How to pay for things in Greece?
My boyfriend and I are headed to Greece (Athens for some time and islands for some time). We plan on bringing euros that we ordered from our personal banks in the States. But I am curious what the best way to pay for things is if we run out of euros.
Is there an accepted debit or credit card over there that I could open here in advance? If there is, what's the card with the lowest fee for using it out of country? Any information regarding currency and paying for goods/services in Greece as an American is much appreciated. Thanks!
Best Answer
Pay as you normally do at home.
- Have some cash with you when you land in Greece for small immediate purchases (tourist things, taxi...), I'd say, 200, 300 euros per person.
- Pay with credit card for larger purchases (hotel, restaurants, train/boat reservations...).
- ATM are (should be) available pretty much everywhere to get cash. Prefer using Bank ATM over "no-name" ones, look for "Cirrus" or "Plus" logo on your debit/credit card and ATM machine.
YMMV in regards to smaller restaurants or smaller stores, they might not accept credit cards or debit cards.
Both MasterCard and Visa are widely recognized in Greece, you should not have problem with either of them.
Be certain to contact your credit card provider that you will be traveling to Greece; this will remove/reduce the risk of your card be blocked.
Pictures about "How to pay for things in Greece?"
Can I use my debit card in Greece?
Will my credit or debit card work in Greece? US, UK and Australian cards will widely work in Greece, as long as they belong to a common card network. Visa, Mastercard, PLUS, Cirrus and American Express are also widely accepted.Should I exchange money before I travel to Greece?
When changing money in Greece, make sure that you don't receive a note larger than a 50 Euro, as it will be difficult to use anywhere. In my opinion, it's best not to exchange physical currency at all unless you really have to. Either bring some Euros with you from your own country, or withdraw Euros from an ATM.Can you pay with card in Greece?
Credit cards are widely accepted in Greece, particularly in the tourist areas. It's actually a legal requirement, as a response to the financial crisis, that working Greek citizens aged below 65 have a credit card so most hotels, shops, cafes and restaurants should offer the option of paying by credit card.Do I need to take cash to Greece?
Cash is no longer king in Greece (even more so after COVID-19,) and almost all establishments accept credit/debit cards. Most international banks and money outlets now charge a fee for using ATM machines, as do most card providers.How I Bank in Greece || Living in Greece
More answers regarding how to pay for things in Greece?
Answer 2
Two things to add to the answer by Max.
You need to avoid dynamic currency conversion (DCC) when it is offered. So if they ask you whether you want to pay by card in euros or in your own currency you should answer euros. The rate you obtain from your own card issuer is usually better than that offered by the provider of DCC.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dynamic_currency_conversion
At times of economic uncertainty they may become reluctant to take cards. This is often euphemistically stated as the card machine being broken. So when you go out for your evening meal either check it is working before ordering or be sure to take enough cash with you to cover the likely bill. Sadly the Greek economy is not the most flourishing one so this can be an issue if you are not prepared.
Answer 3
Having been to Greece myself many times, most recently 6 months ago on a 17-day 9 island trip, I can confirm you will be fine almost everywhere with any major credit card (MasterCard, Visa etc.)
I'm not sure if it's an option in the US, but here in the UK we have prepaid travel cards where you can load money onto the card and use it as you would any debit or credit card. Many of these are specifically aimed at travelling abroad so have no currency exchange fees. They are also more secure as you can only lose what you've loaded onto the card. If this isn't an option then just find a credit card provider who offers the best exchange rate for Euros and sign up.
Depending on your travel plans I would also budget perhaps €50 per day between you in cash (up to a maximum of €500) for your trip. Use cards whenever possible (meals, car hire, ferry tickets all usually accept card payment) and keep cash back for incidentals (taxis, drinks in bars, bus fares).
If you get near the end of your trip and find you have a surplus of cash, start using it more and aim to spend the last €20 at the airport before you fly home - it's rarely worth changing currency back as you'll get a much poorer rate than you paid for.
As the other answers have mentioned, when paying by card always opt to pay in Euro and let your card issuer handle the conversion.
Most importantly of all, have a great trip! Greece is a superb country and I'm sure you will love it.
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