Practical Information for visiting Greece

Greece uses the euro, adopted in 2001, so there is nothing to change on arrival from another euro country. Athens' public transport takes contactless cards and its own ATH.ENA ticket; a personalised card is needed only for reduced fares, which visitors do not get.

Card acceptance follows the economy's geography: routine in the cities and the resort islands, less certain in mountain villages and at the smaller island tavernas, where cash still does the work. Rules on card payment, ATM charges and tipping are not summarised here until they have been read on the authorities' own pages.

Greece's two real risks are fire and water, and both are seasonal. There is a high risk of wildfires from April to October, they are highly dangerous and unpredictable, and the situation can change quickly. Register your mobile phone to receive emergency alerts so you are warned of fires near your location, and follow @112Greece for official updates. Causing a wildfire is a criminal offence in Greece even if unintentional — leave no litter and especially no glass, make sure cigarettes are properly extinguished, and do not light barbecues. If you see a fire, call 112.

People drown in the sea and in swimming pools in Greece every year. Always supervise children and keep small children within arm's reach, in pools as well as at the beach, even where there is a lifeguard. Hidden rocks and shallow depths cause serious injury and death, so never dive into unknown water. Many organised beaches use a flag system and a red flag means you must not enter the water; take extra care and get local knowledge where there are no lifeguards, flags or signs.

Theft is the everyday risk. Thefts of passports, wallets and handbags are common on the metro and in crowded tourist places, particularly central Athens. Do not carry all your valuables in one place, keep a copy of your passport photo page somewhere safe, and when driving keep valuables out of sight, lock the car and park in a well-lit area or secure car park.

Around clubs and bars late at night, the advisory recommends saving your accommodation in your maps app, keeping a group chat running, watching each other's drinks, not letting anyone walk home alone, and using pre-arranged transport or licensed taxi-hailing apps. Most visitors experience no difficulty related to their race, but there have been racially motivated attacks, particularly in inner-city areas.

There is a risk of earthquakes and tremors. Familiarise yourself with what to do, follow the local authorities, and call 112 if you are in immediate danger. Greece publishes assembly-point maps for anywhere in the country.

Emergency number: 112, the single European emergency number, reaches police, ambulance and fire from any phone in Greece as in every EU country, free of charge.

Other national numbers and the tourist police line are not listed here until they have been checked against the authorities' own pages.