Grèce : à savoir avant de partir

Entrée et visas

Greece is in the Schengen area. Non-EU visitors are registered in the EU Entry/Exit System (EES) on first entry: fingerprints and a facial photo, no passport stamps. Visa-free visitors may stay 90 days in any 180 across all Schengen states. ETIAS is not operating yet: its launch is now expected in 2027, so ignore sites selling "ETIAS" approvals.

Validité du passeport: Non-EU passports: valid at least 3 months after you leave the Schengen area and issued within the last 10 years.

À la frontière, on peut vous demander

• EES registration at the first Schengen border: fingerprints and face photo (children under 12 give no fingerprints). Allow extra time at passport control.
• Border guards may ask for a return ticket, accommodation proof, travel insurance and funds for your stay.
• Your 90/180 days are counted across all Schengen states together; use the EU short-stay calculator to check.

Douane

• From outside the EU: 200 cigarettes, 1 L spirits or 2 L fortified wine, 4 L wine, 16 L beer; other goods up to EUR 430 by air/sea (EUR 300 by land).
• Personal imports of meat, milk and dairy products from non-EU countries are banned (small exceptions for infant food and medical needs).
• Declare cash of EUR 10,000 or more (or equivalent) when entering or leaving the EU.
• Prescription medicines: carry the prescription; narcotic or psychotropic medicines need a Schengen certificate (Article 75) or a doctor's letter.

Vérifié le 29 octobre 2026 · Sources: home-affairs.ec.europa.eu ↗, travel-europe.europa.eu ↗, home-affairs.ec.europa.eu ↗, home-affairs.ec.europa.eu ↗, taxation-customs.ec.europa.eu ↗, finance.ec.europa.eu ↗, gov.pl ↗

Argent

Espèces et cartes sont courantes. Cartes acceptées presque partout.

Réseaux de paiement : Visa, Mastercard

Apple Pay — fonctionne · Google Pay — fonctionne

Où changer de l’argent

• Withdraw euros from a bank-owned ATM in town, or bring euros from home.
• Pay by card or phone in euros; contactless is near-universal.
• ATMs of Greek banks (Piraeus, National Bank, Eurobank, Alpha); some charge foreign cards EUR 2-4.

Où éviter de changer

• Airport and station exchange bureaux (poor rates, high commission).
• Independent ATMs such as Euronet in tourist zones: high fees and currency-conversion offers.
• Euronet and other independent ATMs on islands and in Plaka.

Distributeurs: Bank ATMs may charge a fixed fee, shown before you confirm; take out larger sums. Small islands may have few ATMs; carry cash.

Pourboires: Leave 5-10% in cash for good restaurant service; round up for taxis.

• When a card terminal or ATM offers to charge you in your home currency, decline and pay in local currency: dynamic currency conversion adds roughly 3-10%.
• Cards issued by Russian banks (Visa, Mastercard and Mir) do not work here because of sanctions; bring enough cash or a card from a non-Russian bank.
• Shops must accept cards by law, but small tavernas, kiosks and island businesses often prefer cash. Always ask for a receipt.

Vérifié le 29 octobre 2026 · Sources: visitgreece.gr ↗, gov.uk ↗, bankofgreece.gr ↗, support.apple.com ↗

Culture et tenue

Religion: Greek Orthodox Christianity is central to national life.

Tenue: Casual in summer; cover shoulders and knees in monasteries and churches (Mount Athos admits men only). Beachwear only at the beach.

Savoir-vivre

• Dinner is late (21:00-22:00).
• Hospitality is generous; accept offered treats.
• Avoid the open-palm "moutza" gesture: it is an insult.
• Nodding the head up means "no".

Vérifié le 29 octobre 2026 · Sources: visitgreece.gr ↗

Climat

Mediterranean: hot dry summers with strong meltemi winds on islands, mild wet winters. Figures are Athens average highs/lows.

Meilleure saison : May-June and September-October.

Vérifié le 29 octobre 2026 · Sources: hnms.gr ↗, visitgreece.gr ↗

À emporter

• High-SPF sunscreen, hat, sunglasses
• Flat shoes for ruins
• Type F plug adapter (230 V)
• Cash for islands
• Scarf to cover shoulders in churches

À ne pas emporter / interdit à l’importation

• Stiletto heels at sites.
• Meat and dairy from outside the EU.
• Drones without permission.

Pratique

Prises: Type F (Type C fits); 230 V, 50 Hz

Eau: Tap water is safe in Athens and most mainland towns; on many islands drink bottled water.

Circulation: à droite

Mobile et eSIM: EU roaming: SIMs from any EU/EEA country work at home prices (fair-use limits). Ukrainian and Moldovan SIMs too since 1 Jan 2026. Swiss, UK, Serbian and other non-EU SIMs pay roaming; an eSIM data plan is cheaper.

Applications: FREENOW / Uber (taxis), OASA Telematics (Athens transport), Ferryhopper, Beat / Bolt

Internet: Good 4G/5G on the mainland and main islands; weaker on small islands and at sea.

Santé: EU/EEA/Swiss and UK (GHIC) cardholders get state healthcare at local rates with their EHIC/GHIC. Others pay in full, so bring insurance. Pharmacies (green cross) handle minor issues. Heatstroke and sunburn are common in summer.

Assurance: Schengen visa applicants must hold travel medical insurance of at least EUR 30,000 valid in all Schengen states. Everyone else: strongly advised.

Urgences: 112; 100 police, 166 ambulance, 199 fire, 1571 tourist police

Vérifié le 29 octobre 2026 · Sources: europa.eu ↗, europa.eu ↗, digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu ↗, gov.uk ↗