Greece country information

You are on vacation in Greece. Delicious! Do you have suitable clothes with you and which plugs can you use? Here you will find practical information on site.

Facts and figures

Official name

• Hellenic Republic / Elliniki Dimokratia

Resident

• Greek (m), Greek (f)

State form

• Parliamentary republic
• Greece is divided into 13 regions and the autonomous state of Athos.

Capital city

• Athens / Athina

European Union

• Greece has been a member of the European Union since 1981.

Language

• Greek

Population

• 2019: 10.5 million

Surface

• 131,957 km² (more than 3 times the Netherlands)

Income per inhabitant per year

• 2018: $ 25,800 (NL: $ 50,200)

Average life expectancy

• 2018: 82.1 years (NL: 82.1 years)

Currency

• Euro (EUR)

Country code license plate

• GR

Greece country information – health

• The level of medical care in Greece is reasonable. Specialist help is often limited on the islands. However, in addition to the normal ambulances, there are helicopters for emergencies.
• Travelers are advised to take out good travel insurance. Please note that cash payment may be required for the provision of medical care.
• In case of hospitalization or when specialist medical care is required, travelers should contact their insurance company directly.

European health insurance card (EHIC)

• The European health insurance card or EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) entitles you to essential medical care in the event of illness or an accident during a temporary stay in Greece. If you show your EHIC, healthcare providers know that you are insured and where they can declare the healthcare costs. It is often not necessary to advance healthcare costs yourself.

Medicines

• Take plenty of special medicines with you (in the original packaging) or ask the doctor for a prescription.
• It is advisable to bring your own travel pharmacy with regular medicines.

Medical statement

• Travelers who bring medicines prescribed by a doctor or specialist may be required to carry a medical certificate. This applies in any case to medicines that fall under the Opium Act (such as certain sleeping pills, ADHD medicines and strong painkillers).
• Request the statement in time.

Greece country information – health advice

Ticks

• Watch out for ticks when hiking or camping in the countryside, as they can transmit Lyme disease.
• Tick-borne encephalitis may also occur in Greece. Encephalitis is an inflammation of the brain caused by a virus that can be transmitted by ticks. From April to November the ticks are most active and the risk of contracting this disease is greatest.

Mammals

• Rabies occurs in Greece. Contact a doctor immediately if you are bitten by a mammal (for example, a dog, cat or bat).

Drinking water

• In general, tap water in Greece is of good quality and can be drunk safely. In some places, however, the tap water is slightly chlorinated and can cause stomach and intestinal complaints. When in doubt, bottled water can be used, which is widely available.

Food

• Encephalitis (see Ticks) can rarely be transmitted through raw milk from cows, sheep or goats or products made from raw milk (such as some cheeses).

Greece country information – electricity

Voltage

230 volts

Adapter plug

• Outlets have two round holes and can be grounded or ungrounded.
• You do not need an adapter or world plug.

More information about road signs in Greece can be found on Wikipedia.

Here you will find more information about Greece.