USEFUL TIPS FOR TRAVELLERS
Visa requirements
Greece is a Member-State of the European Union and has signed the Schengen Agreement. While traveling within the E.U., you only need your Identity card. However, a passport is necessary for a number of other transactions, such as currency exchange, purchases, etc. Visas are not required by European citizens from countries that are part of the Schengen Area. Greece as a member of the Schengen Agreement, has abolished controls on common internal lands, at air and sea borders and allows Member-State citizens to travel around without a visa for a short stay period of up to three (3) months. However, keep in mind that airlines and other carriers require a valid passport and/or identity card.
Citizens coming from countries that have not yet joined Schengen Area may require a visa to enter Greece. The E.U. visitors from these countries can acquire further information from the Hellenic Embassies or Consulates in their countries, or from their travel agencies. Before visiting Greece, please consult the detailed information on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ website (https://www.mfa.gr/en/visas/visas-for-foreigners-traveling-to-greece/countries-requiring-or-not-requiring-visa.html) and find out whether you require a Visa.
Note: During your stay in Greece, if you require a Visa, you are advised to have suitable insurance coverage for emergency medical or other needs.
Currency Regulations
Euro (€) is the official currency in Greece. There is free and unlimited importing of foreign currency in Greece either in traveller’s cheques or cash. But on departure, amounts exceeding EUR 10,000 or more or the equivalent in another currency (incl. banker’s draft and cheques of any kind) must be declared.
Money can be exchanged in any bank, exchange bureaus, some travel agencies or in some hotels. Credit/debit cards are used almost anywhere in Greece for paying. You can also use them to withdraw cash from ATMs.
Amenities
Electricity Supply: 220 volts AC at 50 Hz. The wall sockets have two or three round holes as in continental Europe. All appliances from North America require a transformer and all appliances from Great Britain require an adaptor.
Landline dialing systems: Tone and Pulse, wherever the telephone sets are able to interchange between systems. You can easily find a public telephone, property of the Hellenic Telecommunications Organization (OTE), which works with a special telephone card.
Mobile communications: GSM access networks, similar to the ones in Europe, cover the whole of Greece. Mobile phones are very popular and affordable so in order to avoid roaming charges, you could purchase local prepaid SIMs.
Cards for telephone booths and mobile phones can be purchased from kiosks, local post offices, local telecommunication provider stores, or tourists’ shops (country dialing code : +30)
Television systems: PAL – SECAM – M.
Water Quality: The quality of drinking water in the majority of the mainland of Greece (Athens included) is excellent. However, in very few areas and certain islands bottled water is recommended. Check with your driver or with the hotel for specific information.
Healthcare and Medical Assistance
Tourists requiring urgent medical care should go to the nearest hospital emergency ward (airports and many train stations also have medical teams and first aid facilities). Those with serious illnesses or allergies should always carry a special note from their physicians giving detailed information on the treatments they are following or that may be necessary. Pharmacies (ΦΑΡΜΑΚΕΙΟ), generally follow shop opening times (approx. from 08.30 to 15.00 Monday to Saturday and from 17:30 to 21:00 on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays) but in large cities many are open throughout the day. Night-time service is provided on a shift basis. Business hours and night shifts are displayed outside each pharmacy and are published in local papers. Before departing from home, it is advisable to get a document certifying coverage by the national health care service.
Maps
There are a number of maps of the country on the market and most of them are provided free of charge by Hotels, and Travel Agents.
Press
The majority of American and European newspapers and magazines arrive in Athens on a daily basis and are available in many places. Central news stands and kiosks most probably have whatever you may want.
Time Zone
Greece is 7 hours ahead of the Eastern Standard Time of U.S.A. and Canada and 9 hours behind Australian Eastern Standard time. Greek time is GΜΤ +2 hours.
Shopping Hours
Big department stores in the center of Athens and supermarkets are open Monday through Saturday 09:00-21:00 while the same applies for tourist areas. Individual stores have their own working hours:
- Monday, Wednesday and Saturday 09:00-15:00
- Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 09:00-14:00 and 17:00-21:00
Shops and department stores are closed on major public holidays. The majority of big clothing brands have stores in Athens.
Major public holidays
The following is a list of official holidays, during which all departments of public services and most stores are closed:
- January 1 – New Year’s Day
- January 6 – Epiphany.
- First day of Lent (movable) – in Greek it is known as ‘Clean Monday’
- March 25 – Anniversary of the declaration of the start of Greek War of Independence from the Ottoman Empire, in 1821.
- Good Friday (movable)
- Easter Sunday, Easter Monday (movable)
- May 1 – Labor Day
- Monday Of the Holy Spirit (movable) –Whit Monday or Pentecost Monday
- August 15 – Assumption or Dormition of the Holy Virgin
- October 28 – Celebration of the Greek refusal to the Italian ultimatum of 1940
- December 25 – Christmas Day
Useful telephone numbers
Emergency SOS 112
Police 100
Tourist Police 1571
Fire Department 199
First Aid / Ambulance 166
Duty Hospitals & Clinics 14944
SOS Doctors 1016
Tips for touring
- We strongly suggest to start your tours early in the morning (07:30 – 08:00) in order to avoid
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- Traffic delays
- Excessive weather heat
- Crowded lines and queues
- During the hot days of June to August, please make sure to bring with you sun protecting accessories, e.g. sun protecting lotions, sunglasses and hats.
- Entrance to Churches and Monasteries visited in our tours is allowed provided a modest outfit, i.e. gentlemen wearing long trousers and ladies wearing long skirts.
