Useful Information

Athens Weather

	Average Temperatures-Minimum and Maximum (Celsius)	Average Rainfall (mm)
January	6 - 13	45.7
February	7 - 13	48.3
March	8 - 16	43.2
April	11 - 20	27.9
May	15 - 25	17.8
June	22 - 32	10.2
July	22 - 32	5.1
August	22 - 32	5.1
September	19 - 29	12.7
October	14 - 23	48.3
November	11 - 18	50.8
December	8 - 14	66.0

Currency

The Euro is the currency used in Greece.

Banks

Hours are generally from 8:00-14:30 Monday to Thursday, 8:00-14:00 Friday.

Banks and bureaux de change are widely available and travellers cheques and major credit cards are widely accepted.

ATMs are widespread and are generally the cheapest and most convenient method of obtaining euros.

Shopping Hours

The shopping hours in Athens are generally:

Monday, Wednesday and Saturday: 09:00 – 16:00
Tuesday, Thursday and Friday: 09:00-13:30 and 17:30- 21:00.

Some shops still close for siesta. Department stores and most of the tourist shops stay open during siesta time.

In Summer, there are extended shopping hours. Shops usually open from 9am – 9pm Monday to Friday, 9am – 6pm Saturday, and are closed on Sunday. Some of the big department stores still trade on Sunday as do many of the tourist shops.

Banks, shops and most museums close public holidays and celebrations.

Between 14.30 and 17.00 many people have a siesta.

Telecommunications

The international access code for Greece is +30. The outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0044 for the United Kingdom). The city code for Athens is 210.

There are often surcharges on calls made from hotels and it is generally cheaper to use OTE (Hellenic Telecommunications Organisation) offices for local and international calls. Calls can also be made from public card phone booths and cards can be bought from kiosks or OTE offices.

The local mobile phone operators use GSM networks and have roaming agreements with most international operators.

Internet cafes are available and are cheaper than accessing the Internet from hotels.

Language

Greek is the national language however English is widely spoken.

Time Zone

Athens is on Eastern European Time (EET).

Standard Time = GMT+2
Summer Time = GMT+3 (Athens changes to Summer Time at 1 am on 29 March 2009).
Summer Time - 2009 - March 29 October 25.
Summer Time - 2010 - March 28 October 31.
Summer Time - 2011 - March 27 October 30.

Religion

Greek Orthodox is the main religion.

Embassies/Consulates

Australian - Level 6, Thon Building , Cnr Kifisias & Alexandras Ave, Ambelokipi, Athens. Telephone +(30) 210 870 4000. Fax + (30) 210 870 4111.

British - 1 Ploutarchou Street, 106 75 Kolonaki, Athens. Telephone + (30) 210-727-2600.

Belgian - Sekeri, 3, 10671 Athens. Telephone + (30) 210 36.17.886, + (30) 210 36.17.887, + (30) 210 36.00.314. Mobile (Emergency Only) + (30) 6945 23.50.55. Fax: + (30) 210 36.04.289.

Canadian - 4, Ioannou Ghennadiou Street, 115 21 Athens. Telephone + (30) 210-727-3400. Fax + (30) 210-727-3480. E-mail: athns@international.gc.ca

Danish - Mourouzi 10, 4th floor GR-106 74 Athens. Telephone + (30) 210-725-6440. Fax + (30) 210 725 6473. Email: athamb@um.dk

Dutch - Leof. Vas. Konstantinou 5-7, 106 74 Athens. Telephone + (30) 210- 725-4900. Emergency Only +30 6946 460600. Fax + (30) 210-725-4907. Email: e-mail: ath@minbuza.nl

Irish - 7 Leoforos Vasileos Konstantinou 106 74 Athens. Telephone + (30) 210-723-2771. (0030) 210 7232772. Fax (0030) 210 7293383.

French - 7 avenue Vassilissis Sophias, 106 71 Athènes. Telephone + (30) 210 339 10 00. Télécopie + (30) 210 339 10 09.

Italian - Odos Sekeri, 2 106 74 Atene. Telephone 0030/210/36.17.260 - 36.17.263 - 36.17.273/4. Fax 0030/210/36.17.330. E-mail: ambasciata.atene@esteri.it

German - Karaoli & Dimitiou 3, Athens. Telephone + (30) 210 7 28 51 11. Fax: + (30) 210 7 25 12 05. Email: german-embassy@otenet.gr

New Zealand - 76 Kifissias Avenue, 152 26, Ambelokipi, Athens. Telephone +30 210 6924 136. Mobile +30 6932 730394. Fax +30 210 6924 821. Email: costacot@yahoo.com

Norwegian - Vas. Sophias Avenue 23, 106 74 Athens. Tel 0030 210 72 46 173. Emergency phone: 0030 6972 00 50 96. Fax: 0030 210 72 44 989. E-mail: emb.athens@mfa.no

Portuguese - 23 Ave. Vass. Sophias, 10674, Kolonaki, Athens. Telephone: (+30) 2107290061, 2107290096, 2107257505. Fax: (+30) 2107200955, 2107245122. Email: embportg@otenet.gr

Spanish - 21, Dionyssiou Aeropagitou Street 11742 Makrygianni, Athens. Tel + (30) 210 9213123, 9213237-8. Fax + (30) 210 9213090. E-mail: emb-esp@otenet.gr

USA - 91 Vasilisis Sophias Avenue, 10160 Athens. Telephone + (30) 210-721-2951. E-mail AthensAmEmb@state.gov

Useful Telephone Numbers

Airport - + (30) 210-353-0000, +(30) 210-353-1000.

Athens Port (Piraeus) - + (30) 223-503-1759

Bus - Timetables/Information - 185

Directory Assistance - 11880 (Athens and suburbs, Piraeus)

Emergency Medical Assistance - 176

Fire - 199

Police - 100

Roadside Assistance - 104

Taxis - 18300

Tourist Police - 171

Public Holidays and Celebrations

2009

01 January - New Year's Day
06 January - Epiphany
10 March - Orthodox Shrove Monday (first day of Lent)
25 March - Independence Day
17 April - Orthodox Good Friday
20 April - Orthodox Easter Monday
01 May - Labor Day
08 June - Orthodox Whit Monday.
15 August - Assumption
28 October - Ochi Day.
25 December - Christmas Day
26 December - Boxing Day

2010

01 January - New Year's Day
06 January - Epiphany.
15 February - Orthodox Shrove Monday
25 March - Independence Day
02 April - Orthodox Good Friday
05 April - Orthodox Easter Monday
01 May - Labour Day
24 May - Orthodox Whit Monday
15 August - Assumption
28 October - Ochi Day
25 December - Christmas Day.
26 December - Boxing Day

Voltage

Greece has 220-volt, 50 cycle AC electric current.

A variety of plugs are in use including the European-style two-pin and the round three-pin.

Duty Free

Travellers from non European Union countries do not pay duty when entering Greece on the following items:

200 cigarettes, or 100 cigarillos, or 50 cigars, or 250g tobacco.
1 litre of spirits with alcohol volume over 22%, or 2 litres of dessert wine not exceeding 22% alcohol volume and sparkling wine, and 2 litres of table wine.
60ml perfume or 250ml eau de toilette.
Other goods for non-commercial value to the value of EUR175 for adults and EUR90 for children under 15 years.