Greece
Cards, ATMs and cash in Greece: what to expect
Cards work in most Greek hotels, supermarkets, chain shops and city restaurants, but cash still decides small purchases: tavernas, gyros shops, taxis, kiosks, ferries' snack bars and island buses. Carry €50–100 in small notes, withdraw from a bank-branded ATM in daytime, and always choose to be charged in euros, not your home currency.
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GuideGreece
Key facts
- Card acceptancecheck
- Widely accepted in cities, hotels, supermarkets and larger restaurants; patchy at small tavernas, kiosks, taxis and rural shops
- Cash still needed forcheck
- Gyros shops, kiosks (periptera), taxis, small ferries and island buses, tips
- Best ATMscheck
- Bank-branded machines (National Bank of Greece, Alpha, Eurobank, Piraeus); avoid standalone white-label ATMs
- ATM feecheck
- Greek banks may add around €2–3 per withdrawal; your own bank may add more — 2026 estimate
- Withdraw amountcheck
- Take fewer, larger withdrawals (€200–300) to cut per-use fees
- Currency choice at terminalcheck
- Always pay in euros (EUR); declining the terminal's home-currency conversion avoids a typical 3–7% markup
- Cards that suit Greececheck
- A no-foreign-transaction-fee card plus a Visa or Mastercard backup; Amex is less accepted
- Contactlesscheck
- Common on terminals in cities; still carry a physical card and PIN
Details
Greece uses the euro (€). Since capital controls were lifted, card use has grown fast in Athens, Thessaloniki and tourist areas, and most hotels, supermarkets, chain cafés and mid-range restaurants now take Visa and Mastercard without comment. The gap is at the small end: a family taverna on a quiet island, a gyros counter, a taxi hailed on the street, a kiosk selling water and ferry tickets, and the bus on many islands may all be cash-only or card-with-a-grumble.
Plan on a cash float of €50–100 in €5, €10 and €20 notes. Small notes matter: a €50 note for a €3.50 coffee is awkward, and some small businesses genuinely cannot break it early in the day. Keep a few coins for toilets, luggage lockers and tips.
For withdrawals, use an ATM attached to a bank branch and go in daylight. Bank-branded machines from National Bank of Greece, Alpha, Eurobank and Piraeus are the standard choice. Standalone ATMs in tourist strips — often white or bright yellow, sometimes branded by a currency-exchange company — can add much higher fees and worse rates. Read the screen before confirming: the fee is usually shown after you enter the amount, and you can cancel.
When a terminal offers to charge you in your home currency, decline. That is dynamic currency conversion, and it typically costs 3–7% more than letting your bank convert. Choose euros. The same rule applies at ATMs that offer to convert for you.
Card security is ordinary European practice: a PIN for purchases, contactless for small amounts, and occasional requests for ID. Tell your bank you are travelling if it is prone to blocking foreign use. Keep a second card somewhere separate from the first, and photograph the front and back of both in case one is lost.
| Situation | Card or cash | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Hotel, supermarket, chain café | Card | Contactless common |
| Mid-range city restaurant | Card | Ask first on islands |
| Small taverna, gyros shop | Cash | Often no terminal |
| Taxi | Cash | Some apps take cards |
| Kiosk, island bus, small ferry bar | Cash | Small notes |
| ATM withdrawal | — | Bank-branded, daytime, €200–300 |
| Terminal currency prompt | — | Choose euros, not home currency |
Tips
- Withdraw larger amounts less often: one €250 withdrawal usually beats three €80 ones.
- Use bank ATMs inside or beside a branch, not freestanding machines on tourist streets.
- Always select euros at the terminal; never accept the machine's home-currency offer.
- Carry €50–100 in small notes for tavernas, taxis, kiosks and tips.
- Keep a second card stored apart from your main one, and a photo of both.
- Check your bank's foreign-use and ATM fees before you fly; a no-fee card saves real money over two weeks.
- If an ATM swallows your card, call your bank before leaving the machine and note the branch address.
FAQ
Sources
Questions people ask
Are credit cards widely accepted in Greece?
In cities, hotels, supermarkets and larger restaurants, yes — Visa and Mastercard are standard and contactless is common. Small tavernas, gyros shops, kiosks, taxis and island buses may still be cash-only, so carry €50–100 in small notes as backup.
Which ATMs have the lowest fees in Greece?
Bank-branded machines — National Bank of Greece, Alpha, Eurobank, Piraeus — usually charge less than standalone tourist-strip ATMs, which can add high fees and poor rates. Withdraw €200–300 at a time in daylight to reduce per-use costs. Fees are a 2026 estimate; check the screen before confirming.
Should I pay in local currency or my own?
Always choose euros. If a terminal or ATM offers to charge you in your home currency, that is dynamic currency conversion and typically costs 3–7% more. Decline it and let your bank do the conversion.
Do I need cash in Greece?
Yes, for the small end of the trip: gyros shops, kiosks, taxis, small ferries, island buses and tips. A float of €50–100 in €5, €10 and €20 notes covers most days.
Is contactless payment common in Greece?
Common in cities and tourist areas on card terminals, and widely used for small purchases. Still carry a physical card and know your PIN, since some machines and rural shops are not contactless.
Deep dive
Every source; changeable facts are marked check
Sources
- officialBank of Greece
- officialEuropean Central Bank – euro
- officialEuropean Commission – Dynamic currency conversion
- secondaryWikivoyage – Greece