What Currency Is Used in Greece?
QUICK ANSWER
Greece uses the euro. Cards are widely accepted in cities and hotels, but carry cash for small tavernas, markets, and islands. Tipping is appreciated but modest, usually rounding up or 5 to 10 percent. Tap water is safe on the mainland; bottled is wiser on some islands.
Greece is a joy to travel, and a little know-how around money and daily essentials keeps it smooth, especially once you leave Athens for the islands. Here is what you need to know about the currency, tipping, power adapters, and tap water before you go island-hopping.
What currency is used in Greece?
Greece uses the euro (EUR), as part of the eurozone. In Athens, larger towns, hotels, and tourist restaurants, cards are widely accepted, including contactless, so you can rely on plastic much of the time. However, cash remains important: small tavernas, family-run shops, markets, kiosks, and especially smaller islands often prefer or require euros in cash, and some places have card minimums. Always carry some cash, particularly when island-hopping or heading somewhere rural. Use a bank ATM to withdraw euros at a fair rate, watch for machines that offer to charge you in dollars, which costs more, and choose to be charged in euros.
Do you tip in Greece?
Tipping in Greece is appreciated but not obligatory, and amounts are modest. In restaurants, service is not always clearly included, so leaving around 5 to 10 percent for good service, or simply rounding up the bill, is customary and welcomed. For a casual meal or coffee, rounding up or leaving small change is fine. Tip hotel housekeeping and porters a euro or two, and round up for taxis. In tavernas, leaving the tip in cash on the table is the norm even if you pay the bill by card. Nothing like the US 20 percent is expected; a small, genuine gesture for good service is the standard.
What power adapter do you need for Greece?
Greece uses Type C and Type F plugs, the round two-pin European style, on 230 volts. Travelers from the United States, the UK, and elsewhere will need a plug adapter to fit Greek sockets. Voltage matters too: Greece's 230 volts is higher than the US 120 volts, so verify that your devices accept 230-volt input. Modern phone, tablet, and laptop chargers are almost always dual voltage and just need the adapter, while single-voltage appliances like some US hair dryers can be damaged, so pack a dual-voltage travel version. Bringing one universal adapter with a couple of USB ports is a convenient way to keep everything charged.
Can you drink the tap water in Greece?
It depends on where you are. On the Greek mainland, including Athens and Thessaloniki, tap water is treated and generally safe to drink. On many of the islands, however, the tap water can be brackish, heavily chlorinated, or sourced from desalination, so while it may be safe for brushing teeth, it often tastes poor and locals and hotels commonly recommend bottled water for drinking. Popular islands vary, so ask your accommodation about the local supply. As a simple rule, drink tap water confidently in mainland cities, and lean toward bottled or filtered water on the islands, both for taste and to be safe with a sensitive stomach.
Greece uses the euro, with cards accepted in cities but cash needed for tavernas, markets, and islands, so carry both. Tipping is modest at around 5 to 10 percent or rounding up. You will need a Type C or F adapter and dual-voltage devices for the 230-volt supply, and while mainland tap water is safe, bottled water is wiser on many islands.
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