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 is the capital of Greece and the beating heart of the country. Its urban center is home to some 665,000 people, a figure that rises to over 3.8 million when its extensive metropolitan area is included. This density makes Athens a vibrant and cosmopolitan metropolis, enriched by a growing cultural diversity that reflects its role as a bridge between Europe, Asia, and Africa.
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 & 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 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
- Emergencies (General): 112 (Recommended for tourists, multilingual service).
- Tourist Police: 171.
- Country codes: +30 (Greece) and +21 (Athens).
