GREECE TRAVEL TIPS

Greece is a Member-State of the European Union and has ratified the Schengen Agreement. Citizens traveling inside the E.U. just need to display their police I.D. Card without the need of a passport. However, a passport is necessary for a number of other transactions, such as currency exchange, purchases, etc.

 

Visas are not required by citizens of Member-States of the Schengen Agreement. Greece follows the provisions of the Schengen Agreement, which abolished controls on common internal lands, at air and sea borders and allows Member-State citizens to travel around without a visa for a short stay period of up to three (3) months. However, airlines and other carriers require a valid passport and/or police I.D. Card or other form of official identification means.

Citizens of the majority of the countries that are not Member-States of the Schengen Agreement require a visa to enter Greece and the E.U. Visitors from these countries can obtain further information from the Hellenic Embassies or Consulates in their countries, or even from their travel agencies.
 

Visas are not required by holders of valid passports from the following non-E.U. countries if they want to visit Greece and remain in the country for up to 3 months (90 days) within a chronological period of 6 months:
 

Andorra

Argentina

Australia

Brazil

Brunei

Canada

Chile

Costa Rica

Croatia

El Salvador

Guatemala

Honduras

Israel

Japan

Malaysia

Mexico

Monaco

New Zealand

Vatican

Nicaragua

Panama

Paraguay

Saint Marino

Singapore

South Korea

USA

Uruguay

Venezuela

Note: During their stay in Greece, visitors with a visa must also have suitable insurance coverage for emergency medical or other needs.

All major Credit Cards are recognized and accepted in most hotels, shops, travel agencies, car rental offices and restaurants. Stickers in the front doors will advise you about the acceptable credit cards. For one thing, Greek ATMs usually allow for only a four-digit password; you must get advice from your bank as to how deal with this if your password has more than four. Also note that the punch keys on the Greek ATMs do not use letters, so you must convert your password to numbers.

 


TRAVELLER’S CHEQUES issued by all the major companies are widely recognized. You can cash your traveler’s cheques in all Greek and foreign banks, exchange bureaus and big hotels. Identification is necessary for the transaction, so do not forget to have your passport with you.

The standard in Greece is 220V AC (50Hz). If you are bringing your own equipment please remember to bring the Converters or Transformer you will need.Electric devices that are designed for use with 110V systems require Greek 220V current to be ‘stepped-down.’ The choice between a converter or a transformer depends on several things.

 

— First, is your device an electric appliance with a high power heating element or mechanical motor such as a hair dryer or iron? If you are using an electric appliance, you need a converter. Or is your device electronic, using electronic chips or circuits, such as a computer, printer or VCR? If you are using an electronic device, you need a transformer. When in doubt about the type of device, use a transformer. Both electric appliances and electronic devices work with a transformer, but only electric appliances work with a converter.
 

— Second, is your use continuous and long-term or is it sporadic and short term? Transformers are designed for long term, continuous use. Converters are designed to operate for only an hour or two at a time

Health insurance is recommended. Medical facilities are good quality. We recommend that you see a health-care provider who specializes in Travel Medicine. The doctor or health-care provider will determine what vaccinations and medication you will need, depending on factors such as your health and immunization history, areas of the country you will be visiting, and planned activities.
 

For more information on travel requirements, visit the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website: http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/greece 
 

In case of emergency call:

Ambulance Service: 166


SOS Doctors : 1016


Duty Hospitals and Clinics: 1434


Poisoning First Aid: 210 7793777


Pharmacies: 1434


Open Line for alcohol drug Addiction: 210 3617089

Greek public transportation—intercity buses and trains—is comfortable and reliable. It’s also a great way to meet locals. Although isolating, driving a car provides you with the greatest flexibility. Thousands of travelers choose this option, but make sure you feel comfortable driving a rented car in Greece.
 

When choosing your jaunt, you have to balance cost with time. Some islands are served only by ship; others, by ship and plane. Because the itineraries include islands, they work best in the summer, May through September. In the off season, the weather is not dependable, many hotels and restaurants close, and airline and ferry schedules to some of these places become extremely limited. The converse of that also applies: The closer to high season you intend to travel, the more imperative it is to make reservations in advance.
 

All of the itineraries end up in Athens and, in theory, you have 24 hours of leeway to allow for any unanticipated travel delays such as weather, accidents, or strikes. We must admit, though, that Greece keeps its own schedule. On any given day, a museum or archaeological site may be closed without notice. Call in advance to make sure that a destination will be open while you’re traveling, and double-check your reservations, especially during special occasions such as Greek Easter week. We strongly advise you to avoid Greek Orthodox Easter; much of Greece shuts down and accommodations and transportation are on overload.