Key Information

General Information about Greece

ATMs: They are widely available in Greece for Master or Visa cardholders.

Banks: Banks are open from Monday to Thursday, 8:00-14:00 hrs and on Friday, 8:00-13:00 hrs; on Saturdays and Sundays they are closed.

Climate: The climate in Greece is mostly dry and temperate. In Athens, Southern Greece and the islands, the climate is typical Mediterranean with warm and dry summers and mild winters.

Credit cards: All major credit cards are accepted in almost all hotels, shops and restaurants. Stickers in the front windows will advise you as to which cards are accepted.

Currency: EURO is the official currency

Electricity: Electricity is 220 V/50 Hz. Plugs are the standard continental (DIN) type with two round pins.

Healthcare: Emergency treatment is free to all in public hospitals. Public and private hospitals can be found in big cities. Small and large islands usually have hospitals and health centres.

Language: Greek is the official language. Most Greeks speak English as a foreign language.

Population: Greece has 11,000,000 inhabitants, the majority of whom live in the big cities. The population of Athens is 3,500,000.

Religion: The majority of Greeks are Greek Orthodox.

Restaurants: Restaurants and Tavernas are normally open for lunch from 12:30 to 16:00, for dinner from 19:00 to midnight. Fast food and souvlaki shops usually serve food all day long, and some of them stay open till late at night. Cafes and bars are open all day from about 8:00 until late in the night.

Telecommunications: The international access code for Greece is +30. The outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 001 for the USA or Canada, 0044 for the United Kingdom). Public payphones are available all over Greece and use phone cards, which can be purchased from kiosks. For information concerning mobile phone use in Greece (telephone transmissions are based on GSM technology), please ask your provider.

Time: Greece is GMT+2
Greece 12:00 - London 10:00 - New York 05:00 - Sidney 20:00.

Tipping: Tipping is not compulsory but is quite usual in Greece.