Europe

Greece

Still current at: 17 May 2008

Updated: 16 May 2008

Terrorism

 

There is a general threat from domestic terrorism.  Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.

 

There has been a history of domestic terrorism in Greece.  High profile British interests in Greece should regularly review their security measures and remain vigilant.  You should note however that we are not aware of any attacks against British tourists or tourist areas.

 

Domestic anarchist groups remain active. The members of these groups are believed to be exclusively Greek.  So far their attacks, which typically involve improvised incendiary explosive devices such as gas canister bombs, have primarily been directed against the Greek State, Greek institutions and commercial and diplomatic interests.  Although, there is increasing evidence that these attacks are becoming more sophisticated, with two attacks in 2007 involving modern weaponry, it is unlikely that the attacks were designed to cause loss of life.

 

For more general information see Terrorism Abroad.

 

Crime

 

Most visits to Greece are trouble-free, but you should be aware that the tourist season attracts an increase in incidents of theft of wallets, handbags etc. particularly in areas and events where crowds gather.  You should leave valuables in safe custody at your hotel or apartment.

 

Personal attacks, including sexual assaults and rape, are generally infrequent in Greece.  However, this is not the case in some holiday resorts frequented by large numbers of youth tourists.  In 2007 Greece was one of the countries with the highest number of cases reported to our Consular staff of British nationals who were the victim of a serious sexual offence. In some of these cases those alleged to have carried out these offences were also British Nationals. In many cases excessive consumption of alcohol by either the victim or the offender preceded the incident.  For more general information see Rape and Sexual Assault Abroad.

 

You are therefore advised to maintain at least the same level of personal security awareness as in the UK. Be aware that alcohol and drugs can lead to you being less alert, less in control and less aware of your environment.  If you are going to drink, know your limit.  Remember that drinks served in bars overseas are often stronger than those in the UK.  We strongly advise lone visitors, in particular, never to accept lifts from strangers or passing acquaintances at any time.

 

For more general information see Victims of Crime Abroad.

 

Political Situation

 
Greece Country Profile.

 

Greece is a stable democracy, however public protests are a standard feature of Greek political life.  You should take sensible precautions for your personal safety and avoid public gatherings and demonstrations, which have the potential to turn violent.  And are often quelled with tear gas.

 

Local Travel

Generally there are no local travel restrictions, but you should be aware that certain areas near the Greek borders are militarily sensitive.  Although these areas can be visited without any problems, do not take photographs or make notes near military or official installations.  In addition, travellers should seek permission before photographing individuals.

 

Road Travel

 

Drivers should be extra cautious in view of the very high incidence of serious road traffic accidents in Greece.  In 2005 there were 1,658 road deaths in Greece (source: DfT).  This equates to 15.0 road deaths per 100,000 of population and compares to the UK average of 5.5 road deaths per 100,000 of population in 2005.

 

You are strongly advised not to hire motorcycles, scooters, mopeds or quad bikes, as accidents involving these forms of transport are common and can often result in very serious or even fatal injury.  You should check that your travel insurance covers you for the relevant activity (for more advice see travel insurance) and you should note that failure to wear a crash helmet might invalidate your travel insurance if you are involved in an accident.

 

If you intend to hire a moped you should be aware that you would require a valid driving licence with at least category A1 - 'light motorcycle` for this purpose.  Category P, which is valid in the UK for driving mopeds up to 50cc is not valid in Greece.  Greek law requires you to wear a crash helmet on a scooter, moped or motorcycle.

 

You should be aware that when hiring a vehicle, hire companies will often demand your passport as a form of security. You are advised not to hand over your passport under any circumstance. You should also check any waiver which will come into effect if the vehicle is damaged.

 

Quad bike riders require a full-face helmet (or non-full-face helmet plus goggles) under Greek law.  Road insurance and a motorcycle licence are also mandatory.

 

For more general information see Driving Abroad.

 

Air Travel

 

The revised EU-wide security measures that came into effect for all passengers departing from UK airports in November 2006 are also being implemented in Greece.  For more details about this see Airline Security.

Greek people are renowned for their hospitality.  The Greek police are used to dealing with large numbers of foreign tourists, especially on the islands and do so in a low-key way.

 

Indecent behaviour, including mooning, is not tolerated.  The police have made it clear that they will not hesitate to arrest those who do it.  You should be aware that the courts impose heavy fines or prison sentences on people who behave indecently.

 

You should not become involved with drugs of any kind, nor bring drugs – including “class C” drugs – from the UK.  Possession of even small quantities can lead to long terms of imprisonment.  You should also know your alcohol limits as your travel insurance may in some cases not cover you after excessive drinking.

 

The plant Khat is an illegal narcotic in Greece.  You will be arrested and detained with the possibility of a prison sentence if you are caught trying to take Khat into Greece.

 

Driving any vehicle whilst over the legal drinking limit is heavily penalised and can result in a heavy fine and/or imprisonment.

 

If you are seeking employment in bars or night clubs in Greece, you are required to have a health certificate/licence issue by the local authorities.  Failure to have such a certificate is punishable by a fine and or imprisonment.

 

In common with many countries there is a requirement in Greece to be able to identify yourself.  A passport or document with a photograph on it should be carried at all times.

 

In order to comply with Greek law, you should ensure that you obtain a receipt for goods purchased.  If you purchase pirate CDs or DVDs in Greece you could be imprisoned.

 

You should not purchase any offensive weapons whilst on holiday, this includes small-scale items such as knuckledusters or knives with a blade length of 10cm or above.

 

For more general information for different types of travellers see Travel Advice Relevant to You.

Visas

 

Visas are not required to enter Greece. As a British passport holder you may stay as a visitor for three months. For longer stays, you will need to apply to the appropriate office for a residence permit.

 

Passport validity

 

Non-EEA (European Economic Area) nationals travelling to Greece must have a passport valid for at least 3 months after the period of their intended stay or expiry date of their visa.

 

Nationals of the EEA are exempt from the above regulation but must have a passport valid for the period of their intended stay.

 

Travelling with children

 

Single parents or other adults travelling alone with children should be aware that some countries require documentary evidence of parental responsibility before allowing lone parents to enter the country or, in some cases, before permitting the children to leave the country. For further information on exactly what will be required at immigration, please contact the Greek Embassy in London.

The Greek National Health system provides a basic medical service to Greek nationals and it has a reciprocal agreement with the British National Health Service. There are many Public and Private Hospitals and Medical Centres in Greece, all of varying standards. Doctors and facilities are generally good on the mainland, but may be limited on the islands.  The standards of nursing and after care, particularly in the public health sector lag behind what is normally acceptable in the UK.  The Public Ambulance Service, which will normally respond to any accident, is rudimentary.  There are severe shortages of ambulances on some islands.

The Form E111 is no longer valid.  You should obtain a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) before leaving the UK.  The EHIC is not a substitute for medical and travel insurance, but entitles you to emergency medical treatment on the same terms as Greek nationals.  It also does not cover you for medical repatriation, on-going medical treatment or treatment of a non-urgent nature.  For more general information see EHIC.

In the 2006 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic the UNAIDS/WHO Working Group estimated that around 9,300 adults aged 15 or over in Greece were living with HIV; the prevalence rate was estimated at around 0.2% of the adult population. This compares to the prevalence rate in adults in the UK of around 0.2%.  You should exercise normal precautions to avoid exposure to HIV/AIDS. For more general information on how to do this see HIV and AIDS.

You should seek medical advice before travelling to Greece and ensure that all appropriate vaccinations are up-to-date.  For further information on vaccination requirements, health outbreaks and general disease protection and prevention you should visit the websites of the  NaTHNaC and NHS Scotland's Fit For Travel or call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.

For more general health information see Travel Health.
 

Avian Influenza (Bird Flu)

 

The Greek government confirmed on 11 February 2006, that the H5N1 form of Avian Influenza had been found in swans in northern Greece.  The Greek government stresses, however, that urgent biosecurity measures have already been implemented in accordance with EU legislation. No human infections or deaths have been reported.

 

The risk to humans from Avian Influenza is believed to be very low.  As a precaution you should avoid visiting live animal markets, poultry farms and other places where you may come into close contact with domestic, caged or wild birds; and ensure poultry and egg dishes are thoroughly cooked.

Natural Disasters

 

Earthquakes

Mainland Greece and most of the Greek islands popular with British tourists are in seismically active zones, and earth tremors are common.  Serious earthquakes are less frequent but do occur.

Forest Fires

 

Forest fires are comparatively common during Greece’s hot and dry summers.  Please take care when visiting or driving through woodland areas; ensure that cigarette ends are properly extinguished and disposed of carefully, do not light barbecues and do not leave any rubbish, particularly empty bottles, behind.

 

In late August 2007, very high temperatures and strong winds in Greece resulted in widespread and serious forest fires, mainly in the Peloponnese (the southern part of mainland Greece), Attica (the area around Athens) and the island of Evia (to the north of Athens).  64 people were killed in the fires.  There were no British casualties.

Insurance

 

We strongly recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling.  You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake.  For more general information see Travel Insurance.

If things do go wrong when you are oversees then this is How We Can Help.

Registration

Register with our LOCATE service to tell us when and where you are travelling abroad or where you live abroad so our consular and crisis staff can provide better assistance to you in an emergency.  More information about registering with LOCATE can be found here.

 

Money

You are reminded that the currency of Greece is the Euro.

 

Sine 15 July 2007 new legislation on the controls of cash entering or leaving the EU apply in all Member States.  Any person entering or leaving the EU will have to declare the cash that they are carrying if this amounts to 10,000 euros or more; this includes cheques, travellers' cheques, money orders, etc.  This will not apply to anyone travelling via the EU to a non-EU country, as long as the original journey started outside of the EU nor to those travelling within the EU.