Business Customs

Face-to-face contact is very important in Greece and a physical business presence in the country is often essential to building relationships. Physical presence often is an indicator of commitment whether the presence be through a representative or through one’s own office.

Travel Advisory

Current travel advisory information is available on several websites including: the Embassy website, the State Department website, and the CDC website, among other government sites. Strikes and demonstrations are common throughout Greece. They are usually peaceful but can escalate quickly. U.S. travelers are cautioned to avoid these types of gatherings and to check the U.S. Embassy’s website for Alerts and Messages.

Visa requirements

For information on visa requirements to enter Greece, please visit the U.S. Embassy & Consulate in Greece and State Department Visa Website. For U.S. citizens, a tourist visa is required for stays in Greece over 90 days. Passports must be valid for at least three months beyond your planned date of departure from the Schengen area.

Currency

The unit of currency is the Euro (€). ATMs exist in most parts of the city. It is advisable to use the main banks ATMs and avoid non-branded ATM terminals.

Transportation 

• Air: The Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport (AIA) is approximately 28 km outside of Athens and is modern and efficient. Over 75 airlines use AIA. Transportation to and from AIA is excellent. The airport is easily accessible by automobile, taxi, and public transportation (Metro, bus, and train). In regular traffic, it is about a 40-minute drive from AIA to central Athens.
   
• Automobiles: There are many car rental agencies at the airport and throughout Athens. Driving in Athens can be difficult due to the crowded streets and traffic. Parking can also be difficult to find. Road accident death rates in Greece are among the highest in the EU. Main streets and highways throughout Greece are paved, while secondary roads are generally not. Most roads are two-lanes, except the Attiki Odos and parts of the Ethniki Odos, which have four lanes. The road network is well connected, with access throughout the country.
   
• Taxis: Taxis and ride-sharing platforms are plentiful throughout Athens. Taxi drivers are required to use a meter and provide a printed receipt. In recent years, taxi apps have become popular and include FreeNow (the most popular in Athens) and Taxiplon. Many prefer the apps as the price is displayed at the time of booking, and you can pay in cash or by credit card.
   
• Rail: Greece’s rail network is being modernized with expanded electrification and improved safety, as detailed by the Hellenic Railways Organization (OSE.gr) and the main operator Hellenic Train (hellenictrain.gr). For more information and tickets, please visit: https://www.hellenictrain.gr/en/ticket-purchase
   
• Bus/Tram/Trolley: These are common and inexpensive means of transportation in larger cities in Greece. The network, especially in Athens, is extensive and the service is generally good. For more information, please visit OASA’s website.
   
• Athens Metro: The Athens Metro is a reliable and inexpensive transportation method to use within Athens or to and from the Athens Airport. Check information of fares, time schedules, and maps at http://stasy.gr/index.php?id=8&L=1.
   
• Ferries: Ferries are the most common means of transportation to the Greek islands. Fares and durations vary based on location and ferry company utilized for travel.
   
• Ships: The largest ports are Piraeus, Thessaloniki, Patras, Chania, and Volos. Cargo services from the United States are provided by Zim Lines, Maersk Lines, MSC (Mediterranean Shipping Company), Hapag-Lloyd, and CMA CGM.
   
• Language: Greek is the official language spoken in Greece. However, language is not a barrier to conducting business, because a high percentage of Greek businesspeople and government officials speak English. 

Health 

Medical facilities are adequate, and some, particularly the private clinics and hospitals in Athens and Thessaloniki, are comparable to U.S. facilities. Some private hospitals have affiliations with U.S. facilities, and generally, they are staffed by doctors that have been trained in the United States or Europe. Public medical clinics, especially on the islands, may lack resources. 

Care can be inadequate by U.S. standards, and often, little English is spoken. Many patients - Greeks and visitors alike - are transferred from the provinces and islands to Athens’ hospitals for more sophisticated care. Others may choose to transfer from a public to a private hospital within Athens or Thessaloniki. U.S. citizens choosing to do so would arrange for an ambulance belonging to the private hospital to transport them from the public hospital to the private one. The cost of the ambulance for this transfer, as well as all expenses in a private hospital, must be borne by the patient. Private hospitals usually require proof of adequate insurance or cash before admitting a patient. Please ensure that you have an adequate supply of your prescription medications when travelling to Greece as you may not be able to find a local equivalent in the pharmacies.

Local time, business hours, and holidays

The time in Athens is two hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time.  Greece is a member of the EU and observes Daylight Savings Time. Greek business hours vary, and the following listing approximates business hours in major urban areas:

Private sector office hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Manufacturing establishments operate from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Banking hours are 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and 8:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Fridays. Several of the larger banks are open on Saturday mornings. Government hours are from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Table: Greek Holiday Dates. 

The Greek business community traditionally observes a long, uninterrupted summer hiatus in August. Gathering even basic business information and arranging appointments are difficult during this period. U.S. business visitors are advised to avoid Greece for business purposes during the summer, particularly during August.

Two other periods in which U.S. business visitors may face challenges would be the Christmas holidays from December 20 through January 6 and the Easter Holiday period, starting with Holy Week and ending the week after Easter, i.e., April 10 - 21, 2023. This is because Greeks usually travel to their villages to celebrate Easter with families and friends.

Temporary Entry of Materials and Personal Belongings

If you enter Greece by air and/or sea, items valued at €430 or less are duty-free. The monetary threshold for travelers of all other means of transport has decreased to €300. The duty-free amount is reduced to euro €150 for travelers under fifteen years of age, regardless of the mode of transportation they are using. The quantitative limits of tax-exempted tobacco products include as many as 200 cigarettes, or 100 cigarillos, or 50 cigars, or 250 grams of smoking tobacco, or a proportional combination of these different products. 

The quantitative limits of tax-exempted alcoholic beverages include 4L of wine, 16L of beer, 1L of spirits over 22 percent volume (i.e., whisky, vodka, etc.), or 2L of alcoholic beverages less than 22 percent volume (i.e., sparkling wines, liqueur wines, aperitifs, etc.). Medications for the personal needs of the traveler are also tax-exempt. One of each of the following articles may also be brought in duty-free for the traveler’s personal use, provided that the articles are re-exported upon departure: still and movie cameras, with suitable film; binoculars; portable radios; record players; typewriters; CD players; and computer laptops. 

Travelers must obtain special permission from Greek police authorities before bringing firearms and ammunition into the country. Also travelers are prohibited from bringing flower bulbs, plants, and fresh fruit into Greece.  Foreigners residing permanently in Greece may import used personal effects duty-free.

Foreign currency in any amount may be imported into Greece freely. However, in accordance with 1889/2005 (L 309/9/25.11.2005), any person entering or leaving the EU and carrying cash of a value equal to or greater than €10,000 must state this sum to the competent authorities of the Member States. Travelers carrying bank notes exceeding the equivalent of €10,000 must make a declaration upon entry at the Greek customs office. For more information and/or questions please refer to Q&As on EU’s rules on cash controls. Though the export of foreign exchange was liberalized in May 1994, Greek and foreign travelers must declare any amount exceeding the equivalent of €2,000 upon departure. Check for more information on temporary entry.