Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Astynomia, Greek cops expect respect, and many
have little regard for foreigners. If you do need to go
to the police, always try to do so through the
Tourist Police
(
T
171), who should speak English
and are used to dealing with visitors. You are
required to carry suitable ID on you at all times -
either a passport or a driving licence.
The most common causes of a brush with the law
are beach nudity, camping outside authorized sites,
public inebriation
or lewd behaviour. In 2009 a
large British stag group dressed as nuns was arrested
in Mália and held for several days, having managed
to combine extreme drunkenness with a lack of
respect for the church. Also avoid taking
photos in
forbidden areas
such as airports (see p.54).
Drug offences
are treated as major crimes, partic-
ularly since there's a mushrooming local addiction
problem. The maximum penalty for “causing the use
of drugs by someone under 18”, for example, is life
imprisonment and an astronomical fine. Foreigners
caught in possession of even small amounts of
marijuana get long jail sentences if there's evidence
that they've been supplying the drug to others.
Entry requirements
UK and all other EU nationals need only a valid
passport
to enter Greece. US, Australian, New
Zealand, Canadian and most non-EU Europeans can
stay, as tourists, for ninety days (cumulative) in any
six-month period. Such nationals arriving by flight or
boat from another EU state not party to the
Schengen Agreement may not be stamped in
routinely at minor Greek ports, so make sure this is
done in order to avoid unpleasantness on exit. Your
passport must be valid for three months after your
arrival date.
Vsitors from
non-EU
countries are currently not, in
practice, being given extensions to tourist visas. You
must leave not just Greece but the entire Schengen
Group and stay out until the maximum 90-days-in-
180 rule, as set forth above, is satisfied. If you
overstay your time and then leave under your own
power - ie are not deported - you'll be hit with a
huge fine upon departure, and possibly be banned
from re-entering for a period of time; no excuses will
be entertained except (just maybe) a doctor's certifi-
cate stating you were immobilized in hospital. It
cannot be overemphasized just how exigent Greek
immigration o
cials have become on this issue.
Electricity
Voltage is 220 volts AC. Standard European two-pin
plugs are used; adaptors should be purchased
beforehand in the UK, as they can be di
cult to find
locally; standard 5-, 6- or 7.5-amp models permit
operation of a hair dryer or travel iron. Unless they're
dual voltage, North American appliances will require
both a step-down transformer and a plug adaptor
(the latter easy to find in Greece).
Greek embassies abroad
Australia
9 Turrana St, Yarralumla, Canberra, ACT 2600
T
02/6273 3011,
W
mfa.gr/sydney.
Britain
1A Holland Park, London W11 3TP
T
020/7221 6467,
W
mfa.gr/london
Canada
80 Maclaren St, Ottawa, ON K2P 0K6
T
613/238-6271,
W
mfa.gr/ottawa
Ireland
1 Upper Pembroke St, Dublin 2
T
01/676 7254,
W
mfa.gr/dublin
New Zealand
5-7 Willeston St, Wellington
T
04/473 7775,
W
mfa.gr/wellington
South Africa
1003 Church Street, 0028 Hatfield, Pretoria
T
012/434-7351,
W
mfa.gr/pretoria
USA
2217 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, DC 20008
T
202/939-1300,
W
mfa.gr/washington
Entrance fees
All the major
ancient sites
, like most
museums
,
charge
entrance fees
ranging from €2 to €12, with
an average fee of around €3. Entrance to all
state-run sites and museums is
free
on Sundays and
public holidays from November to March.
DISCOUNTS
Full-time students are eligible for the
International Student ID Card
(ISIC;
W
www.isiccard
.com), which entitles the bearer to cut-price transport and discounts at museums, theatres and
other attractions, though often not accepted as valid proof of age. If you're not a student but
aged under 26, you can qualify for the
International Youth Travel Card
, which provides
similar benefits to the ISIC. Teachers qualify for the
International Teacher Identity Card
(ITIC),
offering insurance benefits but limited travel discounts.
Seniors
are entitled to a discount on bus passes in the major cities; Olympic Airways also
offer discounts on full fares on domestic flights. Proof of age is necessary.
