Should I use cash or card in Santorini?

It is important to always have some cash money when traveling to Greece and the Greek Islands. Although most hotels, restaurants and tourist shops in Greece accept credit cards, you might encounter few studios or small shops in less-touristic islands that ask for cash.



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Most shops and restaurants on Santorini accept credit cards, but it is a good idea to have some cash on hand for small purchases like bottled water and snacks. ATMs are easy to find in all of Santorini's main towns. Most restaurants in Santorini, like Marinera in Fira, accept credit cards.

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Cash is preferred in Greece, even though businesses are now required to accept cards. Unofficially, you may come across a lot of establishments that offer you a discount if you pay in cash. This is generally because they will try not to declare it for tax purposes.

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There are no limits to how much cash you can bring into Greece, but if it's €10,000 or more (or the equivalent in a foreign currency), you're required to declare it at customs.

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Theoretically, taxis in Santorini accept payments in cash but also via bank cards (debit or credit cards). Nevertheless, since taxis aren't obliged, for the moment, to have an electronic POS, the great bulk of the island's taxis don't allow card payments. Therefore, you should always carry some cash with you.

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The best way to get around Santorini is on foot or by bus. You'll see that it's easy to walk around the tiny seaside towns, but the bus is best to get from one town to another. There are KTEL bus routes from Fira (the capital city) to many different destinations around the main island.

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Technically, Santorini's tap water is safe to drink. However, it's also brackish, and the water supply system itself isn't always reliable. Single-use water bottles are popular in Santorini, but terrible for the environment.

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No, in Santorini you cannot flush toilet paper down the toilet bowl. As with most places in Greece, toilet paper cannot be flushed down the toilet. You should place the used toilet paper into a special trash bin located next to it. The hosts or hotel staff empty the bin every day and put a new bag in it.

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European travelers should always have some cash on hand; getting it from an ATM abroad is usually the easiest, most advantageous way. If you need cash from an ATM, it's usually better to use a debit card, because credit cards often charge a high interest rate for a cash advance.

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Advantages of using cash
If your spending discipline breaks down when you use credit cards, cash may be a better choice while you let loose on vacation. No foreign transaction fees: Many credit cards charge an extra fee of up to 3% on purchases made outside the country, although you can find cards that don't.

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Fees for using ATMs in Greece This can be between €2-€3.50. It is better to withdraw a couple of hundred euros at once so that you don't have to keep incurring more charges. Additionally, your bank may charge you foreign transaction fees for using your card overseas.

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Fees for using ATMs in Greece Some ATMs may charge foreign cardholders an administrative fee for using their machine. This can be between €2-€3.50. It is better to withdraw a couple of hundred euros at once so that you don't have to keep incurring more charges.

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Despite problems in the Greek economy, it's still on the expensive side to travel to Greece. Budget travelers should plan on $50 a day, while mid-range to luxury travelers can expect to pay between $150 to $350 a day, or higher if you plan to visit more than one of its 200 islands. All prices are in US dollars.

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When planning your Santorini vacation and figuring out the transportation logistics, you might wonder if there is Uber on the island. Well, if Uber is your preferred mode of transportation, then you're in luck! Uber does currently operate on the iconic Cycladic island.

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The quickest way to get from Fira to Oia (Station) is to taxi which costs €35 - €50 and takes 12 min.

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Taxi drivers will expect you to round up the bill or add about 10 per cent to the fare, while bar staff and luggage porters will appreciate some coins to say thanks – a euro is plenty. Your local leader may discuss the idea of running a group tipping kitty on the first day of your trip.

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