Fast Facts

Area Codes -- All phone numbers in Greece are 10 digits long. Area codes range from three digits in Athens (210) to as many as five digits in less populated locales; the phone numbers themselves range from five digits to eight to add up to a total of ten including the area code. All numbers provided in the text start with the proper area code.

Automobile Organizations -- National motor clubs or automobile associations will usually be able to supply maps, suggested routes, guidebooks, accident and bail-bond insurance. The American Automobile Association (AAA; www.aaa.com) is the major auto club in the United States. If you belong to a motor club in your home country, inquire about ELPA reciprocity before you leave.

Business Hours -- Greek business and office hours take some getting used to, especially in the afternoon, when most English-speaking people are accustomed to getting things done in high gear. Compounding the problem is that it is virtually impossible to pin down the precise hours of opening. We can start by saying that almost all stores and services are closed on Sunday -- except, of course, tourist-oriented shops and services. On Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday, hours are usually 9am to 3pm; Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, it's 9am to 2pm and 5 to 7pm. The afternoon siesta is generally observed from 3 to 5pm, though many tourist-oriented businesses have a minimal crew on duty during naptime, and they may keep extended hours, often from 8am to 10pm. (In fact, in tourist centers, shops may be open at all kinds of hours.) Most government offices are open Monday through Friday only, from 8am to 3pm. Call ahead to check the hours of businesses you must deal with, and try not to disturb Greek friends during siesta hours. Final advice: Anything you really need to accomplish in a government office, business, or store should be done on weekdays between about 9am and 1pm.

Banks are open to the public Monday through Thursday from 8am to 2pm, Friday from 8am to 1:30pm. Some banks have additional hours for foreign-currency exchange. All banks are closed on the long list of Greek holidays.

Drinking Laws -- The minimum age for being served alcohol in public locales is 18. Wine and beer are generally available in eating places, but not in all coffeehouses or dessert cafes. Alcoholic beverages are sold in food stores as well as liquor stores. Although a certain amount of high spirits is appreciated, Greeks do not appreciate public drunkenness. The resort centers where mobs of young foreigners party every night are tolerated as necessary for the tourist trade, but the behavior wins no respect for foreigners. Do not carry open containers of alcohol in your car and don't even think about driving while intoxicated.

Electricity -- Electric current in Greece is 220 volts AC, alternating at 50 cycles. (Some larger hotels have 110-volt low-wattage outlets for electric shavers, but they aren't good for hair dryers and most other appliances.) Electrical outlets require Continental-type plugs with two round prongs. U.S. travelers will need an adapter plug and a transformer/converter, unless their appliances are dual-voltage. Laptop computer users will want to check their requirements; a transformer may be necessary, and surge protectors are recommended. But increasingly various appliances -- including laptops and hair dryers -- allow for a simple switch to the 220 volts.

Embassies & Consulates -- The embassies in Athens are as follows: Australian, Thon Building, Corner Kifias and Alexandras avenues (tel. 210/870-4000); Canadian, 4 Ioannou Yenadiou (tel. 210/727-3400); U.K., 1 Ploutarchou (tel. 210/727-2660); U.S., 91 Leoforos Vas. Sofias (tel. 210/721-2951).

Emergencies -- If there is no tourist police officer available (tel. 171), contact the local police, tel. 100. For fire, call tel. 199. For medical emergencies and/or first aid and/or an ambulance, call tel. 166. For hospitals, call tel. 106. For automobile emergencies, put out a triangular danger sign and call tel. 104 or 154. Embassies, consulates, and many hotels can recommend an English-speaking doctor.

Etiquette -- Greeks generally observe the same practices with which most of us are familiar, but there are a few special variations.

Gasoline (Petrol) -- The price of gasoline (petrol) in Greece has varied in recent years just as in much of the world, but it hovers around 1€ per liter. One liter equals .26 U.S. gallon and .22 imperial gallon; put the other way, it takes 3.8 liters to equal 1 U.S. gallon and 4.55 liters to equal 1 imperial gallon.

Guides -- You may prefer to employ local guides to take you and/or a small circle of fellow travelers to visit sites or cities. Professional guides in Greece are thoroughly trained, and the fees they charge are well regulated. Most reputable travel agencies can arrange for such guides. You can also contact the Union of Official Guides, 9A Apollonos, 10557 Athens (tel. 210/322-9705). Our only caution is that as good as these official guides are, they are trained to produce a stream of facts, not make small talk.

Hospitals -- All major and even midsize Greek cities have hospitals.

Insurance -- There is no special need for insurance for a visit to Greece -- other than your own personal circumstances (e.g., possible family medial emergency). But for complete information on traveler's insurance, trip cancelation insurance, and medical insurance while traveling, please see www.frommers.com/planning.

Language -- Language is usually not a problem for English speakers in Greece, as so many Greeks have studied it and find it necessary to use in their work worlds -- most particularly, in the tourist realm that visitors encounter. Many Greeks have also lived abroad where English is the primary language. Young people learn it in school, from Anglo-American-dominated pop culture, and in special classes meant to prepare them for the contemporary world of business. Many television programs are also broadcast in their original languages, and American prime-time soaps are very popular, nearly inescapable. Even advertisements have an increasingly high English content. Don't let all this keep you from trying to pick up at least a few words of Greek; your effort will be rewarded by your hosts, who realize how difficult their language is for foreigners and will patiently help you improve your pronunciation and usage.

There are several books and audio courses on learning Greek, including Berlitz's Greek for Travelers, Passport's Conversational Greek in 7 Days, and Teach Yourself Greek Complete Course (book and CD pack). In recent years, Rosetta Stone has been heavily promoting its courses as the best way to learn a foreign language: based on my own experience, this is not the best way for those who simply want to learn some basic and functional Greek for traveling there. It is, rather, for those who intend to learn the language for long-term usage.

Laundromats, Laundries & Dry Cleaners -- All cities and towns of any size will have laundromats, laundries, and dry-cleaning establishments. The addresses of laundromats in all major cities are provided under the "Fast Facts" sections for those cities. Many travelers prefer to make arrangements through their hotel desks; this is fine, but be prepared to pay heavily for even the smallest bundle. (Then again, everything, including socks, will have been ironed!). If you leave your laundry or dry cleaning, be sure you are in agreement as to the time it will be ready, especially if you must leave town. A medium-size bag of laundry may cost about 15€, washed, dried, and neatly folded.

Legal Aid -- If you need legal assistance, contact your own or another English-speaking embassy or consulate.

Mail -- The mail service of Greece is reliable -- but slow. (Postcards usually arrive weeks after you have arrived home.) You can receive mail addressed to you c/o Poste Restante, General Post Office, City (or Town), Island (or Province), Greece. You will need your passport to collect this mail. Many hotels will accept, hold, and even forward mail for you; ask first. American Express clients can receive mail at any Amex office in Athens, Corfu, Iraklion, Mykonos, Patras, Rhodes, Santorini, Skiathos, and Thessaloniki, for a nominal fee and with proper identification. If you are in a particular hurry, try FedEx or one of the other major international private carriers; travel agencies can direct you to these.

Postage rates have been going up in Greece, as they are elsewhere. At press time, a postcard or a letter under 20 grams (about .7 oz.) to foreign countries costs .70€; 20 to 50 grams (up to 1.75 oz.), 1.20€; 50 to 100 grams (3.5 oz.), 1.70€. Rates for packages depend on size as well as weight, but are reasonable. Note: Do not wrap or seal any package -- you must be prepared to show the contents to a postal clerk.

Newspapers & Magazines -- All cities, large towns, and major tourist centers have at least one shop or kiosk that carries a selection of foreign-language publications; most of these are flown or shipped in on the very day of publication. English-language readers have a wide selection, including most of the British papers (Daily Telegraph, Financial Times, Guardian, Independent, and Times), the International Herald Tribune (with its English-language insert of the well-known Athens newspaper, Kathimerini), and USA Today. A decent (and cheaper!) alternative is the English-language paper published in Athens, Athens News, widely available throughout Greece but now only a weekly.

Photography -- In several locales around Greece, photographing military or police installations is forbidden. These locales are posted and you are expected to observe the law. Cameras, film, accessories, and photo developing (including express service) are widely available, though slightly more expensive, in Greece.

Police -- To report a crime or medical emergency, or for information or other assistance, first contact the local tourist police (tel. 171), where an English-speaking officer is more likely to be found. If there is no tourist police officer available, contact the local police at tel. 100.

Radio & TV -- The Greek ERT 1 radio station has weather and news in English at 7:40am. The BBC World Service can be picked up on shortwave frequencies, often at 9.140, 15.07, and 12.09 Mhz; on FM it is usually at 107.1. Antenna TV, CNN, Eurochannel, and other cable networks are widely available. Many better hotels offer cable television.

Smoking -- In recent years the Greeks have imposed smoking restrictions on airplanes, on areas of ships, and -- as of July 1, 2009 -- all public locations (banks, post offices, etc.). Also, small restaurants, tavernas, and cafes must ether declare whether they allow smoking or not; larger such establishments are supposed to set aside smoking areas. That said, Greeks continue to be among the most persistent smokers and, except on airplanes, many Greeks -- and some foreigners -- feel free to puff away at will. Hotels are only beginning to claim that they have set aside rooms or even floors for nonsmokers, so ask about them, if it matters to you. If you are really bothered by smoke while eating, about all you can do is position yourself as best as possible -- and then be prepared to leave if it gets really bad.

Taxes & Service Charges -- Unless otherwise noted, all hotel prices include a service charge of usually 12%, a 6% value-added tax (VAT), and a 4.5% community tax. In most restaurants, a 13% service charge, an 8% VAT, and some kind of municipal tax (in Athens it is 5%) are included in the prices and final bill. (By the way, don't confuse any of these charges with a standard "cover charge" that may be .50€ to 2€ per place setting. A VAT of 19% is added to rental-car rates.

All purchases include a VAT of anywhere from 4% to 18%. If you have purchased an item that costs 100€ or more and are a citizen of a non-European Union nation, you can get most of this refunded (provided you export it within 90 days of purchase). It's easiest to shop at stores that display the sign TAX-FREE FOR TOURISTS. However, any store should be able to provide you with a Tax-Free Check Form, which you complete in the store. If you use your charge card, the receipt will list the VAT separately from the cost of the item. As you are leaving the country, present a copy of this form to the refund desk (usually at the Customs office). Be prepared to show both the goods and the receipt as proof of purchase. Also be prepared to wait a fair amount of time before you get the refund. (In fact, the process at the airport seems designed to discourage you from trying to obtain the refund.)

Time -- The European 24-hour clock is officially used to measure time, so on schedules you'll see noon as 1200, 3:30pm as 1530, and 11pm as 2300. In informal conversation, however, Greeks express time much as we do -- though noon may mean anywhere from noon to 3pm, afternoon is 3 to 7pm, and evening is 7pm to midnight.

Greece is 2 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time, 7 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time, and 10 hours ahead of Pacific Standard Time. Greece does observe daylight saving time, although it may not start and stop on the same days as in North America.

Tipping -- Restaurant bills, including the VAT and any local taxes, now include a 10% to 15% service charge. Nevertheless, it's customary to leave an additional 5% to 10% for the waiter, especially if he or she has provided special service. Certainly round off on larger bills; even on small bills, leave change up to the nearest 1€. Good taxi service merits a tip of 5% to 10%. (Greeks rarely tip taxi drivers, but tourists are expected to.) Hotel chambermaids should be left about 2€ per night per couple. Bellhops and doormen should be tipped 1€ to 5€, depending on the services they provide.

Toilets -- Most Greek establishments -- hotels, restaurants, museums, etc. -- now provide flush toilets, but especially in villages you may still be asked to deposit toilet paper in a container beside the toilet. In cheaper and more remote restaurants, however, you may find that there is no water at the hand bowl or a shortage of toilet paper, so you might consider keeping some tissues with you.

Public restrooms are generally available in any good-size Greek town, and though they are sometimes rather crude, they usually do work. (Old-fashioned stand-up/squat facilities are still found.)

In an emergency, you can ask to use the facilities of a restaurant or shop; however, near major attractions, the facilities are denied to all but customers, because traffic is too heavy. If you use any such facilities, respect its sponsor and give an attendant a tip.

Useful Telephone Numbers -- National Passport Information Center toll-free number (tel. 877/487-2778).

For the latest information on security issues, health risks, and similar issues, in the U.S., you can call, fax, or send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to the Overseas Citizens Emergency Center, Department of State, Room 4811, Washington, DC 20520 (tel. 202/647-5225; www.travel.state.gov); ask for Consular Information Sheets. When abroad, you can get the latest information by contacting any U.S. embassy or consulate.

Water -- The public drinking water in Greece is safe to drink, although it can be slightly brackish in some locales near the sea. For that reason, many people prefer the bottled water commonly available at restaurants, hotels, cafes, food stores, and kiosks. The days when Greek restaurants automatically served glasses of cold fresh water are gone; you can try to insist on simply the tap water but you are now usually made to feel that you must order bottled water, at which point you will have to choose between natural or carbonated (metalliko), and domestic or imported. Cafes, however, tend to provide a glass of natural water.