Sightseeing Athens, steeped in history; Peloponnesus, across the Corinth Canal, a land full of ancient Greek and Roman mementos; Crete’s picturesque villages and Minoan remains; Rhodes’ superb beaches and mediaeval walled town; Mykonos, with its whitewashed houses and windmills.
Accommodation
City centre hotels, world-class resorts in Athens and luxury beach resorts on the islands.
Shopping
What you can buy – Gold and silver jewellery, folk art, textiles, pottery, leather, enamelware, onyx items and rugs.
Where you can buy – Shopping centres in cities, flea markets and souvenir shops in resorts.
Entertainment
Tavernas offering Greek food and music; bars, restaurants and discothèques throughout the country and islands; many seafood and fish restaurants at Piraeus and other ports; major cities offer cultural entertainment, including theatre, museums and galleries.
Sports and leisure
Water sports and beaches on the islands – sailing, windsurfing, snorkelling, scuba diving, parasailing, jet-skiing, boating and cruises, fishing and golf courses; spa and beauty treatments in deluxe resorts; trekking and hiking on all islands.
Athens Cultural Festival (May – September); Athens State Orchestra (November – December).
Visas:
Visas are not required for nationals of the following countries for a stay of up to three months: Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden, The Netherlands, United Kingdom, United States of America, Uruguay, Vatican City and Venezuela.
Health requirements:
No compulsory vaccinations are required. However, a yellow fever certificate is required for persons arriving from infected areas. Recommended immunisations are polio and tetanus.
Travel insurance:
Adequate holiday and travel insurance is vital. Emirates Holidays offers a comprehensive insurance package to enable you and your family to travel with peace of mind. Please contact your nearest Emirates Holidays office or your travel agent for details of our HolidayGuard Travel Insurance cover.
We also recommend that water sports enthusiasts cover themselves in case of an accident while scuba diving, water-skiing or participating in any other water sport. An extra premium is required for these covers.
Currency:
Euro (EUR) divided into 100 cents.
Notes in denominations of EUR500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5.
Coins in denominations of EUR2 and 1 and 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 cents.
Approximate exchange rate:
AED1 = EUR0.21
USD1 = EUR0.77
Please check the rate of exchange
prior to travel.
Banking hours -
0800 to 1400 hours, Monday - Thursday.
0800 to 1330 hours, Friday.
Foreign currency over USD1,000 or equivalent must be declared at the customs entry point.
Payment in foreign currency is not accepted officially in Greece. However, foreign currency is usually accepted in Plaka and in all major tourist areas. Currency exchange is offered at Athens Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport, in all banks, large hotels and currency exchange booths located in the centre of Athens.
All major credit and charge cards are accepted in most large shops, hotels and restaurants. Automated teller machines (ATMs) operate on a 24-hour basis in Athens.
Travellers cheques are accepted at all banks and large hotels on presentation of your passport.
Clothing:
Lightweight clothing is advisable during summer with a light sweater for the evening. Mediumweight clothing and rainwear is necessary for the winters and warmer clothes may be required in the northern parts of the country.
Airport information:
Athens - Athens’ Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport is approximately 27 kilometres north-east of Athens city centre. The airport telephone number is 210 353 0000.
Crete - Heraklion Airport is located five kilometres south-east of Heraklion.The airport telephone number is 281 024 5644.
Mykonos - Mykonos Airport is located four kilometres away from the town of Mykonos. The airport telephone number is 022 890 22327.
Rhodes - Rhodos International Airport, Diagoras is approximately 16 kilometres away from the city. The airport telephone number is 224 108 2302.
Customs:
Duty free allowance for travellers arriving from outside the European Union and aged 18 years and above: 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250 grams tobacco; two litres of wine or one litre of spirits (over 22 per cent volume) or two litres of spirits (under 22 per cent volume); 50 millilitres of perfume; 250 millilitres of eau de toilette; and other goods to the value of EUR73.36.
Value Added Tax (VAT) Refund Scheme:
Visitors to Greece may have the VAT deducted from goods bought in the country. Please note that not all shops offer the Retail Export Scheme (often referred to as tax free shopping). To claim a refund, visitors must buy goods from shops displaying the tax free sticker sign. VAT refund is available for products worth EUR117 or more. Visitors exiting Greece for a final destination within the European Union are not eligible to receive VAT refunds under this scheme.
How to claim your VAT refund:
At the time of purchase, ask the sales person for a tax refund application. Please keep your tax refund application form, purchased items and relevant receipts ready for presentation at the customs desk. Customs at the airport will stamp the paper, which you then must send back to the shop for processing. Within a month approximately, they will refund your money through the Greek post office or to your credit card.
Driving licence:
Driving is on the right-hand side of the road. An International Driving Permit or a driving licence from your country of residence and your passport is required. Please exercise caution when driving in Greece.
Emergency telephone numbers:
Ambulance - 178
Hospitals - 166
Pharmacies overnight - 107
Police - 100
Tourist police - 171
Hours of work:
Business: 0800 to 1500 hours,Monday - Friday.
Shopping: 0900 to 1500 hours, Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
0900 to 1430 and 1730 to 2030 hours Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.
Shops are closed on Sunday.
During the winter, shops open one hour later in the morning.
Working hours may differ in the islands.
Public holidays (fixed):
1st January - New Year’s Day
6th January - Epiphany
25th March - Greek Independence Day
1st May - Labour Day
31st May - Orthodox Pentecost
15th August - Feast of the Assumption
28th October - National Day (Ohi Day)
25th December - Christmas Day
26th December - Boxing Day
Public holidays (moveable):
February - Orthodox Shrove Monday
April - Orthodox Good Friday
April - Orthodox Easter Sunday
April - Orthodox Easter Monday
Time zone:
Winter - GMT + 2 hours.
Summer - GMT + 3 hours.
Language:
Greek is the official language. English, Italian, French and German are widely spoken.
Tipping:
A service charge is included in most restaurant bills, but it is customary to leave a small tip. Taxi drivers also appreciate a small tip. There is an extra charge for using the trunk of the taxi.
Dress code:
You are expected to dress modestly when visiting churches and monasteries. We recommend trousers for men and dresses covering the arms and legs for women.
Electricity:
220 volts, 50 cycles AC.
Safety tips:
It is advisable to carry minimum cash on you and to use small denomination bills. Please keep a photocopy of your identification papers handy.