Its stunning beaches and unique islands makes a vacation to Greece a trip to paradise. Though Greece has a cash-preferred economy, credit and debit cards are accepted as well. A credit card that saves on foreign transaction fees is a good card to bring along.
But figuring out what credit cards to bring or how to get cash once you’re there can leave you feeling uncertain. Let us help you find the right travel money for your trip to Greece.
Though most merchants prefer cash, credit and debit cards are accepted at most larger businesses — especially aimed at tourists. Though it’s not guaranteed that every island will have ATMs, so be sure to get cash before you sail away.
All travel money cards let you load and spend euros while avoiding foreign transaction fees.
If you are planning a trip to Greece, do some research and choose a travel money product that suits you. A combination of travel money products is the best way to finance your Greek trip, especially since there may be times when you can’t get cash from an ATM.
Try to get a card that has no fee for foreign transactions and never use your credit card at an ATM to get cash. A credit card cash advance charges fees and immediate interest charges that come with it.
Start comparing the different ways you can spend in Greece and find the right combination for you:
Credit cards are great to have for large purchases and emergencies. Find yourself a credit card that waives foreign transaction fees, like the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card (Terms apply, see rates & fees).
Carrying a credit card may also give you the benefit of travel perks like insurance or statement credits depending on your provider. You’ll want to compare travel credit cards to find one that offers the most value for your travel habits.
Mastercard and Visa are widely accepted across Greece. Owners of American Express credit cards will find it easier to pay at most locations than those who own Discover cards.
For an ATM cash withdrawal, Discover card owners can only use Citibank ATMs. For American Express cards, look for Alpha Bank, Ethniki Trapeza (National Bank) and Euronet ATMs among others.
| Merchant acceptance | ATM acceptance | |
|---|---|---|
Visa |  High | High |
Mastercard | High | High |
American Express |  Medium | High |
Discover | High |  Low |
Explore top debit cards with no foreign transaction fees and travel credit cards by using the tabs to narrow down your options. Select Compare for up to four products to see their benefits side by side.
A debit card could be a good travel money choice to take to Greece. You’ll have access to cash each time you come across an ATM, without carrying lots of cash on you all at once. Because you’re spending your own money, you avoid interest charges. Some providers — like Betterment Checking — waive the fee for international ATM withdrawals and don’t charge a monthly account-keeping fee.
Travel cards can lock in conversion rates once you load USD. Use it for purchases without worrying about rates each time you spend — debit and credit cards often charge 3% for each transaction.
Where you save in the conversion rates you may pay in fees. You’ll pay fees each time you load the card, when you make ATM withdrawals and sometimes even an inactivity fee.
There are two major fees to watch out for when you use a card to pay for products and services in Greece:
Whether genuine or not, vendors in small shops seemingly never have any change. If you’re purchasing little souvenirs, presents or other bits and pieces, keep smaller denominations around to avoid the losing money. You can change larger notes at banks, although even banks will sometimes give you a hassle about changing more than 500 euros.
Always have an emergency supply of cash and a back-up card you can use over the counter in case of emergencies.
Forget about traveler’s checks — the days of carrying a physical check are pretty much done. Credit, debit and travel card providers all give you a money back guarantee if you’ve genuinely been the victim of card fraud. Plus, there are fewer places than ever where you can actually cash your checks.
The euro comes in the denominations of €5, €10, €20, €50, €100, €200 and €500.
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Have euros in your pocket when you land for peace of mind at the start of your trip, as we’ve heard stories about empty ATMs. Your bank will be able to give you euros in cash, but have a look at Travelex for money transfers, as it offers competitive rates and has shops at major airports where you can grab your cash right before you hop on the plane.
As a result of an economic crisis, Greece experienced a period of unstable deflation and inflation over the last few years. The price of goods and services relative to the value of the currency is likely to change as the economy improves.
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Greek banks tend to have the best exchange rates and are open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m, but be prepared to wait as long lines are typical. While you’ll find ATMs in most tourist areas, but they usually charge a big fee.
Don’t be afraid to try the ATMs that have signs written in a language other than English. Often, especially during tourist season, ATMs with English signs will run out of money first.
But even if the machine is in Greek, when you insert a foreign card the ATM display will usually pop up in English. Look for a debit card from a provider that doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees as well, like from Betterment Checking.
Greece is typically safe for tourists, and crime and violence are low. Petty crime is the greatest concern so beware of bag-snatching and pickpocketing, particularly in busy tourist areas.
Exercise basic precautions like avoid flashing any money around during transactions. Keep your wallet in your pocket or consider using a money belt to keep your funds out of arm’s reach.
Despite problems in the Greek economy, it’s still on the expensive side to travel to Greece. Budget travelers should plan on $50 a day, while mid-range to luxury travelers can expect to pay between $150 to $350 a day, or higher if you plan to visit more than one of its 200 islands. All prices are in US dollars.
| Budget | Mid-range | Expensive | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | Hostels $20 dollars per night | Hotel room (depending on season and location) $30–$80 per night | 5-star hotel in Mykonos with a sea view and a private pool $2,500 a night |
| Meals | Gyros $1.50–$3 | Meal of traditional greek food and wine for two $20–$30 | Fine dining overlooking the sea $200–$300 per couple |
| Activities | Walk around the fascinating ruins, wander through seaside towns and lounge on the beach Free! | Get a ferry ticket for an island hopping adventure $15–$50 | Luxury cruises from Athens to Istanbul for around $3,500. |
*Prices are approximate and based on summer seasonality and are subject to change. Jessica visited Athens, the Greek capital and a large Greek island, Ios. Do you have any Greek travel money tips? Jessica says she got a better price paying cash in some places, especially on the smaller islands. She also recommends keeping 10 and 20 euro notes handy for shopping as she had a little trouble getting change for 50 euros when she was buying souvenirs in Ios.
Case study: Jessica's experience
Jessica
Interview with Jessica about spending money while on her trip to Greece
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Will my American Express or Discover Card be accepted in Greece
Hi Daphne,
Thanks for your inquiry.
As I checked, yes, American Express and Discover cards are accepted in Greece. I highly recommend you go to this page and read more details about using credit cards in Greece.
I hope it helps.
Kind regards,
Bella