Essential info for Greece
Electricity: Greece uses an electrical current that is 220 volts, 50Hz. The European-style two pin and the round three-pin plug are among the most common of the plug types used.
Language: The national language of Greece is Greek, but English is for the most part understood and widely spoken.
Health: Greece has no glaring health risks that expats need be aware of, but for those who plan to frequent forested areas it is advised to consider vaccination against tick-borne encephalitis.
Medical facilities in Greece vary depending on location; those in major urban centres are excellent but many of the islands and more rural locations are some distance from a decent hospital. Food and water are safe for consumption. Expats benefit from the free emergency healthcare and can also take advantage of the IKA nationalised social security coverage, but it is nonetheless recommended to organize private healthcare in lieu of limited facilities and the inefficiencies of bureaucracy.
Yellow fever vaccination certificates are required for those arriving from infected areas.
Tipping: When tipping in Greece first check to see if a service charge has already been included, this is often the case at restaurants. If not, 10 to 15 percent is acceptable. Both taxis and cloak room attendants usually expect a small tip.
Safety: Greece is considered a relatively safe destination, but during the madness of tourist season there is an increase in petty crime, particularly in crowded public areas. Expats expecting to spend time in these sorts of locations are advised not to carry valuables on them. Violent crime is infrequent, but there have been incidents on some Greek islands; hitchhiking should be avoided.
Local customs: It is best to carry a form of official identification at all times in Greece. Indecent behaviour is not tolerated by police and could result in arrest or heavy fines.
Business: The professional environment in Greece is more similar to Italy and Spain than to the Northern European nations. A formal dress style is expected; dark, conservative suits are appropriate for both men and women.
Punctuality is not emphasized in Greece; it is not uncommon for hosts to be late to meetings. A firm handshake with eye contact is the norm for greeting men and women for the first time. Business cards should be printed in both Greek and English for convenience, though there is no formal custom surrounding exchange. Greeks like to get to know their business colleagues before conducting any serious business so expect to form a relationship before closing a deal. Greek culture adheres to a hierarchical structure and respect should be shown accordingly. The giving of gifts is common socially, but not in a business environment.
Business hours are typically 8:30am to 1pm and 3pm to 6pm Monday to Friday.
Communications: 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; thus negotiating exceptional coverage. Internet cafes are available in the main towns and resorts and are cheaper than accessing the Internet from hotels.
