Page 305 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Greek Islands

including in restaurants, bars and cafés; locals There are three major local providers: Cosmote
often ignore this law. Smoking in outdoor areas (with the widest coverage), Wind and Vodafone.
such as café terraces is permitted. Greek police If on Corfu (opposite Albania), or any Northeast
will not tolerate rowdy or indecent behaviour, Aegean or Dodecanese island (opposite Turkey),
especially when fuelled by excessive alcohol make sure that your phone does not use the
consumption; Greek courts impose heavy fines non-EU network.
or even prison sentences on people who behave All hotels and most domátia (rooms) or
indecently. Possession of narcotics is prohibited apartments have Wi-Fi signal. Often it’s free;
and could result in a prison sentence. otherwise, ascertain charges. Most tavernas,
bars or cafés have password-protected Wi-Fi.
ID
Post
Both locals and foreigners are required to
have identification (either a national ID card Greece’s postal service ELTA (Elliniká Tahydromía)
or passport) on them at all times. has full-service branches (open 7:30am–2pm
Monday–Friday) on almost every island. Post
LGBT+ Safety boxes are bright yellow (ordinary) or red
(express), but collection frequencies are obscure.
Homosexuality is legal and widely accepted in ELTA
Greece. Skála Eresoú on Lésvos is a famous ∑ elta.gr
lesbian resort, while there are recognized gay
scenes and beaches, most notably on Mýkonos, Taxes and Refunds
Ýdra, Rhodes and Sámos. However, smaller
towns and rural areas are often more traditional Usually included in the price, the top rate of FPA
in their views, and overt displays of affection (Fóros Prostitheménis Axías) – the equivalent
may receive a negative response from locals. of VAT or sales tax – is 24 per cent in Greece,
though taverna meals are assessed at 17 per
Local Customs cent. Visitors from outside the EU staying fewer
than three months may claim this money back
Afternoon mikró ýpno (“little sleep”) is on purchases over €120. A Tax-Free form must
sacrosanct and enforced by law: no noise is be completed in the store, a copy of which is
allowed between 3–5:30pm, and phone calls then given to the customs authorities on
made during these hours are frowned upon. departure, along with proof of purchase.
Topless sunbathing is tolerated except in front
of “family” tavernas, but nudity is restricted. WEBSITES AND APPS
Visiting Churches or Mosques Urban Rail Transport
Find travel times across metro, tramway
Modest attire (shoulders and above-the-knees and railway in Athens at www.stasy.gr.
covered for men and women) is required at Meteo
churches, monasteries and (on Rhodes only) A great website for weather forecasts
functioning mosques. Many monasteries have across Greece, found at www.meteo.gr.
“modesty” wraps available for free at the door. Greece Is
Photography inside is often forbidden. For general information about the Greek
Islands visit www.greece-is.com.
Mobile Phones and Wi-Fi Odysseus
The official culture ministry site,
Visitors travelling to the Greek Islands with EU covering archaeological sites,
tariffs will be able to use their devices without monuments and state-run museums
being affected by data roaming charges; instead with opening times and information,
they will be charged the same rates for data, is found at odysseus.culture.gr.
SMS and voice calls as they would pay at home.

305

298-305_EW_Greek_Islands.indd 305 28/11/2018 13:51