No vaccinations are required and tap water is safe on the mainland. EU citizens are covered by EHIC in state hospitals, but the public system is stretched in summer, so foreign patients are usually better served at a private hospital.
- No vaccinations are required, though mosquito repellent is worth using in summer - West Nile virus circulates in northern Greece most years.
- Tap water is safe on the mainland including Athens and Thessaloniki. On Santorini, Mykonos and the smaller Cyclades the supply is desalinated or brackish - fine for washing, buy bottled to drink.
- EU citizens with an EHIC get necessary treatment in state hospitals on the same terms as residents.
- Foreign patients are usually better served at a private hospital - Hygeia, Metropolitan and Athens Euroclinic in Athens - because the public system runs hot in high season.
- Pharmacies show the out-of-hours duty rota in the window, and the on-call list is also available on 14944.
Health, insurance and where to be treated
- Vaccinations: None required for entry. In summer, use mosquito repellent - West Nile virus circulates in northern Greece most years.
- Tap water: Safe on the mainland, including Athens and Thessaloniki. On many islands - Santorini, Mykonos and the smaller Cyclades - supply is desalinated or brackish: fine for washing, but buy bottled water to drink.
- Pharmacies: Marked with a green cross (farmakeio). Out of hours a duty rota operates; the on-call list is posted in the window and available on 14944.
- EU citizens: A European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) entitles you to necessary treatment in state hospitals on the same terms as residents.
- Private hospitals used by foreign patients:
- Athens: Hygeia Hospital, Erythrou Stavrou 4, Marousi, +30 210 686 7000; Metropolitan Hospital, Ethnarchou Makariou 9, Neo Faliro, +30 210 480 9000; Athens Euroclinic, Athanasiadou 9, +30 210 641 6600.
- Thessaloniki: European Interbalkan Medical Center, Asklipiou 10, Pylaia, +30 231 040 0000.
- Travel insurance: Compulsory for Schengen visa applicants with a minimum of EUR 30,000 of medical cover, and strongly advised for everyone else - the public system runs hot in high season and the islands often mean an air transfer to Athens.
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