One of the commonest questions first-time visitors to Greece ask is “is it true that you can't flush paper down the toilet?” Unfortunately, in the vast majority of accommodations, cafes, bars, shops and restaurants, the answer is “yes, it is true!”
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The biggest thing is to note is simply this: don't flush toilet paper down the loo. You will find there are bins to the side of the toilet where you can dispose of your tissue instead. The bins tend to have lids and foot pedals and are emptied at least once daily, so it's not as gruesome as it sounds.
Greek sewage pipes are much narrower than US or British pipes, and therefore can't handle paper or any other items as it will easily clog them. This is because the infrastructure and sewerage system are much older.
Additionally, toilet paper can take years to break down and decompose. So, flushing is the more environmentally friendly option. You could try an alternative solution, which may be using recycled toilet paper if you can find a brand that is BPA-free, chlorine-free, 100% recycled, and unbleached.
European toilets use less water (and may have the dual-flush option that lets users choose a lighter flush for liquid waste), and there's less splashback and less noise involved.
Don't. Greek plumbing often consists of dated, narrow pipes which will easily clog if you flush toilet paper down them (and definitely clog if you flush anything else like tampons or baby wipes).
Society and culture. The bidet is common in Catholic countries, especially those influenced by French culture. It is also found in some traditionally Orthodox and Protestant countries such as Greece and Finland respectively, where bidet showers are common.
Restaurant workers in Greece don't expect you to tip, though the restaurant may sometimes charge a service fee. That fee can function as a tip instead, though it may go to the restaurant instead of the server. If you want to see your waiter receive the tip, you're better off leaving coins with the bill.
Is it safe to drink the tap water in Greece? In Athens and most places across mainland Greece, the tap water is perfectly safe to drink. In harbor towns and the Greek Islands, however, it is generally better to drink bottled water, which is readily available and very cheap.
Do You Pay for Public Bathrooms in Greece? Public restrooms in Greece cost money (around 50 cents). Most restrooms are fairly clean, but many of the toilets don't have seats so you'll need to squat over them. To be safe, I recommend carrying around some hand sanitizer in case the bathroom you visit doesn't have soap!
The answer is yes. Tap water in Athens is absolutely safe to drink. This is why we do not have to buy water bottles since all buildings have direct access to drinkable water from the nearby lakes Marathon and Yliki.
The modern bidet seats even have drying options. If you press the 'Dry' button, provided there is one, the air dryer will dry the area. If you are using the traditional bidet, you can dry using toilet paper or a towel. In most public toilets with bidets, towels are provided on a ring next to it.