How much money to take to Greece 2019— you’ve probably asked yourself this question if you’re planning to spend your holidays in this country. Let's consider how much money Greece needs for food, sightseeing, gasoline, car rental, and how much trips to Greece cost for 2019. If you also plan to bring souvenirs from Greece (natural cosmetics, olive oil, aromatic wines, etc.), then add another 100 euros to your budget, depending on your needs. Let’s find out how much food costs in Greece, because trying the gastronomic delights of a new country is a real pleasure.
And in Greece, as they say, there is everything, so do not deny yourself food in a country where fresh vegetables come into dishes literally from the garden, and seafood is caught nearby in the sea and immediately used in cooking. Let's calculate how much money to take to Greece in 2019.
Currency in Greece
Greece is a member of the Schengen Agreement, which means that if you decide which currency to take to Greece, then only the euro. If you have dollars, you can exchange them at a bank in the country for euros. But it’s easier to immediately go to Greece with Euro.
How much money to take to Greece 2019?
When applying for a visa to the Schengen countries, a bank account statement is required. Greece believes that for one person 60 euros per day is enough, for the entire trip at least 580 euros. This is the amount that must be confirmed when applying for a visa. In fact, you can spend either more or less per day in Greece.
How much does food cost in Greece?
First, let’s decide how much money you need to take with you to Greece in 2019 for food. Although prices have decreased slightly since the beginning of the crisis, due to the increase in VAT and the increase in the number of tourists, it is worth understanding that takeaway coffee in a tourist area costs from 1 to 2.5 euros, coffee in a cafe 2.5-4 euros, drinks are more expensive.
If you rent an apartment, then food for two people, if there is a supermarket, can cost 10-15 euros. If you eat in cafes and restaurants three times a day, then if you have breakfast at the hotel, you need from 40 euros per day for two.
How much money do you need for inexpensive food in Greece? If you want to save money, there are budget souvlak and other fast food takeaways, it can cost from 1.5 euros. But please note that if you take a table and some dish there, it will immediately start at 4 euros.
How much money should I take to Greece to eat in good places? Food in a meat tavern will cost from 15 euros per person, if it is a souvlakaya tavern, then no less than 20 euros for two (water, salad, meat dish). The minimum cost, again for two, in a fish tavern will be 30 euros, but this is if you save a lot, that is, consider that you can eat normally for at least 40-45 euros for two.
How much money do you need to rent a car and gasoline in Greece?
For holders of international rights, it is possible to rent and travel on Greek roads at a price of 20 euros per day when renting for a long period and from 30 euros per day when renting for up to a week. Please note that gasoline in Greece costs almost 2 euros, so take a small car if possible and remember the level of gasoline when you receive it so as not to pay later for a lack of gasoline.
Be sure to find out if there is a mileage limit when renting a car. Thus, some companies oblige you to pay extra for each kilometer traveled above the established limit.
Tours to Greece in 2019
How much money do you need for trips to Greece in 2019? The cheapest tour can be bought during the sale for 25,000 rubles. for two in a 2 star hotel without meals. A tour to Greece to a 4-star hotel with breakfast will cost 60,000 rubles. for two for a week.
How much money to take to Greece 2019 excursions
Excursions in Greece can be found from 30 euros per day, through Greek travel agencies and from 100 euros per day through private guides. If you come to the pier yourself, you can buy a boat trip from 10 euros. Entrance to museums and monasteries is usually 3-5 euros, with the exception of the Acropolis, where there is a single ticket of 20 euros. But along it you can visit the Acropolis Museum, Agora and many other paid attractions. A car with a private guide for the whole day will cost 250 euros.
You can see prices for excursions in Greece here.
How much does a holiday in Greece cost?
The main cost of a holiday in Greece is the cost of a hotel. If you do not live in a campsite, then the minimum you need for two is 40 euros per day with breakfast. If you live alone, it will be more expensive, at least 30 euros per day.
The second line of costs is either a bus ticket. Here prices for early booking on Aegean Airlines or through charters start from 40 euros per person. At the same time, if you do not book in advance, then during the season the price of a ticket for regular flights starts from 250 euros. Then there are lower costs - a visa from 35 euros, insurance from 10 euros, transfer to the hotel from 10 euros.
Let's summarize how much money to take to Greece in 2019. If you have paid for your flight and hotel, you will need 50-100 euros per day to eat well, see the sights and buy souvenirs. If you are planning more serious purchases (furs, leather, fur coats), you need to take an additional 1000 euros. If you don’t leave the hotel and don’t travel anywhere, you can spend 10-20 euros per day.
Now the euro is in use in Greece, but before its appearance in the country, the national currency was the drachma for many centuries. Its history dates back to the 5th century BC. e. The drachma is considered one of the oldest currencies in the world and the most durable. It was the national currency of Greece before the euro. This will be discussed in our article.
Where did the name of the Greek currency, the drachma, come from?
The name of the Greek currency first appeared in the 5th century BC. It was called drachma for a reason. At that time, iron tetrahedral silver and gold twigs – “obols” – were accepted for money. A handful of six of them was called a “drachma.” Translated from the local language, it means “handful” or “palm”. Therefore, the national currency received such a name. The coin of exchange was the mite.
History of the drachma
The Greek drachma first appeared as a national currency during the Hellenic period. The first money in the form of handfuls of metal rods was used from 1100 BC. The drachma was mainly made from silver, rarely from gold.
Each city of Ancient Greece had its own currency name (Babylonian drachma, Phoenician, etc.). The monetary units of exchange were:
- dodekadrachm, which was equal to 12 drachmas;
- dekadrachm (10);
- octadrachm (8);
- pentadrachm (5);
- tetradrachm (4);
- tridrachm (3);
- didrachm (2).
There are three periods when currency modification took place:
- Ancient Greek. At that time (2000 years ago) silver coins were in use.
- Hellenistic. The Greek currency was used as the main monetary unit by various states.
- Modern. The drachma acquired a new design and face value in the 19th century.
Thanks to the aggressive campaigns of A. Macedonian, the drachma spread to Arab countries, receiving the name “dirahm”. During the Roman Empire, the drachma was replaced by the denarius, then the solidus appeared. In the 15th century, after the capture of Greece by the Ottoman Empire, the Turkish piastre came into use. In 1828, after the liberation of the country, a new currency appeared - the phoenix. But by royal decree of Otto it was replaced with the previous drachma. It was the national currency of the country until 2001, then it was replaced by the euro. 
Design and security of the drachma
In a short time, the former national currency of Greece has undergone many modifications. Coin designs are associated with legends and myths. The face value was indicated on the front side. The inscriptions were all done strictly in Greek.
It is worth paying special attention to the color scheme. When developing the design of the currency, artists were able to combine different colors and their shades in an unusual way. Thanks to this, the design of Greek banknotes acquired originality and uniqueness. On the back of the banknotes, the sights and cultural values depicted were decorated in an antique style. All the modifications due to which the drachma was modified led to the fact that it became almost impossible to counterfeit coins and banknotes. 
Currency of Greece: ancient coins and banknotes
Profiles of the goddess Athena and her symbol, the owl, were minted on coins in the 5th century. When Greece was part of the Byzantine Empire, the solidus was the main gold coin. In 1204, a cross began to be minted on the obverse of the drachma.
The silver drachma was introduced into circulation as the modern Greek national currency in 1833. During the German occupation, new coins began to be minted. They went into circulation in 1944. The new drachma was exchanged for 50 billion old ones. Inflation continued until May 1954. After which the new drachma was equal to a thousand old ones.
The currency of Greece consisted not only of coins, it was also issued in banknotes. The first paper drachmas appeared in the 19th century. The Greek government decided to issue banknotes due to a shortage of precious metals for minting coins. The first banknotes appeared in denominations ranging from five to one hundred phoenixes. 
During World War II, banknotes were printed in denominations of tens of billions of drachmas. In 1944, new banknotes were issued in an attempt to avoid inflation, but this did not help. And only in 1955, after the release of new banknotes, inflation stopped. Modern drachma banknotes were printed until January 2001. It was the national currency of Greece before the euro. Before the transition to the euro, banknotes in denominations from 50 to 10,000 drachmas were in use in the country. The largest banknote featured the image of the Greek scientist George Papanikolaou.
Features of Greek coins
A feature of Greek coins was their unique design. Its author was Georgios Stamatopolous. The Greek currency had the following images:
- 5th century Athenian thyreme;
- 19th century corvette;
- modern tanker;
- scene of Zeus abducting Europa;
- Rigas Fereos;
- John Kapodistrias;
- Eleftherios Venizelos (famous politician).
History of the 200 drachma banknote
The 200 drachma banknote has its own separate history. In all the years of banknote production, it was printed only once, in 1996. The obverse depicted the national hero of Greece, Rigas Feraios.
What currency to take to Greece: a reminder for tourists
Now the payment currency in the country is the euro, since Greece is part of the European Union. They pay in this country with these banknotes. There are banknotes of different denominations - from 5 to 500 euros; coins - from 1 to 50 cents and one and two euros. When withdrawing money, uniform tariffs apply for countries that are part of the European Union. 
Greek banks open from 8 a.m. and close at 2:30 p.m. You can exchange the currency you brought with you at any exchange office. The commission will be up to 2 percent. The euro exchange rate constantly fluctuates, so it is impossible to determine the exact exchange amount in advance.
Small money will be required to avoid problems with change. It should be remembered that banknotes of 100 and 200 euros often turn out to be counterfeit, so it is better to hedge your bets by exchanging for smaller ones.
In hotels and supermarkets you can pay with a bank card (visa, mastercard, maestro) or cash. For payments in restaurants and cafes, it is best to exchange large banknotes for small ones in advance.
If you want to wander around the shops, then you need to know that absolutely all of their owners have “problems” with change. This is calculated on the fact that tourists will not take change. This practice exists not only in Greece, but also in Turkey, Egypt and some other resort countries.
Today Greece is one of the most popular holiday destinations for tourists from Russia. Every year, more than one thousand guests from different countries and continents come here to stay in Greece, enjoy the wonderful weather, swim to their heart's content in the gentle Mediterranean Sea and see the main attractions of Greece, of which there are plenty in this country.
Before you go to Greece, you need to study information about this country, its climate, its attractions, and find out what currency is in Greece. Today we will figure out what currency is in this country, and what currency is better to take with you.
How to pay in Greece?
Greece is part of the European Union (EU), which means that The official currency of this country is the euro. There is a huge amount of information on the Internet about the rate at which you can exchange the euro for the currencies of other countries. 1 euro is equal to 100 cents, which are often called eurocents.
In Greece, it is customary to pay in euros, with banknotes of different denominations in circulation, namely 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 euros. There are also coins, those same cents in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents, as well as 1 and 2 euros.
The Euro is the official currency of the EU, and is the currency not only in Greece, but also in 15 other countries.
Euro banknotes have the same design and depict various architectural objects that reflect the rich cultural heritage of the countries of the European Union. Typically, banknotes feature gates or windows of historical buildings on the front side, and bridges on the back side. By the way, in reality such architectural objects do not exist in the world, and this was done in order not to cause disputes and envy between different European countries. Also, 500 euro banknotes are considered an official means of payment in some countries, but they are simply not issued.
When withdrawing cash, uniform rates apply throughout the EU area. The banknotes feature a single euro sign, which was created based on public opinion. Several million people participated in the survey, with the help of which this particular designation for this currency was ultimately chosen.
This version of the currency image was created by a famous financier, a native of Greece named Biglier. But still, the final version of the euro image was approved by the well-known designer Eisenmeiger. Before approving a specific image of banknotes, a whole research work was carried out by the EU Commission. The location of the EU icon is different in each EU country.
Currency exchange in Greece
Exchange currency in Greece is very easy. The best option would be to do this at a bank where there is an official rate. Usually all banks are open from early morning from 8.00 until lunch on average until 14.00-124.30. On Friday banks are open until 13.30. It is worth remembering that banks are open only on weekdays, which means that it is better to exchange money in advance.
Banks are closed on Saturday and Sunday. It is also worth noting that some large shopping centers have special exchange offices where you can exchange money from 15.00 until the evening until dark. Until about 9 p.m. It is also worth remembering that during major public holidays all banks are closed.
Currency in Greece is also exchanged at the hotel reception, at an ATM and even in souvenir shops. In order to change currency to euros, you must have some document with you that confirms your identity (for example: a driver's license or passport). Of course, it is not needed when exchanging at a souvenir shop.
When exchanging currency in different establishments, the size of the commission for the services provided also depends significantly. In banks and post offices the commission is usually fixed and is approximately 1%. In Greece you need a lot Be careful when handling large euro banknotes. Most often, crafts are found on banknotes of 100 and 200 euros.
Also, when buying everything you need, it is worth remembering that almost all store owners have real, and maybe imaginary problems with changing change. Most likely, this is designed for the tourist to simply leave him a few cents in change. For example, when buying souvenirs or fruits from Greece, most often merchants simply inflate prices, but give back the change in full.
Most often, in all large stores, hotels and shopping centers, you can easily pay with a credit card (almost all payment systems are accepted). By the way, just a few years ago, it was quite difficult to pay by bank transfer, especially far away, for example in the provinces. In Greece, payments over 3,000 euros must be made by bank transfer.
How can I get some money back for purchases in Greece?
In Greece, you can return a tax on most goods, which is called TAX-FREE. This fee is usually at least 5% of the purchase price. Typically, such a fee can be collected at the airport or upon arrival home. Typically, when claiming such a fee It is worth having receipts with you that confirm the amount spent.
Before traveling to Greece, you need to carefully understand the exchange rate in relation to the ruble. Prices for goods for tourists are significantly inflated, which is why all prices must be carefully converted into rubles in order to understand what it costs when buying souvenirs or other goods. However, fraud is common in Greece, it is necessary to carefully monitor what change did the sellers give you?.
Greece is an extremely welcoming and hospitable country. Local residents treat tourists very well, which means that you can easily turn to them for help. lasts from the beginning of May to the end of October, which is why Greece is considered a popular summer holiday. By the way, for example, it is more suitable for diving or for active recreation, and the Greek sea is truly a real paradise for couples or tourists with children. Greece will always gladly welcome every tourist from any corner of the world.
The Greek Republic is a state in Southern Europe that is very attractive to travelers. Before going on holiday to this country, all tourists are interested in many questions, and one of the main ones is: what is the currency in Greece? Before your trip, it would be useful to familiarize yourself with information about what the currency of the country in which you will be spending your vacation is, where it is best to exchange it at a favorable rate, and what important points you need to know so that no incidents arise during your vacation.
Today the official currency of Greece is the euro. 1 euro is equal to 100 cents.
Where to get currency
It needs to be taken care of in advance. Exchange transactions with cash can be carried out strictly in banks or specialized exchange points.
Post offices often have special sections for obtaining the necessary currency. When exchanging at such establishments, a commission is charged. There are a large number of ATMs throughout the country, which are designed to perform many monetary transactions. All major hotels, supermarkets and shops provide the opportunity to pay with international plastic cards. When making transactions in other currencies, a certain commission will be charged, so it is better to carry out all monetary transactions in this country in euros.
The first monetary unit of the state
The drachma was the currency of Greece before the introduction of the euro. Before you go to this amazing country, it is worth knowing a little about its history. And the development of monetary relations is an integral part of it.
Back to the past
Until January 1, 2001, the drachma remained the only active currency of this country. And after this date, a single European unit was introduced in the country, which is valid in many countries - the euro. All guests had to purchase it at exchange kiosks. If you do its literal translation, then the currency of Greece (more precisely, its name) stands for “take by the handful.” There is another interpretation of the name of the national currency of this country. The Assyrian language also has "drakh-mana", which is translated as the sixtieth part of a mina. The drachma at one time was not only the monetary unit of Greece, but was also used as a measure of weight. It was a silver bar whose nominal weight corresponded to 1/60 of a mina. And since 2001, the euro has become the national currency.
The ancient state as a means of payment back in the 10th century. BC e. used gold or silver shelves. They were used to conduct monetary transactions and also carry out weight measurements. In each historical period of the country's development, the state had its own drachma. Throughout history, Greece's currency has had several types:
- Attic drachma.
- Aegina or Milesian drachma.
- Rhodes
- Corinthian and other types of drachmas.
It is worth noting that the drachma is rightfully called one of the most ancient currencies in the world.
The path from the drachma to the formation of the euro
From the fifth century BC, the currency of Greece began to be minted in coins. They had different images and completely different denominations. The most popular in the Mediterranean was the tetradrachm, which was decorated with the profile of Athena. On the other side was an owl. Also popular were coins such as dodecadrachms, decadrachms, octadrachms, and so on.
Thanks to the military activities of Alexander the Great, the national currency of Greece spread to many Arab countries that he conquered. True, over time its name in these countries was slightly changed.
The UAE and Morocco still use the dirham for their monetary payments, the predecessor of which was the Greek drachma. During the prosperity of the Roman Empire, instead of the drachma in Greece, the denarius was introduced, which was used for quite a long period. But with the coming to power of a new people, the currency for payments changed. Later, after the formation of the Byzantine Empire, he was replaced by a solid. It was used in Greece until the end of the 14th century. In the 15th century, when the territory of Greece fell into the possession of the Ottoman Empire, the national currency of Greece changed to the Turkish piastre.
New currency - phoenix
Until 1828, the country's population fought for their independence. This struggle was very difficult and tragic. But still the country managed to win its right to independence. It was this year that the country gained sovereignty, and the leadership introduced a new currency - the phoenix, called the beautiful bird of happiness. This name was introduced by John Kapodistrias and chose it as a symbol of the revival of the country and liberation from under the constant yoke. But in 1833, the currency of Greece again received its historical name - the drachma. In this case, the translation rate was taken 1 to 1.
During the fighting of World War II, the current currency of Greece lost its value. After the end of the war, a new drachma was introduced in Greece. In 1944, the exchange rate was as follows: 1 new drachma corresponded to 1 billion old ones.
End of the drachma
The Greek currency was once again subject to depreciation before the introduction of the euro. In 1954, one new drachma coin replaced 1,000 old ones at once. The last drachma was in force until the introduction of the euro in the country. Only in 2001, after the country’s inclusion in the European Economic and Monetary Union, the euro became the national currency of Greece throughout the entire territory. It is this monetary unit that all financial transactions are carried out in the country today. At the time of the transition, the following rate was used: 1 euro was equal to 340.75 drachmas. Despite the transition of Greece to permanent payments in euros, coins today have the right to have Greek symbols.
Those who are planning to travel here for any reason should remember what the currency is in Greece.
Exchange operations
To exchange currency in this country, you will need to present your passport at the exchanger. You can carry out an exchange transaction at any bank branch or at many post offices. Except on weekends (Saturday and Sunday) they are open from 08:00 to 14:30. In big cities, some branches are open to customers until 21:00. The exchange rate in Greece is constantly changing; today the euro costs more than 90 Russian rubles.
In almost every supermarket, hotel or small store, payments can be made using plastic cards, the main thing is that they belong to the following international systems:
- Cirrus/Maestro.
- Mastercard.
- Visa.
If a person is going to visit a cafe or recreation area, it is better to have small denomination bills with him, as problems often arise with issuing change. And banknotes with a denomination of 100 and 200 euros are very often counterfeit. To avoid becoming a victim of scammers in a foreign country, you should behave very carefully, especially with your savings.
Return to national currency
Today there is a difficult political situation in the country; the official currency of Greece is the euro. There is a lot of controversy and debate surrounding it. And many residents and politicians regularly raise the issue of returning the former national currency of Greece. Time will tell how events will develop further. If you have plans to visit this country in the near future, then it is worth keeping an eye on the economic and political situation in Greece.
Rigos Feraios is another figure in the liberation movement for Greek independence from the Ottoman Empire.
The Turks arrested him with the help of the Austrian-Hungarian authorities and strangled him in 1798. His last words were: “I have sown the seeds. The time will come when my country will harvest magnificent fruits.”
All Greek coins of small denominations (5, 2 and 1 lepta) depict ships.
At first glance, the image of the tanker looks strange, since Greece does not produce oil. One might assume that the Greeks export olive oil or wine in such volumes that such a vessel would be appropriate.
In fact, Greece has the largest merchant fleet in the world, with every fifth tanker in the world flying the Greek flag.
The 2 mite coin depicts a ship from the early 19th century. This is a military corvette.
The Greek fleet took an active part in the War of Independence and inflicted several defeats on the Turkish fleet.
The Greeks are proud of their naval victories.
And on the smallest Greek coin in size and denomination, 1 mite, a military trireme of the ancient era is depicted.
This is definitely a trireme, as three rows of oars are clearly visible. For example, this is not visible on the famous bas-relief.
The Greeks are no less proud of the victories of their fleet in ancient times.
In addition to the usual ones, Greece produces many commemorative coins made of silver. Apparently, it has been a tradition since ancient times to mint coins from this precious metal. Several gold commemorative coins have also been issued.
Prices in Greece
You can buy a tour to Greece using the “all inclusive” system and not worry about anything, such tours are quite affordable. But tours with HB meals (breakfast + dinner) are also popular among Russian tourists, and then you will have to buy a lot on the spot.
Prices for food and drinks in Greece are lower than in Italy or Spain.
A snack in a cafe or “fast food outlet” can cost from 4 to 10 euros per person. If you buy food in a supermarket, then food will cost you even less, you can spend 5 euros per lunch.
We talked about prices for souvenirs and gifts from Greece. We talked about alcoholic drinks and gave prices.
Remember an important principle: establishments aimed at tourists = expensive; for local residents = cheap and high quality.
Lunch or dinner in a restaurant will cost you from 25 to 50 euros, depending on the establishment. Prices for excursions range from 25 to 100 euros, it all depends on the distance of the attraction from your resort and the duration of the trip.
How much money to take with you
If you are going on an AI tour (all inclusive), you can only take money with you for excursions at the rate of 50 euros per excursion.
If you are going on a tour using the HB system (breakfast + dinner), then take with you 20-30 euros per person per day for food + money for excursions.
If you are traveling completely on your own, then expect 40-60 euros per person per day for food.
We wish you a good holiday in Greece, and read our articles about this country ( the list below).
