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Is a €1500 in cash enough for 1 week in Greece?

28 replies

PinkPinkPinkBlue · 18/06/2025 14:25

Not been to Greece for a long time but have seen must places only accept cash, apart from big supermarkets and the like which happily take cards.

5 excursions booked and paid for, online food shop booked and paid for, so this is for drinks, lunch, ice creams, petrol, parking and a couple of dinners out. Family of 5 will have debit and credit cards on us so access to more money if needed.

OP posts:
qwerty222 · 18/06/2025 14:36

Whereabouts in greece are you going? I have never had an issue using my card. I've been to quite a few places. I always take all my money on a travel card. I use Wise but whatever works. Whether or not 1500 euro is a healthy amount depends on where you go. In Mykonos maybe not. In Corfu probably.

Wavescrashingonthebeach · 18/06/2025 14:37

As pp said, really depends on Mykonos or Corfu etc! Incidentally, I love Corfu.
Have a lovely time wherever you are going im very jealous!

Sidebeforeself · 18/06/2025 14:56

You’ve been misinformed. Most places happily accept card, unless you ar going to a remote fishing village with only one taverna! Your cash limit sounds a bit tight Im afraid , unless you have small kids and can share meals etc.Its easy to burn through money on holiday!

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unsync · 18/06/2025 15:17

We spent about 50€ pp eating out every night and around 10-15€ pp for breakfast / lunch eaten at rental accommodation. We are not huge drinkers though.

Cash is preferred in smaller places, but everyone had card machines. The only time there was a problem was during a power cut, but we were told we could pay later if we didn't have cash.

Sunseeker83 · 18/06/2025 15:29

I didn’t use cash once in Crete, except for tips for the transfer driver. Most places we went didn’t want it and had card only signs. In any case if you need it and don’t have enough just get some more from an atm.

Fluffypotatoe123987 · 18/06/2025 15:34

200 cash and a chase bank card

Dartmoorcheffy · 18/06/2025 15:36

We found corfu was very expensive but that should be plenty.

Iwantsandybeachesandgoodfood · 18/06/2025 15:40

I think it’s unnecessary to take so much cash. We’ve been to a few places in Greece as a family and the only thing we’ve needed cash for is tips, donations and the occasional taxi. I’d put it on a card; Revolut is great although I’m sure there are others that are similar.

Littlefish · 18/06/2025 15:46

We went to Crete last year and a couple of years ago. I can’t remember ever using cash - we used cards everywhere (bars, shops, restaurants, petrol stations etc)

PinkPinkPinkBlue · 18/06/2025 15:47

Got a travel card attached to bank account so don’t need a chase card or similar.
We are going to Rhodes, all activities have been pre booked and paid for, food shopping for delivery paid for so it’s just day to day spending. Two full day outings including unlimited soft drinks, ice cream and lunch and I’ve already paid for lunch at the water park.

OP posts:
Littlefish · 18/06/2025 15:47

We opened a Monzo card and used it to pay in Euros (you are given the choice).

honeylulu · 18/06/2025 15:47

It sounds like plenty to me. I note excursions and most food are already paid for and you only plan on eating dinner out a couple of times.

Ah just seen you'll have lunches out but if it's a sandwich and a beer rather than fine dining it should still be enough.

PinkPinkPinkBlue · 18/06/2025 15:48

A lot of the taverns by our villa state cash in on their website/trip advisor page but it is a small fishing village we are staying in down the bottom of the island, no where the airport/old town.

OP posts:
Cynic17 · 18/06/2025 15:56

Well, 1) I have no idea how much money you'll need, because it depends on what you want to do, eat etc.
But 2), are you insane? Taking that much money in actual cash is just asking for trouble! What if it's lost or stolen? Just take a small amount of cash and follow tje advice you have been given above.

TheBewleySisters · 18/06/2025 15:58

We budget €50 per day for the two of us for lunch and dinner with wine. Extra for a supermarket shop. Corfu.

Chewbecca · 18/06/2025 15:58

Too much cash IMO. 500 max.

PinkPinkPinkBlue · 18/06/2025 16:00

@Cynic17 no not insane, the information we’ve received from the villa company clearly states that lots of place do not take card. There is also a safe and you know being an adult we have taken additional insurance that covers large amounts of cash. No need for rude unhelpful comments, I was just trying to gage prices in Greece as if the food shopping was anything to by it’s not particularly cheap.

OP posts:
Notellinganyone · 18/06/2025 16:05

Absolutely not! It’s Greece in 2025. We go to Ithaca every year which is a tiny and not very touristy island and everyone takes cards. Plus there are cash points if you need cash.

AndImBrit · 18/06/2025 16:08

Have you checked your nearest cash point? I generally travel with £100-200 of currency and withdraw the rest when we are there, usually coming home with the same amount if it’s euros or dollars, or only withdrawing when we need it for more obscure currencies.

I recently forgot to get currency before going to Romania, so just withdrew about £50 there and spent the rest on card.

PinkPinkPinkBlue · 18/06/2025 16:11

@AndImBrit yes this is the other thing the information says that the ATM is not safe to use and that they 50% fee which is not displayed on the screen. It’s only use the ATM in the Bank of Greece which is located 80KM away.
I can only go off what the villa company is saying.

OP posts:
PhilippaGeorgiou · 18/06/2025 16:17

Notellinganyone · 18/06/2025 16:05

Absolutely not! It’s Greece in 2025. We go to Ithaca every year which is a tiny and not very touristy island and everyone takes cards. Plus there are cash points if you need cash.

Well the OP says they have been informed otherwise by the company, who ought to know what they are talking about. And as someone who regularly travels to Greece it does depend - even in touristy spots internet access / card payments may be complicated in some areas. Card payments in particular are complicated and expensive to the business (or so my Greek friends in business tell me) and so if you are off the beaten track some businesses may have chosen not to go there.

OP, it's hard to gauge prices because they can fluctuate and also vary depending on where you are. I would think you would be ok given what you have said about what you have prepaid. You can cut your cloth on days that aren't already paid up for if necessary. Nobody will fade for lack of an icecream over a week!

MissScarletInTheBallroom · 18/06/2025 16:21

A lot of businesses prefer cash so they can avoid declaring it for tax reasons.

That doesn't mean they can't or won't accept cards.

It is better for your own personal security and for the Greek economy for you to limit your carrying and use of cash.

Sidebeforeself · 18/06/2025 17:08

To be honest your villa company are not painting g a very positive picture! Anyway, I think my earlier comment about it being tight is wrong- I missed that you had most things covered .

KnickerlessParsons · 18/06/2025 17:17

Sidebeforeself · 18/06/2025 14:56

You’ve been misinformed. Most places happily accept card, unless you ar going to a remote fishing village with only one taverna! Your cash limit sounds a bit tight Im afraid , unless you have small kids and can share meals etc.Its easy to burn through money on holiday!

I’m in Corfu now and lots of places only take cash.

Sidebeforeself · 18/06/2025 17:21

KnickerlessParsons · 18/06/2025 17:17

I’m in Corfu now and lots of places only take cash.

That’s really strange .. went to Corfu last year and never used cash!