Greece Travel Tips: What You Must Know Before You Go (2026)

Short answer: Greece is in the Schengen area, so most non-EU visitors can stay up to 90 days in any 180 without a visa; the new EES border system takes photos and fingerprints on your first entry, and ETIAS is not operating yet. Expect a climate resilience fee per night at your hotel, a fixed taxi fare from Athens airport, check which Athens port your ferry leaves from, and don't plan an island ferry on the day you fly home.

Greece is one of the best-loved destinations in Europe: short flights from much of the continent, excellent food and dozens of islands to choose from. But even somewhere this familiar, there are a few things worth knowing in advance, like Europe's new entry procedures, the accommodation tax that isn't included in the price on booking sites, the port your ferry leaves from, and the rules for rental cars. Here's everything to check before you fly.

Entering Greece

• Visa: Greece is part of the Schengen area. Citizens of many countries, including the US, the UK, Canada and Australia, can stay in the Schengen area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa. Check the rules for your nationality.
• Passport validity: under Schengen rules, non-EU travelers' passports must be valid for at least three months after the planned date of leaving the Schengen area, and must have been issued within the last ten years. Check the dates before you book a flight.
• EES: since April 2026, a new electronic registration system has been running at all Schengen borders. On your first entry you're photographed and fingerprinted, so the border control queue may be longer than before. You don't need to do anything in advance.
• ETIAS: the EU's electronic travel authorization isn't operating yet, and no applications are being collected. If someone offers to "get your ETIAS" for a fee, it's an unofficial website. Check the current status on the official EU website before you travel.

Money: euros, credit cards and tipping

• The currency is the euro. Credit cards are accepted almost everywhere, including most restaurants and shops. Still, carry a little cash for kiosks, villages and tips.
• When you pay by card abroad and are asked whether to charge in your home currency or euros, choose euros. Conversion at the till or ATM is usually at a worse rate.
• Tipping: tipping in Greece isn't mandatory, but it's customary. In restaurants people leave 5 to 10%, or simply round up. Check whether the bill already includes a service charge. A cash tip is the surest way for it to reach your server.
• Climate Resilience Fee: every night in a hotel or apartment carries a per-room fee, usually paid on site and separately from the price on the booking site. From April to October it's between €2 and €15 per night, depending on the hotel's rating. In winter it's lower. Short-term rental apartments have a different rate.

Getting around: taxis, metro and getting from the airport

• From Athens airport to the city center, taxis charge a fixed price per car, not by the meter. In September 2026 an increase to €50 by day and €65 at night (00:00 to 05:00) was announced, up from €40 and €55. Confirm the price with the driver before you set off.
• The metro connects the airport with central Athens and the port of Piraeus, and it's usually the cheapest way into the city.
• Taxi apps: in Athens and the big cities you book taxis through an app, so there's no haggling and you pay by card. Full details are in our guide to must-have apps for Greece.

Ferries to the islands

Ferries are the main way to reach the islands, and there are a few things to check before you book:

• Athens has three ports (Piraeus, Rafina and Lavrio), and they're far apart. Check on your ticket which port you're leaving from.
• Arrive at least an hour before sailing. At Piraeus, the walk from the entrance to your gate can take up to half an hour.
• Strong winds cancel sailings, especially high-speed ferries. Don't plan a ferry off an island on the day of your flight home.

All the details, including a table of ports, the difference between high-speed and conventional ferries, and what to do if your sailing is cancelled, are in our complete guide to ferries in Greece.

Renting a car in Greece

• Driving license: EU licenses are valid in Greece. If your license is from outside the EU, check whether you need an International Driving Permit; many rental companies ask for one, and it's cheap and easy to get. Bring both and check the requirements of the company you booked with.
• A credit card in the driver's name is usually required for the deposit.
• Rental cars on ferries: most companies require written permission in advance, and sometimes extra insurance. Without permission, the insurance may not cover the car. It's often simpler to rent a new car on the island.
• ATVs and scooters on the islands: very popular, but they require the right license for that vehicle type. Check that your travel insurance covers riding them.

Water, power and other small things

• Tap water: in Athens, Thessaloniki and most mainland towns, tap water is safe to drink. On small islands like Santorini and Mykonos, where most water comes from desalination plants, bottled water is better. On the larger islands it varies. If you're not sure, ask at your hotel.
• Power sockets: Greece uses European two-pin sockets (Types C and F) at 230 volts. If your chargers have UK, US or other plugs, bring an adapter.
• Toilet paper: in many places in Greece, especially on the islands, toilet paper goes in the bin rather than the toilet, because the plumbing isn't built for it. If there's a sign, follow it.
• Dress at monasteries and churches: monasteries, such as those at Meteora, require clothing that covers shoulders and knees.
• Sundays: in many places outside tourist areas, shops are closed on Sundays. Supermarkets and pharmacies usually open with reduced hours.
• Time zone: Greece is on Eastern European Time (GMT+2, GMT+3 in summer).

Health and emergencies

• The European emergency number is 112. It works from any phone, even without a data plan.
• Travel insurance: unless you have EU health cover, you won't be covered by Greek public healthcare, so get travel insurance that includes medical care, and activities like riding a scooter if you plan to.
• Pharmacies are marked with a green cross and are on almost every street in the cities.

When to visit Greece

July and August are the hottest, most expensive and most crowded months. May to June and September to October are considered the best time: warm sea, fewer crowds and better prices. In winter Athens and the large islands keep running, but many businesses on the small islands close. Thinking about autumn? We've covered it all in our guide to Greece in October and November.

Internet in Greece: how to be connected from landing

In Greece you need internet almost all the time: booking taxis in an app, checking ferry changes, navigating island alleys and showing tickets on your phone. Wi-Fi on ferries and small islands isn't always reliable, so it's worth having your own data plan.

You install FlySim's eSIM for Greece on your phone before you leave home, and it connects to the local network the moment you land, without hunting for a SIM kiosk at the airport. Your home number stays active alongside it for bank SMS. Before buying, check that your phone supports eSIM, and if you're continuing from Greece to other countries, there's also a Europe plan.

Checklist before your flight to Greece

• Passport valid for at least three months after your return date
• Travel insurance that includes medical cover
• Ferry tickets from the right port, and a spare day before your flight home
• Your driving license, an International Driving Permit if needed, and a credit card in the driver's name
• An Acropolis ticket with an entry time, from the official site hhticket.gr
• A little cash in euros
• A power adapter if your plugs aren't European
• An eSIM installed, plus taxi and ferry apps on your phone

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a visa to travel to Greece?

Many nationalities, including US, UK, Canadian and Australian citizens, can stay in Greece and the rest of the Schengen area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa. ETIAS isn't required yet, because the system isn't operating. Check the rules for your passport.

Can I rent a car in Greece with a foreign license?

EU licenses are valid. With a non-EU license, check whether you need an International Driving Permit; many rental companies ask for one. Get it in advance and check the company's terms.

How much should I tip in Greece?

In restaurants, 5 to 10% is customary, or simply round the bill up. Tipping isn't mandatory, and if a service charge has already been added, there's no need to add more.

Can you drink tap water in Greece?

In Athens and most mainland towns, yes. On small islands like Santorini and Mykonos, bottled water is better.

What time zone is Greece in?

Greece is on Eastern European Time: GMT+2 in winter and GMT+3 in summer.

How do I get internet in Greece?

The most convenient way is an eSIM you install before your flight that connects to the local network as soon as you land. You can also buy a local SIM in Greece, or use your home carrier's roaming plan, which is usually more expensive.