Money, Safety & eSIM in Greece
Greece's currency is the euro (€) — cards are widely accepted, including at most tavernas and island shops, but carry some cash for small island tavernas, beach bars, and local buses. Greece is very safe overall for tourists; the most common real risk is petty theft (pickpocketing, bag snatching) in crowded areas, not violent crime. eSIM or a local SIM both work well and cost roughly $5–20 for a two-week data plan.
The unglamorous stuff that actually matters once you land: how to handle euros versus cards, what real safety risks look like in Greece (spoiler: it's pickpockets, not anything more dramatic), and how to get connected without a shocking roaming bill.
Money and cards
The euro (€) is the currency everywhere. Cards — especially contactless — are accepted at the large majority of hotels, restaurants, and shops, including on most islands now. That said, small tavernas on quieter islands, some beach bars, local buses, and public toilets often still expect cash, so carry roughly €50–100 at a time as a buffer.
| Payment method | Where it works best |
|---|---|
| Card (contactless) | Hotels, restaurants, shops, most taxis in cities |
| Cash (euros) | Small island tavernas, beach bars, local buses, markets |
| ATM withdrawals | Widely available; check your card for foreign-transaction fees before you go |
Is Greece safe?
Very safe by regional and Western European standards — violent crime against tourists is rare. The real, more common risk is petty theft: pickpocketing on crowded Athens metro cars, bag-snatching in busy port areas, and the occasional overcharging scam at unmetered taxis. Ordinary street awareness — a zipped bag worn in front on public transit, agreeing on a taxi fare or confirming the meter is running — covers nearly all of it.
Ferry travel between islands is generally safe and reliable, though schedules can be disrupted by high winds (the meltemi, especially in July–August) — build a buffer day into your itinerary if you have a flight to catch right after an island-hopping leg.
eSIM and staying connected
eSIM is the easiest option if your phone supports it — providers like Airalo and Holafly sell data-only European plans from around $5–20 for 7–15 days, active before you even land. A physical local SIM (Cosmote, Vodafone Greece, or Nova) from any phone shop or kiosk costs similarly and works well, including strong coverage on most inhabited islands (though some remote spots can have patchier signal).
Currency and cost basics
- Check a live USD/EUR (or GBP/EUR) exchange rate before your trip rather than relying on an old figure — rates move.
- Tipping isn't obligatory but rounding up or leaving 5–10% at restaurants is appreciated and increasingly common.
- Airport currency exchange counters typically offer worse rates than a normal ATM withdrawal — an ATM at your destination is usually the better deal.
Common scams to actually watch for
The most-reported one in Athens and touristy nightlife strips: a friendly local invites you for 'one drink' at a specific bar, then the bill arrives with wildly inflated per-drink prices and a group of staff make it awkward to refuse paying. Politely decline invitations to unfamiliar bars from strangers, and check a printed menu with prices before ordering anywhere new to you. The other common one is unlicensed taxi touts approaching arriving passengers at airports and ferry ports with a 'special price' ride — use the official taxi rank or a ride-hailing app like Beat instead.
Emergency numbers worth saving before you land: 112 is the EU-wide emergency number (police, fire, ambulance) and works throughout Greece, including on islands with patchy regular signal. The dedicated Greek Tourist Police line, 1571, handles non-emergency tourist issues — scams, disputes, lost documents — in English.
Card fees — the quiet budget leak
Check your card issuer's foreign-transaction fee before you go. Many US cards charge 1-3% on every purchase made abroad, which adds up fast over a week of tapping to pay for coffees, tavernas, and ferry tickets. A no-foreign-fee travel card (several US and UK banks offer one) usually pays for itself within the first few days of a Greece trip.