Special purchases include lace, jewelry, metalwork, pottery, garments and knitwear, furs, rugs, leather goods, local wines and spirits. Athens is the center for luxury goods and local handicrafts. The Sunday morning flea market in Monastiraki, below the Acropolis, is crowded in high season. Regional specialties include silver from Ioannina, ceramics from Sifnos and Skopelos, embroidery and lace from Crete, the Ionian Islands, Rhodes and Skiros, fur from Kastoria, alabaster from Crete and
flokati rugs from the Epirus region.
Shopping hours These vary according
to the season, location and type of shop, but a rough guide follows: Mon, Wed, and Sat 0900-1430, Tues, Thurs and Fri 0900-1430 and 1730-2030. Most holiday resort shops stay open late in the evening.
Note: (a) Visitors should be aware that many ‘antiques’ sold to tourists are fake; it is illegal to export any item of real antiquity without a special permit from the Export Department of the Ministry of Culture. (b) Non-EU citizens can get a refund on Greek VAT (4% on books and 18% on nearly everything else); the process is fairly complex, but well worth it. Non-EU visitors may buy goods from certain shops bearing the sign ‘Member of the Tax-Free Club’ and have the VAT refunded, in cash, at special refund points at the airport. Ask store owners and tourist information offices for details.
Currency Information:CurrencyEuro (EUR; symbol €) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of €500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5. Coins are in denominations of €2, 1 and 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 cents.
Currency ExchangeForeign currency can be exchanged at all banks, savings banks and bureaux de change. Exchange rates can fluctuate from one bank to another. Many UK banks offer differing exchange rates depending on the denominations of currency being bought or sold. Check with banks for details and current rates.
Credit/Debit Cards and ATMsAmerican Express, Diners Club, MasterCard, Visa and other major credit cards are widely accepted (although less so in petrol stations).
Traveller's ChequesAll 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 €0.15 and a maximum of €13.21 on the encashment of traveller’s cheques. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travelers are advised to take traveller’s cheques in Euros, Pounds Sterling or US Dollars.
Banking HoursMon-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 Organization bureau in Athens can give full details.
Exchange Rate Indicators| Date | Apr 07 |
| £1.00= | €1.48 |
| $1.00= | €0.75 |
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