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Country guide

Travel money in Greece

Euros across the mainland and islands: ATMs, islands logistics and tips for UK holidaymakers.

At a glance

Greece for UK travellers

Destination basics to help you plan cash, cards and when to compare rates before you fly.

  • Capital

    Athens

  • Currency

    Euro (EUR)

  • Time from UK

    2 hours ahead of the UK in summer

  • Flight from London

    ~3h 45m to Athens

  • Distance from UK

    ~1,500 miles from London

Map of Greece · Map data

Greece uses the euro. Island hopping and ferry connections mean you should not rely on one remote ATM on a quiet island without a cash buffer.

Islands and mainland

Athens and Thessaloniki behave like any major euro city. On smaller islands, seasonal demand can strain ATMs in peak weeks — land with some euros already in your wallet.

Tavernas and tips

Service charges vary; rounding up or leaving small change is common. Keep low denominations for beach clubs and boat day trips.

Buy before you fly

Compare euro rates via our main comparison. Sterling-to-euro airport purchases are convenient but usually expensive for large amounts.

Further reading

For May and summer island trips, see Greek islands holiday money 2026. Book airport parking if you drive to the terminal.

Connections

If you connect through a UK airport, see our airport guides — the same “small top-up only” rule applies.