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If you’re thinking about living in Athens or in one of the islands, getting ready for moving to Greece will be high on your priority list. An experienced removals company can make any move much more straightforward and provide expert advice on what you need to do. This guide provides an overview of the essential info you will need.
Greece is in southern Europe and enjoys a warm and sunny climate with 10,000 miles of coastline. It also has 1400 islands dotted around in the sea, of which 169 are inhabited.
Recent times have been rocky in the cradle of democracy, with the nation suffering economic turbulence as a result of the recession. Despite the rumours, the country retained the Euro as its currency and remained within the EU. It has clawed its way back up from the financial precipice. There is still much to do, but it is now rebuilding many industries to bolster its burgeoning economy.
Even throughout the turbulence, Greece remained a safe place to live. It maintains a welcoming attitude towards expats and foreigners.
The official language in Greece is Greek. Do not rely on your holidays’ experience in the country; not everyone will speak your language.
In tourist areas, it’s common for people to speak English and other foreign languages but this isn’t the case universally. If you’re hoping to live and work in Greece, it can be a real asset to learn the local lingo.
The jobs opened to non-Greek speakers tend to be much lower paid, and more menial. Knowledge of Greek will help even for situations arising from foreign companies opening a Greek office.
All the official paperwork and signage will be in Greek and even some cashpoints are in Greek only. Therefore, if you only speak English, or another foreign tongue, your interactions will be far more limited and it will be difficult to manage everything without some help.
Although it may be daunting, once you’ve conquered the alphabet, you’ll be well on your way. Greek is not a hard language to learn; and as it’s phonetic with precise grammatical rules, it isn’t as difficult as you might expect.
Greece introduced its national health service to the country in 1983. While it is possible to qualify for free or subsided health treatment, it’s highly advisable to take out private cover.
The economic turmoil has had a dramatic effect on government spending. It slashed the money spent on the health system. This has created a severe problem of underfunding with insufficient doctors or resources, creating a crisis in the system.
Although the general standard of hospitals and staff training is excellent, the lack of money has had an impact. City hospitals are often crowded and overrun with patients, and in more rural areas, services are often non-existent. For this reason, anyone considering living or working in Greece should consider private healthcare.
The number for emergencies in Greece is the pan-European access code of 112.
Driving is a favourite way to get around in Greece, but you’ll need to familiarise yourself with the regulations that apply. Road users drive on the right-hand side, and failure to follow the correct road procedures can result in hefty fines or even prison.
There are parts of Greece where you cannot drive a diesel-powered vehicle. On the other hand, petrol stations outside Athens may be scarce and close early.
You should also be aware that another car flashing its headlights is not an indication that they are letting you go; Instead, it is a warning sign that drivers use to tell others to get out of their way, so take heed if you spot this aimed at you!
Greece has both mainline and metro trains which cover most of the mainland. Although there are some express, long-distance and high-speed trains, in general trains are not the quickest or most convenient way to travel around the country.
Athens has a tram system which opens from 5 am and runs right through until the early hours. They have a limited reach but are a handy way of getting around the city.
Buses are the most popular form of public transport, and the cheapest. All the main towns connect to Athens, and even remote villages operate a somewhat infrequent bus service. Buses, in general, are safe, modern and feature conveniences such as air conditioning.
As part of the EU, it is straightforward for EU nationals to move to Greece; Regardless of the intended duration of stay, they do not need a visa. The only documentation they need to present on entry is either their passport or their identity card.
The same rules for EU members also apply to nationals from Lichtenstein, Norway, Iceland and Switzerland. Unlike in some other EU states, visitors from other countries such as the US, Canada and Australia do not receive any advantage and will need to apply for a visa just like everyone else.
EU members planning on staying longer than 90 days will need to register at the Department of Aliens bureau, typically found in the local police station. Failure to do this could hypothetically result in a fine, but in reality, this is rarely, if ever, pursued. Nevertheless, it is wise to follow the correct procedure.
Greece is a very accessible place and a route that is well-travelled by European moving companies. They can provide some useful experience in helping you to prepare for the transition to your new country.
Although the primary road network in Greece is well looked after, some of the roads outside the cities are narrow and winding. Using a reliable international transport company will, therefore, ensure that all your belongings get there in one piece.
Whether you choose our Load & Go or our EasyMoves solution, European Moving can help you with your removal. We shall be able to help you with the full list of restrictions that apply to removals to Greece and also provide advice on a whole range of removal issues you may not have encountered before.