DIRECTORY A-Z
BUSINESS HOURS
under one roof, and you can
also save money by self-
catering. This option is best
for a stay of more than three
days. In fact, some owners
may insist on a minimum
week’s stay. A good site to
spot prospective villas is
http://www.greekislands.com.
If you’re looking for long-
term accommodation, it’s
worth checking the classifi ed
section of the Athens News
(www.athensnews.gr/
classifi eds) – although most
of the places are in Athens.
For rural areas and islands,
local websites are a good
place to start your search.Business Hours
While opening hours can vary
depending on the season,
day or mood of the proprie-
tor, it is possible to make
some generalisations. It’s
worth noting that while the
government establishes
opening hours for major
sites, at the time of research
these hours were inconsist-
ent across many of the major
sites due to issues with staff -
ing and wages. Always try to
double-check opening hours
before visiting.Customs
There are no longer duty-
free restrictions within
the EU. Upon entering the
country from outside the
EU, customs inspection is
usually cursory for foreign
tourists and a verbal
declaration is usually all
that is required. Random
searches are still occasion-
ally made for drugs. Import
regulations for medicines
are strict; if you are taking
medication, make sure you
get a statement from your
doctor before you leave
home. It is illegal, for
instance, to take codeine
into Greece without an
accompanying doctor’s
certifi cate.
It is strictly forbidden to
export antiquities (anything
over 100 years old) without
an export permit. This
crime is second only to
drug smuggling in the
penalties imposed. It is an
off ence to remove even
the smallest article from
an archaeological site.
The place to apply for
an export permit is the
Antique Dealers and Private
Collections section of theAthens Archaeological
Service (Polygnotou 13, Plaka,
Athens).Vehicles
Cars can be brought
into Greece for six months
without a carnet; only a
green card (international
third-party insurance) is
required. If arriving from
Italy your only proof of
entry into the country will
be your ferry ticket stub,
so don’t lose it. From other
countries, a passport
stamp will be ample
evidence. See also p 782.Discount Cards
Camping Card Interna-
tional (CCI; http://www.camping
cardinternational.com) Gives
up to 25% savings in camp-
ing fees and third-party
liability insurance while in
the campground.
Euro26 (www.euro.26) Avail-
able for anyone up to the
age of 30; provides dis-
counts of up to 20%
at sights, shops and for
some transport. Also
available from travel
agencies in Athens with
proof of age, a photo and
€14. Visit http://www.isic.org and
http://www.euro26.org for more
details.
International Student
Identity Card (ISIC; http://www.
isic.org) Entitles the holder
to half-price admission to
museums and ancient sites,
and discounts at some
budget hotels and hostels.
Available from travel agen-
cies in Athens. Applicants
require documents proving
student status, a passport
photo and €10.
Senior Cards Card-carrying
EU pensioners can claim
a range of benefits such
as reduced admission to
ancient sites and museums,
and discounts on bus and
train fares.STANDARD HOURSReviews in this book do not contain business hours un-
less they diff er from those listed here.BUSINESS OPENING HOURS
Banks 8am-2.30pm Mon-Thu, 8am-2pm Fri
Bars 8pm-late
Cafes 10am-midnight
Clubs 10pm-4am
Post offi ces (rural areas) 7.30am-2pm Mon-Fri; (urban of-
fi ces) 7.30am-8pm Mon-Fri, 7.30am-2pm Sat
Restaurants 11am-3pm & 7pm-1am
Shops 8am-3pm Mon, Wed & Sat; 8am-2.30pm &
5pm-8.30pm Tue, Thu & Fri (in Crete: 9am-2pm
Mon-Sat. On Tue, Thu & Fri shops open again in
the afternoon around 5.30pm & stay open until
8.30pm or 9pm; all day in summer in resorts)