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Travel Essentials › Greece

Travel Essentials

Greece: What To Know Before You Go

Plugs: Types C and F; 230 V, 50 Hz. Emergency: One number for everything 112, Police 100, Ambulance 166, Fire 199. Tipping: Rounding up or leaving 5-10% in restaurants is appreciated; tipping taxi drivers is optional. Tap water: Generally safe to drink tap water in most areas; bottled water advised on some small islands.

Open The Greece Trip Kit

Plugs And Power

Types C and F; 230 V, 50 Hz

Emergency Numbers

Checked 13 Oct 2026 against the official page: visitgreece.gr

Tipping

Rounding up or leaving 5-10% in restaurants is appreciated; tipping taxi drivers is optional.

Water And Health

Tap water

Generally safe to drink tap water in most areas; bottled water advised on some small islands

Vaccines

Routine vaccines; hepatitis A for most travelers; hepatitis B for unvaccinated travelers under 60; rabies for some travelers

Malaria

None

Checked 13 Oct 2026 against the official page: wwwnc.cdc.gov

Apps To Download Before You Go

• FREENOW: The main app for hailing licensed taxis in Athens and other cities.
• Uber: Works in Athens by connecting to licensed taxis.
• IRIS (bank apps): Instant payments via local bank apps used to split bills and pay small businesses.
• Ferryhopper: Compare and book ferries between islands in one place.
• OASA Telematics: Live Athens bus and metro arrivals and route planning.
• Hellenic Train: Tickets for the Athens-Thessaloniki line and regional trains.
• Viber / WhatsApp: Both are widely used for contacting hosts and businesses.
• efood: Greece's dominant food delivery app.
• Wolt: The other big delivery service in Greek cities.

Customs And Etiquette

Greetings. A handshake is standard for first meetings; close friends may greet with a light kiss on both cheeks. Say 'Kalimera' (good morning) or 'Yia sas' (hello, formal).

The 'moutza' gesture. Never show an open palm toward someone (fingers spread, palm out) — it's a deeply offensive insult in Greece.

Dress at religious sites. Cover shoulders and knees when visiting churches and monasteries; shorts are generally not allowed.

Safety And Scams

Greece is a safe destination overall; violent crime against tourists is rare, though pickpocketing is common in crowded areas like the Athens metro and popular islands.

Fake police officers. Impersonators show a fake badge, ask to check your wallet/passport 'for counterfeit notes' and swap your real bills; real police won't inspect your money on the street.

Fake ferry/tour tickets. Unofficial sellers offer 'discounted' island tickets that turn out to be invalid; buy tickets from official agencies or ports only.

Table trinket scam. Someone places a flower or trinket on your restaurant table; picking it up is treated as acceptance and payment is demanded.

Women travelers. Greece is comparatively safe for women travelers; catcalling can occur in some areas, but serious incidents are uncommon in tourist zones.

LGBTQ+ Travelers

Legal · Safe

Same-sex marriage and adoption have been legal since 2024, discrimination is banned, and Athens/Mykonos have an active LGBTQ+ scene; Greece is broadly welcoming though rural areas can be more conservative.

What Things Cost

2026-09

Best Time To Visit

May-June and September-October offer warm, swimmable weather with smaller crowds and lower prices than the July-August peak; winter is mild but many island businesses close.

Do You Need A Visa?

Greece visa requirements by nationality

Phrases

Basic Greek phrases

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