Money & Payments in Athens (2026)

If possible, it's best to leave a cash tip, so make sure you have some on you.
It is a good idea to carry cash in Greece and to make sure that you always have plenty of smaller denomination notes and coins on you. While cards are widely accepted, Greece is still very much a cash society.
Always withdraw in EUR, not your home currency, to avoid expensive conversion fees.
Rarely have cash needed in Greece but always keep around €20 to €50, just in case the odd shop doesn't take card payments.
Greek businesses must provide receipts for all transactions, a legal requirement following tax evasion crackdowns. Always request and keep receipts, as they protect you in disputes and help track spending.

Best Banks: Piraeus Bank and Alpha Bank have the widest coverage around Greece. You can find multiple ATM machines on the mainland and on the islands.
Typical Range: €2.50
Note: Fees tend to be between €2 and €4 EUR, but they could be higher due to the convenience of the location. Most Greek banks charge €2-5 per withdrawal for foreign cards, so withdrawing larger amounts less frequently minimizes fees.

Avoid Euronet ATMs. You will find these ATMs in central Athens and in other Greek cities and towns. Charges for using the ATM are huge and the rates are far from competitive.
Greek ATMs often ask if you want to proceed 'with conversion' or 'without conversion' – always choose 'without conversion' to avoid inflated Dynamic Currency Conversion rates.
Make sure you only use official bank ATMs, since there have been cases of different cash withdrawal companies charging high exchange rates.

Only Accepted: Yes
Local Currency: EUR (Euro)
Note: Greece uses the euro as its currency, and businesses only accept Euros for payment.

Mandatory: No
Restaurants: Restaurants appreciate 5-10% for good service, though rounding up the bill or leaving small change is perfectly acceptable for casual meals.
Other Services: In restaurants, leaving a tip of around 5-10% is appreciated, and rounding up the bill is customary. Tipping for good service is also common in cafes and bars and for taxi drivers.

Details: Major tourist areas in Greece, like Athens and Thessaloniki, are mostly cash-free and will accept credit and debit cards and contactless payments. Starting from the 1st of April 2024, people are able to pay by card in all kiosks, open-air markets, taxis and many more businesses.
Exceptions: If you find yourself in very small independent stores, or in off-the-beaten-path parts of the country in the Peloponnese, some places may be cash only.
Widely Accepted: Yes
Contactless Limit: €50

General Info: The sources we checked provided limited detailed information about banking account setup for foreigners in Athens. No authoritative source with specific requirements, costs, or procedures was retrieved. Recommendation: Contact major Greek banks (Alpha Bank, Eurobank, NBG) directly or consult expatriate resources in Athens for current account-opening requirements, documentation needed (passport, visa/residence permit), and whether a Greek tax identification number is required.
Note: Limited specific banking setup information found for Athens. General guidance based on the sources we checked:

AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026

These are the sources cited in this money & payments research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.

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Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.