Greece has a national public health system, public hospitals and health centres, the EOPYY insurance network, private doctors and private clinics. Access and capacity vary by location. Athens and Thessaloniki offer broad specialist services; islands and mountain regions may rely on smaller facilities and transfer to a larger centre.
This guide is practical information, not medical advice. In a life-threatening or rapidly worsening situation, call 112 or 166.
European Health Insurance Card in Greece
Eligible visitors should carry a valid EHIC plus ID. According to the European Commission’s Greece-specific guidance, a traveller who becomes ill or has an accident can consult the public system—health centres or ESY hospital outpatient services—or an EOPYY-contracted private doctor under the applicable conditions.
Contracted private doctors may have a monthly limit on free consultations, so confirm availability for EHIC patients before the appointment. Non-contracted private doctors and private facilities can require full private payment. Without the EHIC, a public outpatient consultation and tests may be charged; rules and amounts can change.
The EHIC covers medically necessary care that cannot reasonably wait until return, based on the clinician’s assessment and length of stay. It does not cover planned treatment, private care automatically, mountain rescue or repatriation.
Visitors without an EHIC
Carry comprehensive travel insurance and understand its assistance process. A private clinic may ask for payment or a guarantee before non-emergency treatment. Keep all invoices, reports, prescriptions and receipts. Your insurer may direct you to a specific provider, but urgent care should never be delayed when immediate treatment is necessary.
When to call an ambulance
Call 112 or 166 for severe breathing difficulty, chest pain, signs of stroke, major trauma, serious allergic reaction, uncontrolled bleeding, loss of consciousness, seizure, poisoning, severe burns or another potentially life-threatening condition. Describe the location precisely and mention access constraints, such as a pedestrian old town, mountain road or monastery steps.
Do not drive a critically ill person long distances simply because a private clinic appears on a map. Follow emergency-service guidance.
Public hospital, health centre or private doctor?
Public hospital or health centre
Appropriate for emergencies, significant illness and EHIC-based public care. Waiting time depends on urgency and demand. Bring identification, EHIC or insurance information and a medication list.
EOPYY-contracted private doctor
Can be useful for non-emergency consultation, but confirm the contract, EHIC acceptance and monthly availability before attending.
Private clinic or doctor
May offer faster access or language convenience, but fees can be substantial and direct insurance billing is not guaranteed. Obtain insurer authorisation where the policy requires it.
Pharmacies and medicines
Pharmacies are common and identified by a green cross. They provide professional advice for minor conditions and can direct travellers to medical care. Outside usual hours, duty pharmacies operate on a rotation displayed locally and online through regional pharmacy associations.
Bring enough regular medicine for the trip plus a reasonable delay margin. Keep it in original labelled packaging in hand luggage. Carry the generic name, dose and prescriber letter, especially for controlled or injectable medicines. Do not assume an identical brand or formulation exists in Greece.
For medicines requiring refrigeration, confirm storage through the airline and hotel and carry temperature-monitoring equipment as advised by the treating team.
Chronic treatment and accessibility
Dialysis, oxygen therapy, chemotherapy and other scheduled treatment require advance agreement with a suitable facility. The European Commission specifically advises arranging specialised care well before travel. Do not arrive at a small island or mountain base expecting complex treatment to be organised locally.
Travellers with mobility needs should ask about step-free access at the actual entrance, accessible bathroom dimensions and transfer routes. Historic towns, monasteries and archaeological sites can involve steep slopes and uneven surfaces even when parts are accessible.
Cold, damp and altitude
Hypothermia can develop through wind and wet clothing, not only extreme temperature. Early signs include shivering, fumbling, confusion and unusual tiredness. Move the person to shelter, remove wet outer clothing, warm gradually and seek urgent advice; severe symptoms require emergency help.
Altitude illness is less common on ordinary village trips but can matter during higher mountain activity. Headache, nausea, dizziness and unusual fatigue after ascent should not be ignored. Descend and seek medical guidance when symptoms are concerning; severe breathlessness, confusion or inability to walk normally is an emergency.
Carbon monoxide is odourless and potentially fatal. Use only properly installed heating appliances, never use outdoor charcoal or fuel equipment inside and respond immediately to alarms, headache, dizziness or nausea affecting multiple people: move to fresh air and call 112.
Respiratory illness and winter crowds
Carry masks if you may choose to use them in crowded transport or healthcare settings. Wash hands and ventilate rooms safely. Travellers at higher risk should discuss vaccination and a treatment plan with their clinician before departure. Rules and outbreak guidance can change, so consult current public-health information.
Travelling with children
Bring weight-appropriate medication only on the advice of a healthcare professional and carry the correct measuring device. Know the child’s current weight, allergies and medical history. Seek medical advice for breathing difficulty, dehydration, altered responsiveness, persistent severe pain, concerning rash or any symptom that alarms the caregiver.
Identify the nearest facility before staying in a remote village. A family itinerary should not place a sick child several mountain hours from care merely to preserve a booking.
Dental and eye problems
Emergency dental or optical care may involve private payment depending on the provider and coverage. Contact the insurer, keep receipts and ask the hotel or a pharmacy for reputable local direction. A lost contact lens or broken glasses is not usually an emergency, but carry spares if vision is essential for driving.
The health travel folder
- Passport or ID and EHIC where eligible.
- Insurance certificate and 24-hour assistance number.
- Medication list using generic names and doses.
- Allergies, diagnoses and emergency contacts.
- Prescriber letters and copies of prescriptions.
- Relevant vaccination record.
- Receipts and medical reports collected during the trip.
After treatment
Ask for a discharge note or medical report, itemised invoice and prescription. Keep every receipt. If the clinician advises that the traveller should not fly, obtain written evidence and contact the insurer and carrier. Continue or change travel only with appropriate medical guidance.
The other practical guides
Practical information for travellers, not legal, medical or insurance advice. Emergency numbers, entitlements and provider networks change — confirm anything critical with the official source before you rely on it.