Money & Payment
Greece has been a member of the Eurozone since 2001 — so you don't need to exchange money if you're coming from the DACH region.
Card Payment
Since 2017, all Greek shops are legally required to accept electronic payments. In practice, this works excellently in cities, larger islands, and tourist areas — contactless (NFC) almost everywhere.
But: On small islands, in remote mountain villages, and at some small taverns, kiosks, and beach vendors, despite the requirement, sometimes "cash only" is accepted — especially when the terminal is "just broken."
ATMs
- Availability: In every city, every village with more than a few hundred inhabitants, and on all tourist islands
- Fees: Greek banks (Alpha Bank, Piraeus Bank, Eurobank, National Bank of Greece) do not charge a fee at the ATM. Your German bank charges 0-5 EUR per withdrawal depending on the account
- Tip: Always choose "without conversion" when the ATM asks — otherwise, you'll pay the worse exchange rate of the ATM operator (DCC trap, affects non-Euro cards)
- Daily limit: Usually 600 EUR per withdrawal, depending on the bank
Cost Overview (Reference Values 2025/2026)
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Espresso (Freddo) in the Cafe | 2.50-4.00 EUR |
| Gyros Pita (Snack) | 3.00-4.50 EUR |
| Dinner in Tavern (per person) | 12-25 EUR |
| Bottle of Water (0.5L) | 0.50 EUR |
| Beer (0.5L) in Restaurant | 4-6 EUR |
| Ferry Piraeus-Santorini (Deck) | 40-65 EUR |
| Rental Car per Day (Small Car) | 30-80 EUR |
| Double Room Mid-range | 60-150 EUR |
| Acropolis Admission | 20 EUR |
💡 Tipp
Since 2017, Greek shops are required to accept cards. Nevertheless: always carry 50-100 EUR cash on small islands and in mountain villages!