Area
131,957 sq. km. (50,949 sq. miles)
Location
Southeast Europe
Population
11.1 million (as per estimates of 2005) and Population Density of 84.1 per sq. km
Capital City
Athens with a total population of 750,000 (as per estimates of 2004); Greater Athens with a population of 3.3 million (as per estimates of 2004).
Language
Greek (Ellenika) is the official and most popular language of Greece. People in the tourist regions and younger generation also understand and can speak some English, Italian, German, and French.
Electricity
AC 220 volts, 50Hz. Two-pin plugs are commonly used.
Currency
Euro (EUR, symbol €). 1€ = 100 cents.
Notes prevalent = €20, 50, 100, 200, and 500
Coins prevalent = €1 and 2; Cents 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 50.
Currency Exchange
Currency Exchange facility is available at banks, savings banks, and bureaux de change. For more details and exchange rates, travellers are advised to consult their banks.
Credit/Debit Cards and ATMs
Credit/Debit/ATM Cards prevalent = MasterCard, Visa, American Express, Diners Club, and other major cards. Not all petrol stations in Greece accept credit cards. ATMs are also conveniently situated.
Traveller's Cheques
Travellers Cheques can be easily exchanged from banks and also accepted widely in Greece. The usual commission charged by Greek banks is 2% with a minimum of €0.15 and a maximum of €13.21. The travellers are advised to carry travellers’ cheques in major currencies, like US Dollars, or Pounds Sterling, in order to avoid additional exchange rate charges.
Banking Hours
Banks in Greece function from Monday to Thursday from 0800-1430, and Friday from 0800-1400. Banks in the larger islands have different working hours. Full details are available with The Greek National Tourism Organisation Bureau in Athens.