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Formalities for Entering Greece American and Canadian citizens entering Greece for a period of less than three months require a valid passport, not a visa. For visits exceeding three months, authorization must be obtained in person by applying to the Aliens Bureau at least 20 days prior to the three-month expiration date. Citizens of countries other than the U.S. or Canada should contact the nearest Greek Embassy or Greek Consulate office with regard to visa requirements. All persons, regardless of nationality, traveling with documents other than a valid passport, must have a visa. Currency Regulations Importation of foreign currency, gold and gold coins is free and unlimited. A declaration of foreign currency imported is acceptable only at the time of entry, at which time a corresponding voucher is given. Health Regulations No immunization vaccinations are required of U.S. or Canadian citizens traveling from the U.S. or Canada. If traveling from a country other than the U.S. or Canada, please consult local Health Department or Atlanta Disease Control Center as to the immunization requirements for entry into Greece. Traveling with Animals Cats and dogs require health and rabies inoculation and certificate issued by a veterinary authority in the country of origin not more than 12 months (cat six months) and not less than six days prior to arrival. Climate Greece receives approximately 3,000 hours of sunshine per year. In general, from June to August rainfall is rare. Expect the dry, sunny days of a Mediterranean climate. In the Aegean during the summer months and especially in August, strong winds are common. These "Meltemi" winds, blow from north to south usually starting around noon. So, if you prefer calmer waters for swimming, its usually best to go to beaches on the south side of the islands on days when the Meltemi is strong. Average daytime temperatures in Athens and Southern Greece range from 52 degrees in January to 92 degrees in July and August; for Thessaloniki and Northern Greece, the average daytime temperatures range from 45 degrees in January to 90 degrees in July and August. Rainiest months are November-March, when rainfall averages from 11-14 days per month. Language Greek is the official language of Greece. English is spoken in hotels, most restaurants, department stores and by the “Tourist Police” who wear a badge on their lapel depicting the English or American flags. In the educational system of Greece, English is a second language. Banking Hours All banks are open to the public from 8:00am-2:00pm Monday through Thursday. On Fridays, the hours are 8:00am-1:30pm. However, some banks are open additional hours only for foreign currency exchange. Contact the local Greek Tourist Office for more information. Credit Cards All major credit cards are accepted in hotels, restaurants and many cosmopolitan boutique shops. However, they are not used as extensively as they are used in the U.S. and Canada. Travelers checks are widely accepted throughout Greece. They can be exchanged easily at almost all banks and post offices. Electric Current The standard household current throughout Greece is 220 AC, although occasionally 110DC voltage is supplied. Post Offices Post Offices are open Monday through Saturday from 7:30am-8:00pm. Main offices at 100 Aeolou Street and also at Syntagma Square, both in Athens. Medical Care Urgent cases requiring immediate hospital treatment are handled by a roster of hospitals which operate on a 24-hour emergency basis. Tel: 166 (in Athens). Pharmacies open 24 hours are listed in English (or Greek) magazines and newspapers. Tel: 107 (in Athens). Clothing Suggestions
Winter: Mid-November through Mid-March-A wardrobe of interchangeable coordinates, made of manmade fibers and/or wool, which allow for minimum and maximum warmth for varying temperatures is suggested. A topcoat with zip-out lining is also suggested. Spring/Fall: Mid-March through April, October through Mid-November-Lightweight wools or topcoat are suggested. Dining: Informal attire, except at some selected restaurants which require tie and jacket for men. Casinos: Dress is more formal than in the U.S. Jacket and tie are mandatory for men. Archaeological Sites: Swimsuits are prohibited. Monasteries and Churches: Ladies are required to wear appropriate length dresses or shirt with sleeved blouse. Men are required to wear slacks and shirt. Cruises: Casual daytime attire is suggested. For occasional special gala evenings, cocktail dress and tie and jacket are suggested. Shopping General trade stores are open 9:00am-5:00pm Monday and Wednesday, 10:00am-7:00pm Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, and from 8:30am-3:30pm on Saturday. Stores are closed on Sundays. However, the Athens Flea Market, and other souvenir shops are open seven days a week, including Sundays. The items most sought by visitors to Greece are the traditional handicrafts, jewelry, flokati rugs, pottery, onyx, marble and alabaster. Other great buys include shoes, handbags and furs. Regional specialties: some of the best silver jewelry comes from Ioannina, the most interesting ceramics from Sifnos and Skopelos, the most original embroidery from Skyros, Crete, Lefkas and Rhodes. Crete is famous for its alabaster, Kastoria and Siatista, for furs. The Thessaly and Epirus regions are noted for their fluffy, sheep-wool flokati rugs. |
| New Years Day | January 1 |
| Epiphany | January 6 |
| Shrove Monday | January 22 |
| Feast of the Annunciation - Independence Day | March 25 |
| Good Friday | April 9 |
| Good Saturday | April 10 |
| Orthodox Easter - Anastasis | April 11 |
| Labor Day - Flower Festival | May 1 |
| Day of the Holy Spirit - Penticost | May 31 |
| Dormition of the Holy Virgin | August 15 |
| National Holiday, OHI Day | October 28 |
| Christmas Day/Boxing Day | December 25-26 |
| One caveat: We have written our property reference pages to be as concise as possible. Therefore, if an amenity is NOT listed, chances are it is not offered by the property. Though we attempt to be as accurate as possible and ask each property to recheck the information that they have provided, breakdowns in communications can occasionally occur. For that reason, Barclay International Group cannot be held responsible for any inaccuracies contained in the information. If you do uncover mistakes in our information, please bring them to our attention so we may correct them as soon as possible. Also, rates occasionally change mid-season due to currency fluctuations and so forth; we cannot guarantee rates until actual bookings are placed. Consider the rates contained in our rate sheets to be approximate rate guidelines, rather than figures carved in stone. We have included links to country and city information in our pages. While we will attempt to verify these links on a regular basis, we would certainly appreciate it if anyone discovering a non-operational link brings this information to our attention. Thank you. |
