Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Public Holidays
All banks and shops and most museums and ancient sites close on public holidays.
Many sites (including the ancient sites in Athens) offer free entry on the first Sunday of
the month, with the exception of July and August. You may also gain free entry on other
locally celebrated holidays, although this varies across the country.
National public holidays:
New Year's Day
1 January
Epiphany
6 January
First Sunday in Lent
February
Greek Independence Day
25 March
Good Friday
March/April
Orthodox Easter Sunday
20 April 2014, 12 April 2015, 1 May 2016, 16 April 2017, 8
April 2018, 28 April 2019
May Day (Protomagia)
1 May
Whit Monday (Agiou Pnevmatos)
50 days after Easter Sunday
Feast of the Assumption
15 August
Ohi Day
28 October
Christmas Day
25 December
St Stephen's Day
26 December
Safe Travel
Adulterated & Spiked Drinks
Adulterated drinks (known as
bombes
) are served in some bars and clubs in Athens and
at resorts known for partying. These drinks are diluted with cheap illegal imports that
leave you feeling worse for wear the next day.
At many of the party resorts catering to large budget-tour groups, spiked drinks are not
uncommon; keep your hand over the top of your glass. More often than not, the perpetrat-
ors are foreign tourists rather than locals.
Tourist Police
The tourist police work in cooperation with the regular Greek police. Each tourist police of-
fice has at least one member of staff who speaks English. Hotels, restaurants, travel
