Athens

Sklavenitis — the big Greek grocer

AB Vasilopoulos — mid-range

Lidl — discount

Masoutis — north + islands

Best: Apr – Jun & Sep – Oct · Wet: Nov – Jan

Fees: Greek bank ATMs surcharge foreign cards €2–3; Euronet's island armies charge more with worse rates.

Limits: €400–600 per pull at bank machines.

Best machines: National Bank (Ethniki)PiraeusAlpha Bank

Vaccines: Routine, plus Hepatitis A for wider eating.

Health: Tap water is safe in Athens; on many islands it's brackish — locals drink bottled, so do the same. Summer sun and meltemi wind are fierce; hydrate and respect ferry cancellations.

Tap water: ⚠️ Safe in Athens and the mainland; on many islands it's brackish or unreliable, so locals drink bottled — do the same there.

Safety: Greece is very safe for visitors (~1/100k). Athens' Omonia and Exarcheia get edgier at night; the islands are family-gentle. Watch bags on the crowded metro to the Acropolis.

This is a Schengen-area country. Most US, UK, EU, Canadian, Australian, NZ, Brazilian, Japanese and Korean passports enter visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the whole Schengen zone. From 2025 the EU's ETIAS pre-authorisation applies to visa-free non-EU visitors — check before you fly.