This part of our guide to holidays in Greece sees us covering shopping and money...
While Greece isn't known as a great shopping destination, it does offer some fine and unique local products. The country produces good handicrafts, pottery, jewelry, metalwork, knitwear, lace, rugs and leather goods. In addition, its local wines and spirits make distinctive purchases.
Large international style shopping malls can be found in nearly all of its cities, and you'll recognize many of the retailers and brands stocked within them. Prices are similar to elsewhere in Europe for such goods though so don't expect to find any real bargains unless shopping during the sales.
Tourist souvenir shops and some family-owned arts and crafts stores tolerate haggling, but otherwise it is frowned upon. In places where bargaining is accepted, you can reduce the price by at least 10-20%, and being able to speak some Greek can help you get price as low as possible.
Value Added Tax (VAT) is charged on most items (this is usually but not always included in the item's price tag) but some shops offer tax free shopping to non-EU residents. This means that non-EU residents can ask for a VAT refund at their port of exit in the EU. To do so, ask for a VAT voucher before leaving the store and show that along with your items to the customs officer upon departure from the EU.
Greece's official currency is the Euro, and other currencies won't be accepted at all. You can easily exchange currency can easily in larger cities and in any touristed area though. Banks tend to offer the best exchange rates, followed by specialist shops, and then automated currency exchange machines. When changing money, it's a good idea to get mostly smaller notes, and nothing larger than a 50, as many businesses will be reluctant to accept them.
ATM machines are ubiquitous. Visa, Mastercard and Eurocard are widely accepted in hotels, retail outlets and travel agencies, but some restaurants and local souvenir shops will not accept them.
While Greece isn't known as a great shopping destination, it does offer some fine and unique local products. The country produces good handicrafts, pottery, jewelry, metalwork, knitwear, lace, rugs and leather goods. In addition, its local wines and spirits make distinctive purchases.
Large international style shopping malls can be found in nearly all of its cities, and you'll recognize many of the retailers and brands stocked within them. Prices are similar to elsewhere in Europe for such goods though so don't expect to find any real bargains unless shopping during the sales.
Tourist souvenir shops and some family-owned arts and crafts stores tolerate haggling, but otherwise it is frowned upon. In places where bargaining is accepted, you can reduce the price by at least 10-20%, and being able to speak some Greek can help you get price as low as possible.
Value Added Tax (VAT) is charged on most items (this is usually but not always included in the item's price tag) but some shops offer tax free shopping to non-EU residents. This means that non-EU residents can ask for a VAT refund at their port of exit in the EU. To do so, ask for a VAT voucher before leaving the store and show that along with your items to the customs officer upon departure from the EU.
Greece's official currency is the Euro, and other currencies won't be accepted at all. You can easily exchange currency can easily in larger cities and in any touristed area though. Banks tend to offer the best exchange rates, followed by specialist shops, and then automated currency exchange machines. When changing money, it's a good idea to get mostly smaller notes, and nothing larger than a 50, as many businesses will be reluctant to accept them.
ATM machines are ubiquitous. Visa, Mastercard and Eurocard are widely accepted in hotels, retail outlets and travel agencies, but some restaurants and local souvenir shops will not accept them.
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