Greece Flights and Travel Guide

Language

Greek is the national language, but English is widely spoken.

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Money

The Euro (EUR) is the official currency, divided into 100 cents. Banks and bureau de change are widely available and travelers checks and major credit cards are widely accepted. ATMs are widespread and are generally the cheapest and most convenient method of obtaining euros.

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Communications

The international access code for Greece is +30. The outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 001 for the U.S.). The city code for Athens is 21. There are often surcharges on calls made from hotels and it is generally cheaper to use OTE (Hellenic Telecommunications Organisation) offices for local and international calls. Calls can also be made from public card phone booths and cards can be bought from kiosks or OTE offices. The local mobile phone operators use GSM networks and have roaming agreements with most international operators. Internet cafes are available in the main towns and resorts and are cheaper than accessing the Internet from hotels.

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Tipping

The tip is often included in the bill in a restaurant. If not, leave between 10 to 15 percent. For drinks at cafes, round the bill up to the nearest euro. Taxis expectchange as do cloak room attendants and porters.

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Safety

There is a risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks and visitors are urged to be vigilant in public places, including tourist sites.

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Health

There are no specific health risks in Greece, but visitors who plan to walk through forested areas are advised to consider vaccination against tick-borne encephalitis. Medical facilities in Greece vary; those in major cities are excellent but many of the islands are some distance from a decent hospital. Food and water are safe, but those visiting for short periods should consider sticking to bottled water. Yellow fever vaccination certificates are required for those arriving from infected areas. Bird flu was detected in swans in northern Greece in February 2006, but stringent measures have been taken to contain the outbreak; no human infections have been reported. The risk to people is believed to be very low, but visitors are advised to avoid any contact with caged, wild or domestic birds, and to ensure that all poultry and egg dishes are well cooked as a precaution.

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Electricity

Electrical current is 220 volts, 50Hz. A variety of plugs are in use including the European-style two-pin and the round three-pin.

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