Euro (EUR; symbol Eur;) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of Eur;500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5. Coins are in denominations of Eur;2, 1 and 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 cents.

Foreign currency can be exchanged at all banks, savings banks and bureaux de change. Exchange rates can fluctuate from one bank to another.

American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard, Visa and other major credit cards are widely accepted (although less so in petrol stations).

All major currencies are widely accepted and can be exchanged easily at banks. Generally, banks in Greece charge a commission of 2% with a minimum of Eur;0.15 and a maximum of Eur;13.21 on the encashment of traveller’s cheques. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take traveller’s cheques in Euros, Pounds Sterling or US Dollars.

Mon-Thurs 0800-1430, Fri 0800-1400. Banks on the larger islands tend to stay open in the afternoon and some during the evening to offer currency exchange facilities during the tourist season. The Greek National Tourism Organisation bureau in Athens can give full details.

Date	Apr 07
£1.00=	Eur;1.48
$1.00=	Eur;0.75

The following goods may be imported into Greece by visitors without incurring customs duty by:

(a) Passengers arriving from within the EU:
• 800 cigarettes or 200 cigars or 400 cigarillos or 1kg of tobacco.
• 10l of alcoholic beverage or 90l of wine and 110l of beer.
• There is no limit for perfume.

(b) Passengers arriving from non-EU countries within Europe:
• 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 100 cigarillos or 250g of tobacco.
• 1l of alcoholic beverage over 22% or 2l of alcohol beverages of 22% or less and 2l of wine and liqueurs.
• 50g of perfume and 250ml of eau de cologne.
• Gifts up to a value of Eur;175 per person and Eur;90 if under 15.

(c) Passengers arriving from outside Europe:
• 400 cigarettes or 100 cigars or 200 cigarillos or 500g of tobacco.
• 1l of alcoholic beverage over 22% or 2l of alcohol beverages of 22% or less and 2l of wine and 2l of still table wine.
• 50g of perfume and 250ml of eau de cologne.

Note: The tobacco and alcohol allowances listed above are not available to passengers under the age of 18.

Restricted items: It is forbidden to bring in plants with soil. One windsurf board per person may be imported/exported duty-free, if registered in the passport on arrival. The export of antiquities is prohibited without the express permission of the Archaeological Service in Athens; those who ignore this will be prosecuted.

Abolition of duty-free goods within the EU
On 30 June 1999, the sale of duty-free alcohol and tobacco at airports and at sea was abolished in all of the original 15 EU member states. Of the 10 new member states that joined the EU on 1 May 2004 and the two states that joined on 1 January 2007, these rules already apply to Cyprus and Malta. There are transitional rules in place for visitors returning to one of the original 15 EU countries from one of the other new EU countries. But for the original 15, plus Cyprus and Malta, there are no limits imposed on importing tobacco and alcohol products from one EU country to another. Travellers should note that they may be required to prove at customs that the goods purchased are for personal use only. Member states may follow the EU’s guide levels of: 10l of spirits; 20l of fortified wine; 90l of wine; 110l of beer; 800 cigarettes; 400 cigarillos; 200 cigars and 1kg of tobacco.