Greece – a travel money guide
How to use cash and cards in Greece
Although card acceptance is generally good in Greece, we would always advise taking some Euros with you particularly for taxis, and tips. Greeks like cash, and on the smaller islands it is essential. If you need to take out cash in Greece there are plenty of ATMs in the major towns but avoid Hotels, Airports and the larger tourist areas, the banks tend to be cheaper.
Our Top Tips for Greece
Cash. It is the law that all shops in Greece accept cards, but there will still be occasions when shops will prefer cash for small amounts or will say that their machine is “broken”. Cash is still very useful, particularly on smaller islands where there are a small number of ATMs which can run out of cash. You will almost certainly need cash for taxis, markets and for tips.
ATMs. Watch out for local ATM fees if you need to take out more cash during your trip. And don’t worry if the ATM is in Greek. Insert your card and it should change to English.
Local Banks If you are looking for an ATM, a good option is a Bank ATM. The main banks in Greece to look out for are the national bank of Greece, Alpha bank, Piraeus bank and Eurobank Ergasias.
Cards. Visa and MasterCard are very widely accepted but less so American Express. American Express will work in large hotels and restaurants but in many other places it won’t be accepted
Using the Metro. The metro in Athens is new and uses tickets that you buy at machines (using coins, notes or your card as they have a PIN pad) in the ticket hall. There is a good explanation here of how it all works and you can see the machines in this video here
UK card charges. Before you travel, check charges applied by your UK debit or credit card while you are abroad.
ATMs
Availability
ATMs widely available in the major cities and tourist destinations (there are some 7,000 ATMs throughout Greece) so you can top up your cash during your trip. However, there is less availability on smaller Islands, and they can run out of cash.
UK Bank Charges for using Greek ATMs
UK Banks will not charge you a foreign currency fee for ATM withdrawals in Italy as it is in the EEA but may charge you a foreign currency cash fee. Always check your bank charges before you travel.
Greek ATM Charges
There is evidence of Greek ATMs charging local fees, so make sure you check the screen before proceeding with the transaction. You might get a better deal if you take more travel money with you.
Cards
Acceptance
Visa and MasterCard are very widely accepted but less so American Express. American Express will work in large hotels and restaurants but in many other places it won’t be accepted.
When you use your card, some card machines (or ATMs) will give you the option to pay in your own currency (£). This may seem convenient, but you will almost always end up paying more. Always choose to pay in Euros.
Contactless
- Contactless is widely available and popular in Greece.
- Contactless limit: €50 (£40).
- You will probably have to use your PIN when buying things over €50, so make sure you know your PIN before you travel.
- Mobile Payments (Apple Pay and Google Pay) are available.