Useful facts for travel to Greece and the Greek Islands

Useful facts to help you plan your visit to Greece and the Greek Islands

Festivals
Public Holidays
Visas
Health
Time
Electricity
Weights & Measures
Money, Banks etc.
Useful Telephone Numbers

Festivals

The most significant festival in Greece is of course, Easter (Greek Easter traditions). The Greek Orthodox Church traditionally stresses Christ’s Resurrection rather than the Crucifixion, so it is regarded as a happy celebration, with candle-lit processions, feasting and displays of fireworks. There
are also numerous summer festivals across the country, the most famous being the Hellenic Festival (mid-June to late September), which hosts drama and music in ancient theatres across the country.

Greek Public Holidays

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS 2014		PUBLIC HOLIDAYS 2015
1 Jan	New Year’s Day	1 Jan	New Year’s Day
6 Jan	Epiphany	6 Jan	Epiphany
3 Mar	(Orthodox) Shrove Monday	15 Feb	Orthodox Shrove Monday
25 Mar	Greek Independence Day	25 Mar	Greek Independence Day
18 Apr	(Orthodox) Good Friday	10 Apr	(Orthodox) Good Friday
21 Apr	(Orthodox) Easter Monday	13 Apr	(Orthodox) Easter Monday
1 May	Spring Festival/Labour Day	1 May	Spring Festival/Labour Day
9 Jun	(Orthodox) Pentecost	24 May	(Orthodox) Pentecost
15 Aug	Feast of the Assumption (St. Mary’s)	15 Aug	Feast of the Assumption (St. Mary’s)
28 Oct	Ochi Day (National Day)	28 Oct	Ochi Day (National Day)
25 Dec	Christmas Day	25 Dec	Christmas Day
26 Dec	St Stephen’s Day	26 Dec	St Stephen’s Day

Visas:

Nationals of Australia, Canada, Cyprus, EU countries, the European principalities of Monaco and San Marino, Iceland, Israel, Japan, Malta, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland, the USA and most South American countries are allowed to stay in Greece for up to three months without a visa; most others can enter Greece for up to two months without a visa; Greece will refuse entry to anyone whose passport indicates that, since November 1983, they have visited North Cyprus.

Health risks:

sunburn, Typhus (rural areas from April to September), Lyme disease, Rabies; codeine, which is commonly found in headache preparations, is banned in Greece and you may face prosecution if you bring it into the country.

Time:

GMT/UTC +2; +3 during daylight saving time

Current Greek time

Athens

Electricity:

220V, 50Hz, 2-pin (round) plug 2-pin plug (round)

Weights & measures:

Metric (same as France)

Metric Weights and Measures and their equivalents

Clothing and shoe sizes conversion: US, UK, Europe

Euro banknotes

Money:

The Euro (€)

As of January 1, 2002, the euro (€) replaced the national currency of 12 countries within the European Union, including Greece. You can exchange currency at any bank branch (hours are listed below). Automatic cash machines can be found in most commercial centres.
Bank Opening Hours Each bank in Greece fixes its own opening hours, but usually Mon-Thu from 0800 – 1400 and Fri from 0800-1330, although there are some banks in central locations in Athens (Omonia, Syntagma) open in the afternoon. If you do your banking in the mornings, all of them are certain to be open.
Bureaux de change There are many Bureaus de Change throughout the country open from morning until late evening. You can also exchange money at banks (commission varies).

Check out the current Euro exchange rate with your currency here (close the new window to return): TRAVELSIGNPOSTS CURRENCY CONVERTER

telephone

Useful telephone numbers :

Police 100
Tourist Police 171 (Athens: 210 922 7777)
Fire Brigade 199
Hospitals 106
24 Hr Pharmacies 107
National Directory Enquiries 11888
International Directory Enquiries 139
For KTEL Bus schedules 14505
Rail information (+30) 210 529 7777, 1110 (recorded messages)
Greek National Tourist Organisation 210 331 0437

Public telephones Most public telephones do not coins. You need a telephone card. In some cases you may be able to use your credit card.

Lost Credit Cards/Travellers’ Cheques

American Express: Mon-Fri.:08:30-16:00, Sat.: 08:30-13:30 3244975-9
24 hour service: (00-441273) 526840.
Diner’s Club 01-9290200
Euro/Mastercard 01-9503673
VISA 01-9503673