Useful Tips

Things to know before your Santorini holidays

Depending on which corner of the planet you live in, travelling to Santorini may, in some cases, entail the crossing of a continent or an ocean or both! To take on such an adventure, especially for the first time, you need to be sufficiently informed and well prepared. Visiting a distant, foreign place means that you may come across unfamiliar to you conditions that differ from what you are used to in your everyday life. Therefore, it is always a good idea to do your research and collect any useful tips before you go on your journey.

Tips for making your stay easier

In this section, we have put together several bits of handy information with respect to the actuality of everyday life and routine in Greece today. We believe this is a good-to-know material that will facilitate your prompt adjustment to the new, unknown to you, context of Santorini, immediately upon your arrival. And, of course, we also hope that this section will help you avoid major blunders during your stay in Santorini.

Time zone difference

Greece is in the Eastern European Time Zone. Eastern European Standard Time (EET) is 2 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT+2). Like most countries in Europe, Summer (Daylight Saving) time is observed in Greece, where the time is moved forward by 1 hour, 3 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT+3).

After the summer months the time is moved back by 1 hour to Eastern European Time (EET) or (GMT+2). Daylight Savings Time (GMT+3) in Greece begins at 3 a.m. on the last Sunday of March and ends at 4 a.m. on the last Sunday of October.

Currency

Since the 1st of January 2002, the Euro (EUR) is the currency of Greece. Notes in circulation are 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 euro while coins are in denominations of 1 euro, 2 euro, 1 cent, 2 cents, 5 cents, 10 cents, 20 cents and 50 cents. Currency converter

Formalities for entering Greece

Passport and visa requirements vary from country to country. Please click here for details. Greek Missions Issuing Visas on Third Countries: click here.

Banks

The banks in Santorini are open 8.00 am – 2.30 pm Monday to Thursday and 8.00 am – 2.00 pm on Friday.
ATMs are available in almost all villages of Santorini. Most accept Visa and MasterCard as well as debit cards of internationally recognized networks.

Wi-Fi

Most hotels, restaurants etc provide Internet access to their guests. Internet cafes are available mostly in Fira.
Free public wireless Internet access is available in main points in Fira, Oia, Messaria, Imerovigli, Exo Gonia, Pyrgos, Karterados and Akrotiri.

Health

In case of health problems you may visit the Santorini Hospital in Karterados (Tel.: 2286035300) or ask your hotel reception for a private specialist doctor.
There are pharmacies in Fira, Messaria, Emporeio, Perissa, Akrotiri, Oia, Imerovigli, Pyrgos and Kamari where you can find medicines and advice for minor problems.

Electrical Appliances

The electricity supply in Greece is alternating current, 220-250 volts, 50 cycles. Appliances for 110 or 120 volts may be operated by using step down transformers of 220-250/110 volts connected to any outlet.

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