Before you travel in Greece, it is advisable to bear in mind the following:

• Depending on your country of origin, you might need a passport and a visa; you could obtain a visa through the Greek consulate nearest to your residence.
• Call your bank or your credit card company to let them know that you will be using it in Greece.
• The Electric Current in Greece is 230V AC (50Hz). Appliances from North America require a transformer and British ones an adapter.
• In order to have access to necessary health care, tourists from member states of the European Union (EU) wishing to visit Greece must be holders of the European Health Card (EHIC) or any other legal Community document issued by their competent social security agency. Tourists from countries other than the member states of the European Union must consult their social security agency for information before traveling.
• Contact your phone company in order to make sure that your can use your mobile phone in Greece.
• As a consumer, you are protected by Greek consumer protection law for all transactions you make while traveling in the country.

General Info

Here you’ll find useful information for preparing your trip to Greece. We give you practical tips on documentation, safety, healthcare, what clothes to pack, currency, tourist cards, public holidays… so you’re all set when you arrive. You’ll find the whole list below. Enjoy!

• Capital of Greece: Athens
• Official language: Greek
• The currency: Euro(€)
• Climate: Mediterranean
• Population: 11.306.183 (2010 estimate)
• Calling code: The international calling code of Greece is +30
• Time Greece: GMT +2

Exchange Currencies

Greece is a Member-State of the European Union and uses its uniform currency – the Euro. Greece, as is the case with the other Member-States of the E.U. uses eight coins as follows: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents (lepta in Greek) and 1 and 2 Euros. The banknotes are issued in the following denominations: 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 Euros.

Currency exchange rates are clearly displayed in every bank that accepts currency exchange, while credit card holders may acquire money from the ATMs of the collaborating banks. Greek banks are open for the public from 8:00 to 14:30 Mondays to Thursdays and from 8:00 to 13:30 on Fridays. They are closed on Public Holidays.

Euros can also be exchanged for notes of other foreign currencies at exchange offices that are situated at the airport and certain main ports, in the larger cities, as well as at many tourist destinations. A passport is required when exchanging currencies.

Health & Safety

n order to have access to necessary health care, tourists from member states of the European Union (EU) wishing to visit Greece must be holders of the European Health Card (EHIC) or any other legal Community document issued by their competent social security agency. You can find more information about the EHIC here

In these cases, the necessary treatment in Greece is provided by:

• the IKA (Social Security Institute) Health Units (polyclinics) or doctor’s offices in the region;
• Regional clinics (former rural clinics) or the Health Centres of the National Health System; and
• the outpatients’ departments of the hospitals on contract

In order to have access to necessary health care, tourists from countries other than the member states of the European Union wishing to visit Greece must consult their social security agency for information before travelling.

In case of emergency call:

• Ambulance Service: 166
• SOS Doctors : 1016
• Duty Hospitals and Clinics: 1434
• Pharmacies: 1434
• Open Line for alcohol drug Addiction: 210 36 17 089
• Poisoning First Aid: 210 77 93 777
• Police: 100

Climate – Weather

Greece has a Mediterranean climate with plenty of sunshine, mild temperatures and a limited amount of rainfall.

Due to the country’s geographical position, its rugged relief and its distribution between the mainland and the sea, there is great variation in Greece’s climate.

In summer, the dry hot days are cooled by seasonal winds called the meltemi, while mountainous regions have generally lower temperatures.

The winters are mild in lowland areas, with a minimum amount of snow and ice, yet, mountains are usually snow-covered. Moreover, a common phenomenon is the occurrence of different climactic conditions during the same season (for instance, mild heat in coastal areas and cool temperatures in mountainous regions).

You can obtain more information about the weather from the National Observatory of Athens www.meteo.gr

Πηγή: www.visitgreece.gr