Common money scams in Greece, and what they cost you

Between Athens International Airport (ATH) and central Athens, a regulated flat fare applies rather than the meter: as of 2026 that is 40 euros between 05:00 and midnight and 55 euros from midnight to 05:00, covering tolls and normal luggage. It is set by law, it does not change with traffic or route, and the way to invoke it is simply to say flat rate before you set off. Destinations beyond the central zone are metered, so if your hotel is out in the suburbs or on the coast, expect the meter instead.

Use the official rank outside arrivals and the yellow licensed taxis, not an offer made to you in the terminal. Two useful alternatives: Metro Line 3 runs from the airport to Syntagma for a fraction of the fare, and the X95 express bus runs around the clock, which matters for a late arrival when the night fare applies. If you prefer an app, Uber, FREE NOW and Bolt in Greece dispatch licensed yellow taxis on the regulated meter rather than private drivers, which gives you a record of the trip. See also taxis and apps in Greece.

Greek taxi meters run two tariff bands: the lower one for daytime trips inside the city, and a higher one for overnight hours and journeys outside the urban zone. The classic overcharge is a driver setting the meter to the higher band during a normal daytime city trip, which roughly doubles the rate for the same ride. You do not need to know the per-kilometer figures to catch it: glance at the tariff number on the meter at the start, and ask if it looks like the higher one.

The rest of the picture is ordinary and mostly honest: legitimate surcharges exist for a phone booking, for the airport and ports, and for large luggage, and they should be small and explainable. Ask for a receipt, which drivers are required to give. Sharing a cab with strangers is normal practice in Athens and is not itself a trick, though each passenger pays their own fare. Tipping is a matter of rounding up, not a percentage.

The most expensive setup in central Athens is social. A personable stranger strikes up a conversation near Syntagma, Plaka or Monastiraki and suggests a drink at a place he knows; inside, drinks and company arrive unasked, prices bear no relation to any menu, and the bill runs to hundreds of euros with staff making it awkward to leave. It tends to target solo travelers. The defence is simply to choose your own bar and be politely wary of a new acquaintance steering you to a specific venue. If you are landed with a wildly wrong bill, you can involve the tourist police rather than paying quietly.

Two smaller leaks. In restaurants, especially on the tourist strips, watch for bread, water or dips arriving unasked and appearing on the bill, and for fish priced by the kilo where the weight is never shown to you: ask what a by-weight dish will cost before agreeing. On the islands, cash machines are often standalone kiosks rather than bank ATMs, charging their own fee and pushing the offer to convert to dollars hardest, so use a bank machine where you can, take a larger amount less often, and always choose euros. This guide is written for US travelers departing the US. For more, see cash or card in Greece, tipping in Greece, and the Greece money guide.

Common questions

Quick answers.

More on Greece

The little money things nobody warns you about.

• Do I need cash in Greece, or can I use cards?Short answer: cards work in the cities and big resorts, but carry euro cash for tavernas, kiosks and the smaller islands. Here is how to handle it.
• Tipping in GreeceGreece has a modest tipping culture. Staff earn a wage, tips are appreciated rather than expected, and there is no US-style percentage. Here is what you actually owe, and when to check the bill first.
• Taxis in Greece, and the Athens airport flat fareGreek taxis are cheap and useful, but a few meter games target visitors, especially at the port and on the islands. Here is which app to install, the airport fare fixed by law, and how to keep the meter honest.
• Bringing your dog or cat to Greece.Greece runs on the single EU pet-entry process for a US-origin dog or cat: microchip, rabies in the right order, and an EU health certificate on a 10-day clock. No quarantine, no rabies titer. Here is what that means for Greece, and the local parts worth knowing.