Athens Travel Tips

Throughout the year, apart from on festival days, normal business hours are from 09:00 to 17:00 on Monday to Friday, with some establishments closing for one hour at lunch. Many businesses close on the weekend, although most shops open on Saturdays.

Offices: 09:00 to 17:00, Monday to Friday
Banks: 08:30 to 14:00, Monday to Friday (close at 13:30 on Fridays)
Shops: 09:00 to 18:00, Monday to Saturday

Crime in Athens is fairly uncommon and it is more likely to be carried out by tourists than locals. If you were, for example, to accidentally leave your luggage in a bar or café, more often than not you would return to find it completely untouched. In addition, violent crime is almost non-existent in Greece and should you encounter any problem in the street, you will find residents will willingly help you.

Unfortunately, some tourists do become victims of non-violent criminal acts. The most common crime is fraud from taxi cab drivers. Taxis line up at the airport waiting for unsuspecting tourists and charge up to double the normal fare. The Greek police have initiated a campaign of action which has brought many dishonest cab drivers to justice. Penalties are stiff and have helped to curb the problem. Tourists can assist by simply refusing to pay and asking the driver to come into the hotel and discuss it there. If the cab driver refuses, it is reasonable to say you will bring the matter up with the police. The taxi driver will soon back down. There are few incidents of pick-pocketing, although it always advisable to be on your guard.

If you find yourself any kind of difficulty, you can get assistance from the local offices of the tourist police, which are attached to many of the police stations, particularly those in tourist areas. This excellent service is to help tourists who are in any kind of difficulty or who are the victims of a crime. They are also translators for visitors who may have dealings with the regular Athens police force.

All travellers are advised to ensure that tetanus and polio vaccinations are kept up to date. Inoculation against hepatitis A is also recommended. Always remember to take out suitable travel insurance. Should you need treatment, you can visit a pharmacy, which are identifiable by large neon green crosses outside, or alternatively you can visit: 

Athens General Clinic
15 M. Geroulannou 115 24
Tel: +30 210 692 14 84 87
Email: info@agclinic.gr

Greek is the official language of Athens. It has a documented history of 3,500 years and is spoken by 15 million people in Greece, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Albania and Turkey. Greek is written using the Greek alphabet, the first alphabet to introduce vowels, in the 9th century BC.

The currency in Greece is now the Euro. Coins are available in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50. Notes are available in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500, although it is often difficult to get change for a 500 note in Athens.

Banks exchange all major currencies from cash, traveller’s cheques or Euro cheques, although the commission is lower for cash. Post offices exchange cash but not travellers cheques and usually charge lower commission than banks. Travel agencies and larger hotels change cash and travellers cheques but they usually charge higher commission than banks. Bank note exchange machines can be found in most tourist areas.

All ATMs in Greece are on a common network called DIAS, so the services are the same no matter which ATM you choose. All of them are on the Cirrus network for withdrawals from foreign bank accounts.

There are no limits on what you can buy and take with you when you travel between EU countries, as long as it is for personal use and not for resale. VAT and duty are included in the price you pay and since these vary from country to country, you may want to take advantage of some interesting price differences. Shops at airports and on ships may also provide some bargains, although duty-free shopping no longer exists when travelling within the EU. 

If you are coming into the EU from a non-EU country, you can bring with you goods free of VAT and excise duties for personal use within the limits set out by law. The same applies if you come from the Canary Islands, Channel Islands, Gibraltar or other territories where VAT and EU excise provisions do not apply.

Body language is very important in Greek culture. It is common courtesy to shake hands with everyone individually in a group before departing, while kissing is a common greeting once you know each other. Eye contact during an introduction is also very important. If you are being addressed, always maintain eye contact.

The American ‘OK’ sign using the thumb and forefinger is considered obscene, so be careful not to use it. As with many other eastern Mediterranean cultures, nodding the head upwards means no. This is often accompanied with a slight bearing of the teeth and a small clicking sound with the tongue. Be careful to never raise an open palm. To raise your hand with an open palm at face level is an insult.

The Greeks have tendencies for tardiness. It is more than acceptable to arrive at meetings over an hour late. Newcomers to Greece should arrive on time, but be prepared to wait. Social events usually begin at least an hour late and have no set ending time.

Greeks make excellent hosts and will always offer a feast of delicious food on special occasions. If you don't want seconds, leave a little on your plate. If you don't like one particular dish, ask for seconds of the kind you do like to compliment the host.

The common toast is kalymata, which means ‘to your health’. Wine is common at both lunch and dinner, and if you are drinking ouzo but you don’t want to drink a lot, take small sips, as the more you drink, the more you will be offered. Leave your glass more than half full when you decide you have had enough to drink in order to avoid a refill.

As for dining, like all continentals, Greeks do not switch knives and forks, the knife remains in the right hand and the fork remains in the left. Hands should be visible above the table.

A visa is not required to enter Greece for citizens of the United States, Canada and the European Union. Citizens of all other countries should contact the nearest Greek consulate for information.

Athens Tourist Information Centre is located at 2 Amerikis street, Athens, 105 64. You can contact them for information by calling: +30 210 331 0561, or by visiting their office in person.

The Tourist Police can be found at 77 Dimitrakopoulou street, Veikou, or by phoning: 171 from within Greece. They are on call 24 hours.