Southern Europe · UN member
Greece: Travel Guide & Requirements
Hellenic Republic · Ελληνική Δημοκρατία
Greece is a country in Southern Europe with its capital in Athens. It has a population of 10.4 million (#93 in the world) and covers 131,957 km². The official language is Greek. The currency is the Euro (EUR, €).
Where is Greece? Map of Greece
Southern Europe, bordering the Aegean Sea, Ionian Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea, between Albania and Turkey.
- Region
- Southern Europe
- Coordinates
- 39° N, 22° E
- Neighbours
- 4 — see list
- Coastline
- 13,676 km
- Greece
- Neighbours
- Capital
- Largest cities
Map of Greece showing Athens (capital) and the largest cities: Thessaloníki, Pátra, Lárisa, Irákleion, Volos and Ioánnina.
Travel requirements
What you need to travel to Greece
- Passport
Under the Schengen Borders Code, a third-country national's travel document must be valid for at least three months after the intended date of departure from the territory of the Member States and must have been issued …
- Visa or eTA
Depends on your passport: of 198 passports, 93 need no visa, 105 need a visa from an embassy. Check yours or see Greece entry requirements for every passport.
- Return or onward ticket
No official requirement. The Schengen Borders Code lists a return or round-trip ticket among the supporting documents as regards return.
- Proof of funds
The European Commission's table of reference amounts gives Greece's as EUR 50, EUR 25 for minors, and EUR 300 for a stay of up to 5 days.
- Travel insurance
The Visa Code requires applicants for a uniform visa for one or two entries to prove that they hold adequate and valid travel medical insurance, valid throughout the territory of the Member States for the entire intende…
- Arrival card
The EU's Travel to Europe site says that the first time you arrive at a border crossing point since the EES started, passport control officers will take a photo of your face and/or scan your fingerprints, and your passp…
- Customs allowance
If you enter or leave the EU with €10,000 in cash (or its equivalent in other currencies), you must declare it to the customs authorities in the EU country you are entering or leaving, using the EU cash declaration form.
- Travel advice
Safe to visit — US and UK advice.
Entry rules: TravelRequirements.info — Entry Requirements Dataset (CC BY 4.0), each rule cited to an official government source. Always confirm with the airline and the official source before you travel.
Before you go
10 things to know before you travel to Greece
- Safety: Yes — Greece is generally safe to visit: the US State Department rates Greece Level 1 (“Exercise Normal Precautions”), and the UK Foreign Office has no warnings against travel there.
- Best time to go: May — when daytime highs in Athens are around 25°C.
- Money: the Euro (EUR) — 1 US dollar is about 0.8911 EUR.
- Plugs: type C and F, 230 V, 50 Hz — standard 220–240 V: devices from the US or Japan (110–120 V) need a converter unless they are dual voltage (100–240 V).
- Emergency numbers: Police 100 / 112, Ambulance 166 / 112, Fire 199 / 112.
- Language: Greek is official; English is also spoken.
- Driving: on the right — speed limits are 50 km/h in built-up areas, 90 km/h outside built-up areas, 110 km/h on expressways and 130 km/h on motorways.
- Time zone: UTC+2 in Athens.
- Capital: Athens. About 10.4 million people live in Greece.
- Outdoors: 29 national parks and 15 ski areas.
Key facts
Greece at a glance
Languages spoken: Greek (official) 99%, other (includes English and French) 1%
Geography & history
About Greece
Greece won independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1830 and became a kingdom. During the second half of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century, it gradually added neighboring islands and territories, most with Greek-speaking populations. In World War II, Greece was first invaded by Italy (1940) and subsequently occupied by Germany (1941-44); fighting endured in a protracted civil war between supporters of the king and other anti-communist and communist rebels. The communists were defeated in 1949, and Greece joined NATO in 1952. In 1967, a military coup forced the king to flee the country. The ensuing military dictatorship collapsed in 1974, and Greece abolished the monarch…
Read the full history
Greece won independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1830 and became a kingdom. During the second half of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century, it gradually added neighboring islands and territories, most with Greek-speaking populations. In World War II, Greece was first invaded by Italy (1940) and subsequently occupied by Germany (1941-44); fighting endured in a protracted civil war between supporters of the king and other anti-communist and communist rebels. The communists were defeated in 1949, and Greece joined NATO in 1952. In 1967, a military coup forced the king to flee the country. The ensuing military dictatorship collapsed in 1974, and Greece abolished the monarchy to become a parliamentary republic. In 1981, Greece joined the EC (now the EU); it became the 12th member of the European Economic and Monetary Union in 2001. From 2009 until 2019, Greece suffered a severe economic crisis due to nearly a decade of chronic overspending and structural rigidities. Beginning in 2010, Greece entered three bailout agreements -- the first two with the European Commission, the European Central Bank, and the IMF; and the third in 2015 with the European Stability Mechanism -- worth in total about $300 billion. The Greek Government formally exited the third bailout in 2018, and Greece's economy has since improved significantly. In 2022, the country finalized its early repayment to the IMF and graduated on schedule from the EU's enhanced surveillance framework.
Location
Southern Europe, bordering the Aegean Sea, Ionian Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea, between Albania and Turkey
Climate
temperate; mild, wet winters; hot, dry summers
Terrain
mountainous with ranges extending into the sea as peninsulas or chains of islands
Highest point
Mount Olympus 2,917
Natural resources
lignite, petroleum, iron ore, bauxite, lead, zinc, nickel, magnesite, marble, salt, hydropower potential
Natural hazards
severe earthquakes volcanism: Santorini (367 m) has been deemed a Decade Volcano by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, worthy of study due to its explosive history and close proximity to human populations; Meth…
National symbols
Greek cross (white cross on a blue field)
Driving
Speed limits & road rules in Greece
The default speed limits in Greece are 50 km/h in built-up areas, 90 km/h outside built-up areas, 110 km/h on expressways and 130 km/h on motorways. The legal alcohol limit for drivers is 0.5‰. Posted signs always take priority over these defaults.
- 2020 km/hResidential zonesLiving streets & residential areas
- 5050 km/hBuilt-up areasTowns and cities
- 9090 km/hOutside built-up areasCountry roadsWith a trailer: 80 km/h
- 110110 km/hExpresswaysDual carriageways & expresswaysWith a trailer: 90 km/h
- 130130 km/hMotorwaysMotorways / freewaysWith a trailer: 100 km/h
- International Driving PermitRecognised: 1968 Vienna, 1949 GenevaCarry the IDP together with your national licence
- Driving sideDrive on the rightOvertake on the left
- Alcohol limit0.5‰ blood alcohol (0.05% BAC)
- Seat beltsRequired by law
- Child seatsRequired by law
- Motorcycle helmetsRequired for riders
- Road deaths (2021)7.3 per 100,000 peopleSafer than most countries (median 12.4)
Speed limits: OpenStreetMap wiki — Default speed limits (CC BY-SA 2.0). Road-safety laws: WHO Global Health Observatory. Compare speed limits and alcohol limits by country. Defaults for cars; local signs, weather and vehicle type can lower them.
Safety
Is Greece safe to visit?
Yes — Greece is generally safe to visit: the US State Department rates Greece Level 1 (“Exercise Normal Precautions”), and the UK Foreign Office has no warnings against travel there.
US State Department
UK Foreign Office (FCDO)Latest update: Updated information on European Entry-Exit System (EES) (‘Entry requirements’ page).
Updated 11 Aug 2026 · Full travel advice
Sources: US Department of State travel advisories (public domain) and UK FCDO foreign travel advice (contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0). Checked daily. Advice can change quickly — always read the official page before you travel.
Weather
Best time to visit Greece
The best time to visit Greece is May, when daytime highs in Athens are around 25°C. June and September to October are also a good time to go. July is the warmest month (32°C by day), January the coldest (6°C at night), and December the wettest with about 86 mm of rain.
- Jan12°C6°C
- Feb13°C7°C
- Mar15°C8°C
- Apr19°C11°C
- May25°C15°C
- Jun30°C20°C
- Jul32°C23°C
- Aug32°C23°C
- Sep28°C20°C
- Oct23°C16°C
- Nov18°C12°C
- Dec14°C8°C
Best time Good Less ideal
Before you go
Plugs, voltage & emergency numbers in Greece
Plugs & sockets
230 V, 50 Hz · Standard 220–240 V: devices from the US or Japan (110–120 V) need a converter unless they are dual voltage (100–240 V).
Sources: Wikipedia — Mains electricity by country and List of emergency telephone numbers (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Ski resorts
15 ski resorts in Greece
- 118 km of slopes
- 84 lifts
- up to 2,469 m
Biggest: Χιονοδρομικό Κέντρο Παρνασσού · Εθνικό χιονοδρομικό κέντρο Βασιλίτσας · Seli
National parks
29 national parks in Greece
- 7,087 km² protected
- oldest from 1938
Largest: North Pindos National Park · National Park of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace · National Park of Tzoumerka, Peristeri & Arachthos Gorge
Currency · 26 October 2026
Euro exchange rates today
Greece uses the Euro (EUR, €). One US dollar buys 0.8911 EUR; over the last 30 days the EUR has lost 1.5% against the dollar.
What other currencies cost in EUR
Currency converter
Daily reference rates from the open-source currency-api (CC0), 26 Oct 2026. Banks and exchange offices add a margin.
World rankings
Where Greece ranks
How Greece compares with the rest of the world — open any card for the full ranking.
Airports
Airports in Greece
146 airports and airfields — 11 large, 18 medium and 53 small, plus 64 heliports. 39 have scheduled passenger flights.
Borders
Neighbouring countries
Greece borders 4 countries along 1,110 km of land borders. Coastline: 13,676 km.
Military
Greek armed forces
Greece ranks #30 of 145 in the Global Firepower military strength ranking, with a defence budget of $8.4 billion (2025).
People
Population & society
Religion
Largest cities: Athens (3.2 million), Thessaloniki (815,000)
Economy
Economy
Main industries
tourism, food and tobacco processing, textiles, chemicals, metal products; mining, petroleum
Export partners
Italy 12%, Germany 6%, Cyprus 6%, Bulgaria 4%, USA 4% (2023)
Top exports
refined petroleum, packaged medicine, aluminum, olive oil, tobacco (2023)
Travel tools
Handy before every trip to Greece
Next public holiday
Ochi Day — Wednesday, 28 October 2026. Then Christmas Day (25 Dec).
Greek passport
Ranked #14: 123 countries visa-free, 32 with visa on arrival, 8 with an eTA and 21 with an eVisa.
Greek passport photo
Exact size, head position and background for Greece's passport and visa photos — make one free with AI checks.
Calling Greece
Dial +30 before the local number. Internet domain .gr.
Climate footprint
53.4 million tonnes of CO₂ in 2024 — 5.31 t per person.
Entry requirements
Visa rules for every passport visiting Greece: visa-free stays, eVisas, visas on arrival and documents to bring.
News
Latest travel news about Greece
Greek residence permits at risk: €50,000 fine, revocation over rebates and short lets
Greece's Migration and Asylum Minister warned Golden Visa investors that hidden property rebates and prohibited short-term rentals can lead to reside…
Greece air fares face pressure as jet fuel costs climb, demand holds
Jet fuel prices have doubled year-on-year and European airlines warn of further fare rises, but demand for travel to Greece remains steady, with Gree…
Maltese Residents in Portugal Now Face 7-Year Wait Before Applying for Citizenship
Portugal's nationality law amendment of 19 May 2026 extends the residency period before most non-EU residents can apply for citizenship from five to …
Frequently asked questions about Greece
What do I need to travel to Greece?
How long must my passport be valid for Greece?
Where is Greece?
What is Greece known for?
What is the capital of Greece?
What language is spoken in Greece?
What currency does Greece use?
What is the calling code of Greece?
Which countries border Greece?
How strong is the Greek passport?
What is the speed limit in Greece?
Is Greece safe to visit?
When is the best time to visit Greece?
What plug type does Greece use?
How many airports does Greece have?
Sources: CIA World Factbook (public domain); World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0); names, languages and currencies: mledoze/countries (ODbL); flag: flag-icons (MIT); coat of arms: Wikimedia Commons (file page); exchange rates: Daily reference rates from the open-source currency-api (CC0); airports: OurAirports.