While the exact amount of cash you should bring to Athens depends on your personal spending habits and planned activities, a good starting point for a week-long trip is around £500 (approximately €585 EUR) per person. This figure serves as an average guideline for spending money, covering a variety of potential expenses.
Factors Influencing Your Cash Needs
Your specific cash requirements will vary based on several key factors:
- Board Basis: If your accommodation in Athens includes meals (e.g., half-board or full-board), you'll naturally need less cash for food. Guests staying in self-catering apartments or on a bed-and-breakfast basis will likely require more cash for daily dining.
- Planned Activities: Consider what you intend to do. Are you planning many paid tours, museum entries, or specific experiences? While many major attractions accept card payments, small local vendors or independent guides might prefer cash.
- Shopping Habits: If you anticipate buying many souvenirs, local crafts, or shopping at markets, cash is often the preferred method of payment for these types of purchases.
- Personal Spending Style: Do you gravitate towards higher-end restaurants and boutiques, or do you prefer exploring local tavernas, street food, and budget-friendly options? Your lifestyle choices significantly impact how much you spend.
Cash vs. Card: A Balanced Approach
Athens is a modern European capital, and you'll find that credit and debit cards are widely accepted. Most hotels, larger restaurants, major shops, and popular attractions readily accept card payments. However, having a mix of cash and cards is the most practical strategy for your trip.
Cash remains essential or highly convenient for certain situations:
- Smaller Purchases: Think coffee, snacks from street vendors, bakery items, or quick purchases from small, independent shops.
- Tipping: While not strictly mandatory in Greece, tipping for good service is appreciated, especially in cash for waiters, taxi drivers, or tour guides.
- Local Markets: For fresh produce, unique handmade items, or bargains at a laiki agora (farmers' market), cash is almost always required.
- Taxi Fares: While some taxis accept cards, cash is often preferred, particularly for shorter rides within the city.
- Emergency Fund: It's always a good idea to have some physical cash on hand for unexpected situations or places where card machines might be temporarily out of order.
Smart Money Tips for Athens
To manage your travel money effectively in Athens, consider these practical tips:
- Don't Over-Carry: While it's wise to have cash, avoid carrying very large sums on your person. Utilize your hotel safe for excess cash and valuable documents.
- Utilize ATMs: ATMs are widely available throughout Athens, making it easy to withdraw more cash if needed. Be mindful of potential withdrawal fees from both your home bank and the local ATM operator. Check if your bank has partnerships that reduce fees.
- Notify Your Bank: Inform your bank of your travel dates to Greece to prevent your card from being flagged for suspicious activity and temporarily blocked.
- Have Backup Options: Always travel with at least two different payment methods. This could mean two different credit/debit cards, or one card combined with enough cash to cover a few days' expenses in case one method fails or is lost.
- Carry Small Denominations: It's helpful to have smaller euro notes (€5, €10, €20) for everyday transactions, as larger notes might be difficult to break at small vendors.
By understanding your spending habits and planning for various situations, you can effectively determine the optimal amount of cash to bring for your trip to Athens, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable experience.
