Money in Greece: Cards, Cash, Taxis, Tips and Accommodation Fees

Most visitors can combine a payment card with a modest euro cash reserve rather than carrying their whole holiday budget. The less obvious expense is often the accommodation fee, which varies by season and property classification. Checking the full price makes comparing bookings much easier.

Athens, Greece · packing4two

Euros and small change

Greece uses the euro, EUR or €, with 100 cents, also called lepta in Greek. Coins are 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents plus €1 and €2. Convenient everyday notes are €5, €10, €20 and €50; €100 and €200 also exist. Older €500 notes remain valid but are impractical for small purchases.

Ordinary euro coins from other euro-area countries are usable. Keep smaller change instead of expecting every driver or stall to break a large note.

How much cash to carry

Cards work at many hotels, shops and restaurants, especially in Athens and tourist centres. Keep a reserve for tips, small purchases, terminal failures and remote stops. Visa or Mastercard acceptance does not guarantee that every other card scheme is accepted.

Around €100 for a couple’s occasional expenses can be a starting reserve, not a required daily budget. Adjust it for your route and locate cash access before travelling to a small island or rural area.

ATMs and home-currency conversion

Compare your card terms and normally choose an EUR charge instead of an ATM or merchant’s home-currency conversion. Read the fee screen before accepting a withdrawal.

Your issuer may charge separately even when an operator fee is absent. Keep a backup card apart from the first and leave enough available credit for hotel or rental deposits.

Taxis and ride apps

The Freenow app books taxis and lets you select payment and review driver details. In Athens, the Uber app also offers UberTaxi with licensed taxis; do not assume it is the same service category as in another country.

Licensed Athens taxis must accept credit and debit cards. Confirm the arrangement before departure and check that the meter starts on a metered trip. An app-paid fare should not be paid again in cash.

Tipping

Tips are optional. Around 5%–15% can be appropriate for good table service, depending on the meal and your satisfaction; a small cafe purchase can simply be rounded. Review the bill before adding anything.

Round a taxi fare or add a few euros for helpful service if you wish. Ask whether a card tip can be added or leave cash separately. A terminal’s suggested percentage is not an obligation.

Athens transport by bank card

OASA is the Athens public-transport authority. Its Tap2Ride contactless payment system accepts suitable Visa and Mastercard cards, including supported digital wallets, on its metro, buses, trolleybuses and trams. Keep using the same card or device and hold it separately from other travel cards when validating.

The ordinary 90-minute fare is €1.20, with an urban daily cap of €4.10. Airport trips are separate: €5.50 by express bus or €9 by metro. A card is not automatically a group ticket, and bank-card payment does not provide every concession.

VAT and displayed prices

The standard VAT rate is 24%, with reduced categories including 13% and 6%. Consumer prices generally include VAT. A €124 price taxed at 24% contains €24 VAT, not 24% of the full total.

Some qualifying islands have reduced local rates. The scheme expanded in 2026 to eligible North Aegean islands, Samothrace and Dodecanese islands subject to population conditions. It does not mean every island or purchase has the same discount; read the invoice.

The seasonal accommodation fee

The climate-resilience fee is charged per room or unit per day, not per guest. For April–October, hotels charge €2 for 1–2 stars, €5 for 3 stars, €10 for 4 stars and €15 for 5 stars. November–March rates are €0.50, €1.50, €3 and €4 respectively.

Ordinary short-term rentals charge €8 in the higher season and €2 in winter, but large detached houses and other classifications can differ. Confirm the property category, whether the booking includes the fee and the separate fee receipt.

Tax-free shopping

Residents outside the EU can request tax-free paperwork for eligible purchases from €50 per receipt. Ask in the shop, present your passport and retain unused goods and receipts.

Obtain export validation at the last EU exit point. Customs validation allows the form’s issue month plus three months, but the refund operator may impose an earlier claim deadline. Complete the process on departure, with goods accessible before baggage check-in. Fees reduce the amount returned.

Comparing the complete booking price

For accommodation, compare the seasonal fee, breakfast, party size and cancellation conditions. For rentals, include deposits, additional drivers, child seats and ferry permission. A low headline price need not be the best total.

The converter provides an indicative euro amount using reference-rate information. Your issuer’s exchange rate and fees determine the actual charge, so allow a modest budget margin.

We stayed at ibis Styles Athens Routes and recommend it. Compare room types, breakfast and the total price including the seasonal accommodation fee. Check ibis Styles Athens Routes