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Visa Requirements
Greece is part of the Shengen treaty so European Union travellers
from other countries members of the treaty do not need a passport.
All Citizens of European Union countries have free access. A visa
is not needed for visitors from USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand
staying of up to three months. Visitors from all other countries have
to obtain a visa from the Greek Embassy or the Consulate in their
residence country. For duration of stay longer than 3 months, they
have to obtain permission from the Aliens Bureau in Athens.
Currency Regulations
The 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, any remaining amount that is worth more
than 1.760€, in any currency, has to be declared. Money can be
exchanged in any bank, exchange bureaus, some travel agencies or in
some hotels. Credit cards are used almost anywhere in Greece for paying
hotel or restaurant bills. You can also use them to withdraw cash
from ATMs. Smart card credit cards have not been introduced yet by
the local banks so take into account credit card readers are not very
advanced.
Ancient Athenian four-dracma
coin of 455 B.C. |
Ancient Athenian four-dracma
coin of 413 B.C. |
Contemporary Greek
1 Euro coin |
Time Zone
2 hours ahead of GMT in the winter 3 in the summer. In practice 1
hour ahead of continental Europe, 2 hours from the U.K. and 7 hrs
from the US East Coast.
Amenities
Electricity Supply:
220 volts a.c. at 50 Hz. The wall sockets have two or three round
holes as in continental Europe.
Telephone dialling systems:
Tone and Pulse, wherever the telephone sets are able to interchange
between systems.
Television systems:
PAL - SECAM - M.
Water Quality:
Overall, the water quality is excellent. But you have to be aware
that in a few regions and on certain islands, the water is not drinkable.
Then, it is preferable to ask for mineral water, even for your coffee.
Communications:
GSM access networks, similar to the ones in Europe, cover the whole
of Greece. Mobile phones are very popular and cheap so to avoid
roaming charges could purchase local prepaid SIMs to use. You can
easily find a public telephone, property of the Hellenic Telecommunications
Organisation (OTE), that work with a telephone card. Cards for mobile
phones and for telephone booths can be purchased from kiosks, local
post offices, local OTE offices, or tourists' shops.
Country dialling code : +30
Weights & measures
The nautical mile (n mi) is used to measure distances at sea; and
the stremma (1,000 sq.m or 4 acres) for land area. The metric system
applied in continental Europe is valid for all other measurements.
Relative costs
An average price for a meal is approximately $20-40; an average price for
accommodation is $50-80; and an average budget for your stay is $1000-1200.
You can find restaurants and places to stay that cost less, however it depends
your own choice every time.
Public Holidays
| Public Holidays |
Dates |
| New Year's Day |
1 January |
| Epiphany |
6 January |
| Lent Monday |
Moveable (see Note) |
| National Holiday / Greek Independence Day |
Annunciation 25 March |
| Labour Day |
1 May |
| Good Friday |
Moveable (see Note) |
| Easter Monday |
Moveable (see Note) |
| Assumption of the Virgin Mary |
15 August |
| National Holiday / Ochi Day |
28 October |
| Christmas Day |
25 December |
| Boxing Day |
26 December |
* Note : The Eastern Orthodox Easter does not always fall at the same
time as the Catholic Easter (up to five weeks apart).
Greece Weather and Climate (Temperature
and Rainfall)
Summers have abundant sunshine and it seldom rains but there are occasional
tropical thunderstorms. Winters are mild and warm, due to the sub-tropical
climate.
Weather Forecast for Greece
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