share your experience! The following would be really useful for others to know:

• Which ATMs are free to use or was there a fee? 
• Any other info you think may be useful.

Check out our latest travel tips from here!