About Athens
Soak up all the Athens information you need to plan a trip, such as the city's business hours, language, public holidays and many other relevant issues.
More information about Athens
Athens facts & figures
Athens is the capital and largest city in Greece, with a population of around 665,000 people. The city's urban area has a total population of 3 million people. As well as the population surveyed, it is believed that there are close to one million Asian immigrants.
Current local time
Greece is in the Eastern European Time (EET) time zone. The current offset is UTC/GMT +2 hours. It is two hours ahead of London and one hour ahead of Madrid.
Currency
The official currency in Greece is the Euro, introduced in 2002.
Electricity and plugs
The plugs in Greece are the same as in Europe, with two round pins. The voltage is also the same as in most of Europe, 220 volts.
If you're travelling from the UK, the US, Canada, Australia or New Zealand, you’ll need a travel plug adaptor. You can either purchase one before you leave, or you can ask to borrow one at your hotel.
Vaccines
Visitors don’t need any vaccines to travel to Greece.
Healthcare
As a member of the European Union, Greece offers free or cheap healthcare for citizens of the EU with the European Health Insurance Card. The card is free, and you can easily apply for it online. If you’re not an EU citizen, we recommend you purchase a travel insurance. With the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) you will be treated free of charge in medical centers in Greece.
For something more complete you can purchase our travel insurance.
Helpful telephone numbers
- Tourist police: 171.
- Ambulance and fire brigade: 100.
- Greece area code: 30.
- Athens area code: 21.
