Local Laws

CRIMINAL PENALTIES: While you are traveling in Greece, you are subject to its laws.  Foreign laws and legal systems can be vastly different from our own.  If you break local laws in Greece, your U.S. passport won’t help you avoid arrest or prosecution.  Penalties for breaking the law can be more severe than in the United States for similar offenses.  Persons violating Greek laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned.  

Penalties for possessing, using, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Greece are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines.

In Greece, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs could land you immediately in jail.

Mace or pepper-spray canisters, though legal in the United States, are illegal in Greece. Such items will be confiscated and may result in detention and arrest.

You should note that in Greece, you may be taken in for questioning by the police if you don’t have your passport with you.

There are also some things that might be legal in the country you visit, but still illegal in the United States.  You can be prosecuted in the United States for engaging in sexual conduct with children or for using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country regardless of the legality of these activities under that country’s laws.  Counterfeit and pirated goods are illegal in the United States and if you purchase them in a foreign country, you may be breaking local law as well.  In Greece, there are criminal provisions for child pornography, exploitation of minors, and counterfeit/pirated goods.

Arrest notifications in Greece: While some countries will automatically notify the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate if a U.S. citizen is detained or arrested in that country, others may not.  To ensure that the United States is aware of your circumstances, request that the police and prison officials notify the U.S. Embassy in Athens as soon as you are arrested or detained in Greece.

SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES:  

Export of Antiquities: Greek customs authorities have strict regulations concerning the export from Greece of antiquities, including rocks from archaeological sites. Penalties range from large fines to prison terms. Most stores are careful to identify their items as lawful reproductions, however, you should ensure that you are not purchasing a restricted antiquity and ensure that you get a receipt for any item that you buy.

Banking: Visitors to Greece should be aware that Greece is experiencing significant banking disruptions. While Greek bank accounts are limited to capital controls on withdrawals, the Government of Greece has exempted international ATM cards from these limitations; visitors using international bank cards should be able to use ATMs provided there is‎ an adequate supply of currency. There are reports of some ATMs running out of cash to dispense. Many businesses do not accept credit cards; even if a restaurant or business advertises it accepts credit cards, you should confirm it does before ordering or engaging services.  Make sure you have more than one means of payment with you (cash, debit cards, credit cards), and make sure you have enough cash to cover emergencies and any unexpected delays.

Dual Nationals:  In addition to being subject to all Greek laws affecting U.S. citizens, dual nationals may also be subject to other laws that impose special obligations on Greek citizens. Greek males between the ages of 19 and 45 are required to perform military service; this applies to any individual whom the Greek authorities consider to be a Greek citizen, regardless of whether the individual considers himself Greek, has a foreign citizenship and passport, or was born or lives outside of Greece. If remaining in Greece for more than the 90-day period permitted for tourism or business, men of Greek descent may be prevented from leaving Greece until they complete their military obligations. Generally, obligatory, non-voluntary military service in Greece will not affect U.S. citizenship. Specific questions on this subject should be addressed to the citizenship section of the U.S. Embassy in Athens. For additional information, see our information on Citizenship and Nationality.  For additional information regarding military service requirements, contact the Greek Embassy or nearest Greek Consulate.

Limits on Photography: The Government of Greece does not permit the photographing of military installations; violators are subject to arrest. 

Public Transportation Fare Compliance: If you plan to use public transportation, be sure to buy the appropriate ticket and to validate it correctly (service to the airport is more expensive than other bus and Metro services) and that ticket inspectors circulate among passengers on trains and buses and in stations to assure compliance with ticketing regulations. Currently, the fine for passengers without tickets or with the wrong ticket is 60 times the basic fare. If the fine is paid on the spot or within 10 days of the issuance of the ticket, the amount paid may be reduced to 50 percent.

Disaster Preparedness: Greece often experiences forest fires during the dry summer months. Travelers should be aware of the risk of fires, taking care not to spark one inadvertently through carelessness.

Greece experiences frequent seismic activity; tremors are common and serious earthquakes have occurred. The Government of Greece has produced an earthquake-safety pamphlet for tourists and visitors. Detailed information on Greece's earthquake fault lines is available from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).

Disaster preparedness information and specific suggestions to help mitigate the impact of wildfires and earthquakes is available from the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). In any natural disaster, follow the instructions of local authorities. The General Secretariat for Civil Protection, which responds to emergencies, may be reached at 210-3359900.  The operators speak English.

WOMEN TRAVELER INFORMATION:  If you are a woman traveling abroad, please review our travel tips for Women Travelers.

LGBT RIGHTS: Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals in Greece are protected by anti-discrimination laws and gender identity is among the grounds covered by laws against hate speech.  There are no legal or governmental impediments to the organization of LGBT events.  At the same time, non-government organizations report that social discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity is widespread in Greece. For more detailed information about LGBT rights in Greece you may review the State Department’s annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices.  For further information on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) travel, please read our LGBT Travel Information page.

ACCESSIBILITY: While in Greece, individuals with disabilities will find accessibility and accommodation very different from what you find in the United States. While Greek law prohibits discrimination against persons with physical and intellectual disabilities in employment, education, access to health care, or the provision of other government services, in practice, enforcement of these provisions is uneven. The law mandates access to buildings for persons with disabilities and special ramps for the sidewalks and means of public transportation; however, enforcement is inconsistent and is a work in progress. While handicapped parking spaces and sidewalk ramps exist or are being constructed throughout the country, they are often occupied or blocked by parked vehicles, thus hindering accessibility for disabled persons.

While many sidewalks in downtown Athens have detectable warning and way-finding systems of bumps and lines for visually impaired travelers and a few traffic lights are equipped with audible crosswalk signals, the general condition of the sidewalks in Greece can be problematic. They are very narrow in places and there are often broken paving stones, large holes, and poorly-positioned signs. A small but growing percentage of public buildings are fully accessible to persons with physical disabilities, with the majority in Athens. Many buildings with special ramps might not have accessible elevators or lavatories. You should ask your hotel before booking. The Athens Metro and Athens International Airport are fully accessible and have ramps and elevators installed.

The Deputy Ombudsman for Social Welfare handles complaints related to persons with disabilities, especially those related to employment, social security, and transportation