TOURIST INFORMATION

FORMALITIES FOR ENTERING GREECE

Passport and visa requirements vary from country to country. Please contact your local travel agent or Greek Consulate at http://www.greekembassy.org/ for details.
American and Canadian citizens entering Greece for a period of less than 3 months require a valid passport, not a visa. 
All persons, regardless of nationality, traveling with documents other than a valid passport, must have a visa.

TRAVEL FOR THE HANDICAPPED
Greece welcome all handicapped persons. Many of the cruise ships which sail trough out the Greek islands are equipped to accommodate the handicapped. Air transportation is also available aboard Olympic Airways to many of Greece's largest islands. Do note, however, that access to some of the archaeological sites throughout the country may present some difficulty.

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GETTING TO GREECE

BY AIR OLYMPIC AIRWAYS
Olympic Airways operates non-stop flights to and from Athens, daily from New York City. Olympic Airways Operates also flights from Boston. Delta as well as most the European airlines, connect North American cities with Greece via major European cities. Athens' Eleftherios Venizelos Airport is a convenient intermediate stop for destinations to five continents.
Direct flights also operate from major European cities to "Macedonia" International Airport in Thessaloniki in Northern Greece, as well as to Corfu (Kerkira), Grete and Rhodes.

BY CHARTER FLIGHTS
Several tour operators run charter flights to Greece. For further information contact the Greek National Tourist Organization offices.

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BY SEA
Several ports in Greece are considered busy -by any standards- accommodating sailings of passenger ships, cruise ships and freighters. The ports of Piraeus, Patras, Thessaloniki and Heraklion are all convenient embarkation points to set sail on a Mediterranean cruise or ferry to Italy, Israel, Egypt or the Black Sea.

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BY AUTOMOBILE
Those wishing to drive to Greece have the option either: To ferry their cars across to one of the country's major ports or, to enter the country overland. The points of entry are:


All five border stations mentioned above operate on 24 hour service basis.

TRAVEL TIPS

CURRENCY
For currency rates visit the OANDA's currency converter at http://www.oanda.com/cgi-bin/ncc or consult your newspaper or bank.

APPLIANCES
The electricity supply in Greece is alternating current, 220 volts, 50 cycles. Appliances for 110 or 120 volts may be operated by using stepdown transformers of 220/110 volts connected to each outlet, provided that these transformers have two separate windings which will eliminate any danger of electric shock. Before taking major American appliances (washing machines, dryers, etc.) to Greece, it is advisable to check whether they can be adjusted to Greek conditions. Greek television systems are PAL-SECAM-M. Therefore TV sets with the American system (NTSC) only, will not operate in Greece.
There are two different dialing systems in Greece. Tone and pulse. Therefore telephone sets must be able to change from one system to the other. Dual voltage (220/110 volts 50/60 hz) power adapters for wireless telephone sets are required.

LEGAL HOLIDAYS
January 1,January 6, Lent Monday, March 25, Holy and Great Friday, Easter Monday, May 1, Holy Trinity, August 15, October 28, December 25,26

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AVERAGE TEMPERATURES

Months Athens and Southern Greece Thessaloniki and Northern Greece
January 52 F, 12 C 45 F, 8 C
February 54 F, 13 C 51 F, 11 C
March 58 F, 15 C 54 F, 13 C
April 65 F, 19 C 65 F, 19 C
May 74 F, 24 C 74 F, 24 C
June 86 F, 30 C 86 F, 30 C
July 92 F, 33 C 90 F, 32 C
August 92 F, 33C 90 F, 32 C
September 82 F, 28 C 80 F, 27 C
October 72 F, 23 C 69 F, 21 C
November 63 F, 18 C 58 F, 15 C
December 56 F, 14 C 50 F, 10 C

TIPS ON DRIVING

Speed limits are 100-120 km/h on highways unless otherwise posted; 50 km/h in residential areas unless otherwise posted.

Driver's License
Visiting foreign motorists should possess an international driver's license. The AAA in the US and the CAA in Canada, will issue an international driver's license.

Road signs
Road signs are written in Greek and repeated phonetically in English.

Traffic Rules
Traffic and signaling are the same as on the European continent, which means driving on the right hand side of the road. Passing on the right side is strictly prohibited. Drivers and passengers must wear safety belts.
Special care should be taken in Greece when crossing unguarded level railway crossings.

Road Tolls
Toll gates exist on two highways in Greece, one leading to Northern Greece and the other to the Peloponnese.

Car Insurance
The Motor Insurance Bureau, which forms part of the Association of Insurance Companies operating in Greece, has its offices at 10 Xenofontos Street in Athens, Tel: 32306733 and can inform all motorists where the local agents of their insurance company abroad have their offices. Alternatively, they can help visitors obtain car insurance to cover them while in Greece.

ELPA Road Assistance Service.
 ELPA road assistance service can be reached by dialing 104.Free assistance is provided for light repairs and is rendered by the ELPA yellow vans bear the sign: Assistance Routiere A.T.C. ELPA. Also, the Automobile and Touring Club of Greece provides all possible information to foreign motorists regarding driving in Greece, by dialing 174(24 hours service)

ELPA Offices
Athens (head Office), 2-4 Messogion Street, Tel: 01/779-1615 Fax: 01/778-6642.

Legal Advice
ELPA has a list of lawyers in the various towns of Greece who can offer legal advice at no charge on mutters concerning automobiles.

Health regulations
No immunization vaccinations are required for U.S. or Canadian citizens traveling from the U.S. and Canada.

Currency regulations
Importation of foreign currency, gold and gold coins is free and unlimited. Banknotes more that $ 1000 (U.S.) must be declared at customs.

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TOUR GUIDES

Contact the Union of Official Guides at any of the following locations (hours: 9 am-3:30 pm)

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EMERGENCY NUMBERS (GREATEST ATHENS AREA)

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