Greece money: paying in Greece

Paying in Greece, how about that? Are there ATMs in Greece just like in your home country? What is the price level in Greece, and how about giving tips in Greece after a nice dinner or drinks on a cozy terrace? On this page you will find everything about paying in Greece.

Greece money – general

Currency

• Euro (EUR)

Debit card

• Debit cards (both debit and credit cards) are accepted almost everywhere.
• Banks and credit companies provide information about the possibilities and costs of debit cards.

Greece money – cash and ATM

• Greece has plenty of ATMs in the cities and tourist areas.
• Note: Withdrawing money with a bank card is not always free in the euro zone. ATM operators are allowed to charge a fee per transaction, either a fixed amount or a percentage. More and more banks in Greece charge € 2 to 3 per transaction regardless of the amount withdrawn. These costs should be indicated on the ATM or on the screen, however, only a few ATMs indicate the exact costs before you enter the PIN. Ask your bank which ATMs are free.
• Current information about ATMs in a particular location can be found at, among others, mastercard.com/atmlocator and visa.com/atmlocator.
• Bring plenty of cash, especially in remote areas. For example, it can happen that the only ATM on a small island is empty.

Greece money – tips

• Bring a variety of payment methods with you and keep them separately: a bank card, a credit card and cash.
• Using a bank card is usually cheaper than using a credit card. The costs differ per bank, per bank card and per credit card. If a fixed amount is charged per transaction, frequent use of a debit card for small amounts is not recommended.
• There is usually a spending limit per day or per week for bank cards. The bank can increase the limit on request. Arrange this before you travel. With a credit card, you can increase the spending limit by transferring an extra amount to the credit card account or by requesting a higher credit from the bank or credit card company.
• Have your debit card blocked immediately in case of loss or theft.

Greece money – tipping

• Service charge is usually included in the price. Round off the amount or leave the small change. In the more luxurious restaurants, a tip of 5-10% is customary for good service.
• You can round the amount for taxi drivers.

Particularities

• In Greece you can pay contactless with some phones. Ask your bank for more information.

Information about the drachma (national currency before the introduction of the euro) can be found on Wikipedia.

Here you will find more information about Greece.