From the ancient sites of Athens to the beautiful islands of Mykonos and Santorini, you’ll find fun and culture around every corner in Greece.
If you’re travelling to Greece soon, it’s important to be up to date on all things related to Greek currency. Here we look at the currency of Greece and provide some some helpful information on how much things are likely to cost while you’re on holiday.
The currency in Greece is the euro . Greece was one of 12 EU countries that adopted the euro in January 2002. Today, it’s one of 20 countries that use the euro. During your trip to Greece, you’ll see euro notes and cent coins (100 cents make a euro).
Before Greece adopted the euro, the currency of Greece was the drachma. The coins were some of the earliest ever used in the world, being in wide circulation right the way back in the 6th century. A new currency (the phoenix) was brought in back in 1828 when Greece gained independence from the Ottoman Empire, but the drachma was back four years later in 1932 [1].
No, you can’t pay in pounds in Greece. The currency in Greece is the euro and you can only pay in euros.
The cost of living in Greece is around 50% lower than it is in the UK[2]. This means that you should find things cheaper on your holiday to Greece than you do at home. Just remember, that some tourist areas can be more expensive than more local spots. Mykonos and Santorini are known as two of the most expensive Greek islands.
A three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant will set you back around €50 on average, whilst a cheaper meal at a local taverna will be around €15 – a fantastic way to try authentic Greek cuisine.
You’ll also be able to pick up common street food dishes in Greece for a few euros too, such as souvlaki, gyros and bougatsa.
You might be a little surprised at the cost of alcohol in Greece. For example, a local beer (0.5 litre draught) will set you back €4.50 on average. This will usually be a Mythos. And a 33ml bottle of imported beer will be around €5. If you’re on holiday in Mykonos and fancy a cocktail, average prices start at around €15[3], but some bars are famed for their high prices[4].
For a coffee in Greece, on average you’ll pay €3.50. A Coke will set you back €2, with a 33ml bottle of water just 50 cents.
If you’re in Athens and want to see some of the top attractions like the Acropolis and the Parthenon, you can expect to pay around €20 for adults in the high season from April to October.
From November to March, it’s just €10 for adults. Kids under 18 are free. If you’re lucky enough to be in Athens on days like International Monument Day (18th April) and International Museum Day (18th May), entry is free[5].
Entrance to the National Archaeological Museum is €12 during high season and €6 during low season, whilst the Ancient Agora and Museum is €10 for high season and €5 for low[6].
This depends on where you are and the type of transport. A one-way ticket on a local bus, on average will cost around €1.20, whilst a taxi has a starting fare of €4 with a cost of €1 for every kilometre. If you’re island hopping, ferry prices can range from €10 to €150 depending on the season and the distance[7].
If you find a better exchange rate within 5 miles of one of our travel money bureaux, we’ll beat it with our Price Promise.
Stop by our travel money bureau and we’ll buy back your unused travel money. Even if you didn’t buy your travel currency from us, we’ll exchange it back commission free.
Order your travel money online and collect at your local travel money bureau for free, whilst you do your weekly shop! Minimum order £100.
Exchange rates continually change, so the exact rate you get depends on when you buy your currency. At the moment, you’ll get around 1.17* Euros in exchange for a pound.
*Rates taken from Asda foreign exchange calculator. At time of publishing – March 2025.
How much you pay when you exchange money depends on the exchange rate you’re offered and the fees you have to pay. In most cases, you’ll get a more competitive exchange rate in the UK before you travel.
At Asda Travel Money, we’ll also beat the exchange rate of any competitors within five miles with our Price Promise. Plus, if you exchange money before you travel you don’t need to spend any time on your holiday searching for a currency exchange.
You can buy euros with us at Asda Travel Money. Simply walk into one of our many Asda Travel Money bureaux and buy your euros, subject to availability.
Or you can order euros online and Click & Collect to grab your currency the next time you’re doing your weekly shop.
Home delivery is available too, with free next day delivery on orders over £500 (if purchased by 2pm, Monday to Thursday).
Cash is accepted everywhere in Greece, and you’ll find that most bars, restaurants and shops allow you to pay contactless with your debit or credit card. If you’re in the market or grabbing some street food, cash is king as many vendors won’t have the technology to accept card payments. You’ll also find ATMs all over Greece that you can use.
Just remember that if you pay on your card, you’ll likely have to pay a foreign transaction fee. And if you use the ATM, you may have to pay both a foreign transaction fee and a cash advance fee.
If you want to limit the amount of cash you carry on you and don’t want to pay the card fees, you might want to consider the Asda Travel Money Card. Pre-load euros to the card at home or when you’re away and pay contactless or withdraw cash from the ATM without the fees.
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Yes, Greece has been using the euro since January 2002. If you want to take the right currency to Greece with you for your trip, you’ll need to exchange euros.
It’s up to you where you buy your euros, but you may find more competitive rates if you exchange your money before you travel. With Asda Travel Money, you can buy euros before you travel online or in-store. We’ll deliver them to you, or you can choose Click & Collect. Plus, at your travel money bureaux, we’ll beat the exchange rate of any competitor within five miles with our Price Promise.
Cash is one of the best ways to pay in Greece, as you’ll be sure that your money will be accepted everywhere you go. If you’re relying on paying on your debit or credit card, you may be charged a foreign transaction fee every time you do.
If you’re eating out at a restaurant in Greece, tipping is expected. The norm is around 10-15%[8] of the bill like at home in the UK. If you book a tour whilst you’re on holiday in Greece, it’s often customary to tip your tour guide - €5 to €10 Euros should be enough.
This depends on what you’re doing and where you’re staying in Greece. You might find that Athens and popular islands like Santorini are more expensive than smaller non-tourist towns and villages.
[2] numbeo.com
[3] travelswithmissy.com
[4] independent.co.uk
[5] livethegreeklife.com
[6] livethegreeklife.com
[7] ferryhopper.com
[8] santorinisecrets.com
The Asda Rewards price for Asda Travel Money will be preferential compared to the standard rate advertised at your chosen place of purchase (being either online via https://money.asda.com/travel/travel-money/ (Website) or in-store at an Asda Travel Money bureau) on the date of purchase. Asda Rewards prices are only available on the sell rates of currencies in stock on the date of your purchase. When purchasing online, you must enter a valid Asda Rewards number found in the Asda Rewards App or Website to obtain the Asda Rewards price rate. When purchasing in-store, you must show the Asda Rewards barcode found in the app. Asda Rewards pricing available for Asda Travel Money purchases only offers you a more preferential exchange rate, you will not receive or be entitled to any Asda Rewards on your purchase. We reserve the right to withdraw this offer at any time and without prior notice.
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