Travel essentials

🛂 Entry requirements

• EU, EEA and Swiss citizens: a valid ID card or passport is all you need.
• Everyone else: Greece is in the Schengen Area. Your passport must be valid for at least 3 months after the date you leave and have been issued within the last 10 years. Many nationalities (including the UK, US, Canada and Australia) can stay up to 90 days in any 180 without a visa.
• EES: non-EU travellers have their fingerprints and photo taken at the border on their first entry. Allow a little extra time at passport control.
• ETIAS: the pre-travel authorisation for visa-free visitors is due to launch in late 2026, with a transition period. Check the official EU site (travel-europe.europa.eu) before you travel, and steer clear of websites that charge extra to apply for you.

🏥 Travel insurance

• EHIC / GHIC: EU travellers should bring their EHIC, and UK travellers their GHIC. It covers state healthcare in Greece.
• Private insurance: strongly recommended. It covers what the card doesn't: repatriation, cancellations, lost luggage or a private clinic if you need one.

🗣️ Language

Greek is the official language, but in hotels, restaurants and tourist areas almost everyone speaks English. A few words of Greek still go a long way:

💳 Money and tipping

• Cards: accepted almost everywhere, including kiosks and small tavernas. Keep a little cash for market stalls.
• ATMs: use bank ATMs (Piraeus, Alpha, Eurobank, National Bank) and avoid the independent ones in tourist areas, which charge hefty fees. If the machine offers to charge you "in your currency", say no and pay in euros.
• Tipping: not compulsory. In restaurants, people round up or leave 5–10% for good service.

🏨 Tourist tax

Greece charges a fee per room per night (not per person), paid at your accommodation:

Holiday flats pay it too. Ask how much when you book.

📶 Staying connected

• From the EU: your plan works just as it does at home, thanks to EU roaming rules. UK networks may charge for roaming, so check yours.
• eSIM: the easiest option from outside the EU. Set it up before you leave, with no SIM swapping.
• Local SIM: at the airport and in Cosmote, Vodafone or Nova shops. You'll need your passport.