Informazioni utili

Greek flag

Visa, amenities, currency, weather, public holidays, etc.

Visa Requirements: Greece is part of the Shengen treaty so European Union travelers 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 and credit cards

The Euro is the official currency in Greece. There is free and unlimited importing of foreign currency in Greece either in traveler's cheques or cash. 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.

From ancient Drachma to Euro the owl and olive leafs are always present

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 dialing 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 Organization (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 dialing 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 15-35 €; an average price for accommodation is 40-80 €; 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.