Greece Holidays
Whitewashed villages and turquoise coves around every corner. Plan your Greece beach holiday with flights, hotels, and island-hopping tips.
Today
Weather in Greece
Thu
Fri
Sat
SPF level in Greece
Autumn
SPF 30
Spring
SPF 30
Summer
SPF 50
Winter
SPF 15
Entry requirements for Greece
Your passport must have a date of issue less than 10 years before you arrive and be valid for at least 3 months after you plan to leave the Schengen area.
You can visit Greece without a visa for up to 90 days within any 180-day period for tourism or visiting family.
You may need to show a return or onward ticket and prove you have sufficient funds for your stay.
Be prepared for the Entry/Exit System registration, which may involve providing biometric data like fingerprints and a photo at the border, adding time to your journey.
When you enter the Schengen area via Dover, Folkestone, or St Pancras, your biometric information for the Entry/Exit System will be collected before you leave the UK.
Good to know:
Children aged 11 or younger will not have their fingerprints scanned for the Entry/Exit System but may be required to have their photo taken.
You must declare cash or travellers cheques if you are carrying 10,000 euros or more when entering Greece.
Safety in Greece
Greece is tourist-friendly but has some key cultural and legal rules:
Always carry your passport with you as police may not accept a copy for identification.
Pickpocketing of passports and wallets is common on the metro and in crowded tourist areas, especially in central Athens.
Avoid rowdy or indecent behaviour, especially when drinking, as the police can arrest you and you could face a heavy fine.
Bars and nightclubs are not allowed to admit or serve anyone under 18, even if accompanied by an adult, and you should expect age checks.
You need a valid full driving licence with at least category A1 to hire a moped, as a provisional licence is not valid in Greece.
Bonus tips:
Keep a close eye on your drinks in bars and clubs to make sure they are not spiked.
Supervise children closely at all times when in or near the sea or a swimming pool.
Saily eSIM for Greece
Skip roaming fees with Saily, our partner eSIM provider. Use code ATOBEACH for 10% off. Plans start at €3.50 for 1GB, valid for 7 days.
Activates when you land
200+ destinations
Code ATOBEACH at checkout
Driving in Greece
A UK driving license is accepted in Greece. Ensure you have your license with you while driving.
Side of the road
Right
Motorway speed limit
130 km/h
Urban speed limit
50 km/h
Alcohol limit
0.05%
Remember: Greece drives on the right. Take extra care at junctions if you normally drive on the left.
Health in Greece
As a UK resident, you can use a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) or European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) for state healthcare in Greece. However, it's still advisable to have comprehensive travel insurance, particularly for private healthcare, repatriation, and other expenses not covered by GHIC/EHIC.
No vaccinations required
Generally, no specific vaccinations are required for Greece. However, it's always recommended to consult your GP or a travel clinic for personalized advice based on your medical history. Ensure you are up-to-date with routine vaccinations like measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR), diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis, and polio.
Cards & payments
Widely accepted in tourist areas and larger establishments. Smaller shops and tavernas may prefer cash.
Visa
High
Mastercard
High
American Express
Medium
Lost card? Call Visa: +1-303-967-1096
Tipping in Greece
Tipping is customary in Greece for good service. While not mandatory, it's a appreciated gesture.
Restaurant
5-10% of the bill
Bar/Café
Rounding up the bill or leaving €1-2
Taxi
Rounding up the fare
Hotel Porter
€1-2 per bag
Hotel Housekeeper
€1-2 per day
Tour Guide
€5-10 per person, depending on the length and quality of the tour
Mobile & roaming
Since Brexit, the guarantee of EU-wide free roaming has ended. Check with your mobile provider before travelling to Greece to understand the roaming charges you will incur. Many providers offer daily roaming packages for use outside of the UK.
Local SIM
10 GB for 25 EUR (~£21)
Network coverage
4G, 5G, LTE
Electrical in Greece
Voltage
230V / 50Hz
Plug types
Type C, Type F
UK adapter needed
WiFi & internet
Widely available in hotels, cafes, restaurants, and bars, especially in tourist areas.
Average speed
40 Mbps
WiFi is readily available in most populated areas and tourist establishments. Internet speeds are generally good for browsing and social media.
Emergency numbers
Universal emergency
112
Police
112
Ambulance
166
Fire
199
Save 112 in your phone before travelling.
Calling Greece
Country code
30
To call Greece from abroad, dial 30 followed by the local number.
UK Embassy
1 Ploutarchou Street, 106 75 Athens
Phone
+30 210 7273 000
Website
Athens International Airport
Thessaloniki Airport Makedonia
Heraklion Airport N. Kazantzakis
Rhodes Airport
Ioannis Kapodistrias Airport
Santorini International Airport
Recent updates
Safety
A new section on 'Alcohol laws and underage drinking' states it is illegal to sell or serve alcohol to anyone under 18.
Businesses found serving under-18s face large fines and possible closure, and bars cannot admit anyone under 18 even with an adult.
Parents or accompanying adults could face legal consequences if a minor is harmed through excessive drinking.
Swimming safety advice now warns that people drown every year in the sea and pools, with new specific guidance for pools and beaches.
Advice for preventing sexual assault now includes a link to TravelAware's 'Stick with your mates' tips.
The section on 'Buying goods or services' remains, but the separate subsection on 'Public transport fines' has been removed.
A new example of a recent terrorist attack has been added: on 1 July 2026, three improvised incendiary device attacks against the residential properties of Greek political figures killed one person and injured four others.
There is now a specific warning about a high risk of wildfires from April to October.
Health
There is new guidance on managing medication while travelling, referencing a 'Summer Proof Your Health' campaign.
The link for mental health support has changed to 'Mental health support for British nationals in Greece'.
Entry Requirements
Allow extra time to reach your departure gate when departing the Schengen area by plane as EES checks may take place before boarding.
If you believe your EES entry or time record is incorrect, you can now request a correction from border officials at your next Schengen border crossing.
Carry documentation confirming your exemption status (e.g., residency) to ensure you are not incorrectly registered in EES.
Beaches in Greece
Achlia Schinokapsalon
Adrina-Beach Hotel
Adrina-Resort
Aetos beach
Ag. Apostoloi 1
Ag. Apostoloi 2
Agathopes
Ag.Galini-Ystero Varkotopi
Aghia Anna beach
Aghia Fotia Beach
Aghios Prokopios beach
Agiassos beach
Agiofili beach
Agios Gordios
Agios Sostis Beach
Agios Stefanos
Ag. Panteleimonas
Ag. Paraskevi Thesprotia
Almyrida
Almyros
Almyros Lasithi
Ammos Beach
Ammoudi
Anavros beach
Anthony Quinn Bay
Antisamos
Apollonas beach
Argilos
Arvanitia
Asproneria Beach
Asteria beach
Bali Beach
Balos Lagoon
Brexiza
Chalikiada beach
Chiliadou Beach
Chorefto Beach
Dimotiki Plaz Chiou
Egremni
Elafonisi Beach
Fakistra Beach
Fanos Beach
Fava Beach
Firiplaka
Fodele
Foki beach
Freattyda beach
Ftelia
Fykiada beach
Galissas beach
Gerondolakkos
Gianiskari beach
Glyfada Attiki
Glyka Nera beach
Great Sand Beach
Gribovo
Grotta beach
Issos beach
Kalotaritissa
Kamari 1
Kamena Vourla-Galini
Kapsali
Karathona
Karfas
Karoumes Beach
Kastraki beach
Kastri-Creta Maris
Kavros
Kedrodasos Beach
Kitroplatia
Kleftiko
Kleftiko beach
Kokkino Nero
Kolymbithres
Kommeno
Komos Beach
Kondyli
Kontogialos-Pelekas Beach
Kontokali
Korfos beach
Koukounaries
Koukounaries
Kouloura Beach
Kouremenos
Koutalas Beach
Kryoneri
Kyra Panagia beach
Lalaria
Langada Beach
Leptokarya
Leptokarya 1
Lithi
Loggas beach
Long Beach
Maragkas beach
Matala
Mavra Volia
Methoni beach
Mikros Aselinos beach
Mylopotamos Beach
Myrtiotissa beach
Myrtos Beach
Myrtos Ierapetra
Navagio
Nea Moudania
Nei Pori Beach
Nikouria
Nyfida
Olympiaki
Olympiaki Akti
Otzias
palm forest of Vai
Paltsi
Papa Nero Beach
Paralia Panteleimonos
Paralia Skotinas
Pefkari
Perigialli
Perivolos
Plaka
Plaka Beach
Plaka-Mylos
Plakias
Pori beach
Porto Katsiki
Potamos Beach
Preveli Beach
Provatas
Psarrou
Psili Ammos beach
Pyrgos Beach
Red Beach
Red Beach
Rethymno 4-Myssiria
Richtis Gorge
Rousoum Gialos
Sarakiniko Beach
Schinaria
Seitan Limania
Seychelles Beach
Simos beach
Skliri beach
Skotina
Sougia
Stavros
Synaksi
Thiorichio
Tigania beach
Tis Grias to Pidima
Tolo beach
Triopetra
Tsapi Beach of Chrysokellaria
Tzortzi Gialos beach
Vatsa Bay
Vlichada
Vlichos beach
Voidokilia beach
Votsalakia beach
Vouliagmeni Beach
Vouti beach
white beach santorini
Xeropigado beach
Xi Beach
Zacharo beach
Zanga Beach
Frequently asked Questions
While we strive to provide accurate and up-to-date information, AtoBeach cannot be held responsible for any inaccuracies. We recommend verifying details with official sources before travelling.