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.
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
Maps: There are a number of maps of the island on the market and most of them are provided free of charge by
Hotels, and Travel Agents.
Newspapers and magazines: Most western European newspapers and magazines arrive in Athens on a daily
basis and they are available in many places.
Shops opening times: Although shops are normally open from 9am to 1pm and from 3.30/4pm to 7.30/8pm, in
some tourist areas they tend to stay open uninterruptedly from 9.30am to 7.30pm, allowing for slight variations from
town to town. Large department stores are open throughout the country from 9.30am to 7.30pm.
