Living in Greece - Study in Greece

Living in Greece

Greece is a warm, social, sun-drenched country with a relaxed Mediterranean rhythm, deep history, and a genuine culture of hospitality — filoxenia. With around 300 sunny days a year, low living costs, and the islands a ferry ride away, daily life here has a quality that's hard to match. This guide covers the practical reality of student life: finding housing, banking, the honest truth about hot summers and slow bureaucracy, getting around on the metro, KTEL coaches, and ferries, food, and settling into one of the EU's most affordable countries. No tourist brochure version — the real picture.

Finding Housing

Housing is the first big task on arrival. Public dormitories are limited, so most international students rent privately.

University dormitories (estíes)

Public universities run some student dormitories (estíes) — affordable but limited and usually means-tested. Places are competitive and often prioritise lower-income Greek students, so international students should apply early but not rely on a dorm place.

The private market

Most students rent privately. The main platforms are Spitogatos.gr, XE.gr, and local Facebook housing groups, plus word of mouth through your university. Rentals are often unfurnished, and you sign a contract directly with the landlord (you'll need your AFM tax number first). Typical monthly costs:

Outside Athens, expect 20–40% lower rents. Never pay a deposit before viewing the apartment in person or via a verified video tour — rental scams target international students. Sharing a flat is the norm and the cheapest route.

Banking

Once you have your AFM (tax number) and address registered, open a local account at:

• National Bank of Greece (Ethniki) — Greece's largest
• Eurobank — widely used, good app
• Alpha Bank — broad branch network
• Piraeus Bank — popular with students

Bring your passport, AFM, residence permit or registration, and proof of address. A Greek account is useful for rent, bills, and any salary, and you'll need it for many local services. Card payments are widely accepted in cities, though cash is still common in smaller shops, tavernas, and on the islands — keep some on hand.

Daily Costs

Plan for roughly €600–900 per month in Athens, less in smaller cities. Student meal subsidies and cheap local markets make food affordable. Full budgets are in our costs and funding guide, or estimate yours with the cost-of-study calculator.

In Thessaloniki, Patras, Heraklion, or Ioannina, total monthly costs drop to roughly €500–750.

Getting Around

Greece's transport is affordable and student-friendly once you have your academic ID:

Athens

Athens has a modern metro (three lines, expanding), plus trams, buses, and trolleybuses run by OASA. A student monthly pass via your academic ID (Πάσο) is cheap. The metro reaches the airport and the port of Piraeus for ferries. The city is large but well-connected — most trips are manageable without a car.

Thessaloniki and other cities

Thessaloniki relies on buses (OASTH) with a new metro line now operating. Patras, Heraklion, and Ioannina have local bus networks; many students simply walk or cycle in these compact cities.

Between cities — KTEL and trains

KTEL intercity coaches are the backbone of Greek travel — reliable, frequent, and inexpensive, reaching almost everywhere. Hellenic Train connects Athens, Thessaloniki, and Patras by rail. Students get reduced fares with the academic ID.

Ferries to the islands

Ferries connect the mainland (mostly from Piraeus, Rafina, and Thessaloniki) to the islands. Students get reduced fares — a real perk for exploring the Aegean and the Cyclades on a budget. Book ahead in summer; off-season fares are cheaper.

The Climate — The Honest Version

Greece's climate is one of its biggest draws — around 300 sunny days a year — but the summer heat is real.

Summer (June–September)

• Temperature: hot and dry, often 30–38°C in Athens; the islands are cooler thanks to sea breezes (the meltémi wind)
• Reality: midday heat can be intense — Greeks slow down, take the afternoon easy, and come alive in the evening
• Practical kit: light clothing, sun protection, a reusable water bottle; many flats need a fan or AC

Winter (December–February)

• Athens: mild and wet, typically 8–15°C, rain rather than heavy snow
• Northern Greece (Thessaloniki, Ioannina) and the mountains: colder, occasionally snowy
• Indoors: heating varies — older flats can be chilly, so check the heating before signing a lease

Spring and autumn

Long, warm, and glorious — arguably the best seasons in Greece. Pack light layers for most of the year and a proper coat only for winter.

Greek Hospitality and Café Culture

Filoxenia — hospitality toward strangers — is a genuine cultural value. Expect to be welcomed warmly, fed generously, and drawn into conversation. Two pillars of daily life:

• Café culture: a single frappé or freddo espresso can anchor a two-hour catch-up. Cafés are where Greeks socialise, study, and pass time
• The taverna and the parea: eating out with your paréa (your group of friends) is central — shared plates, slow meals, late dinners

Embrace the slower pace. Trying to rush social life in Greece misses the point of being here.

Food and Eating

Student meals (sitisi)

Many universities offer subsidised student meals (sitisi) — often free for students who qualify on income grounds, covering lunch and dinner on campus. Check your university's student services as soon as you enrol.

Cooking and eating out

Eating out is affordable: a gyros or souvlaki costs €3–5, a sit-down taverna meal €10–15. For cooking at home:

• Local markets (laïki agora) — fresh produce, olive oil, cheese, far cheaper than supermarkets
• Supermarkets — Sklavenitis, AB Vassilopoulos, Lidl, My Market
• Bakeries (foúrnos) — cheap, excellent bread and pastries

Greek staples: Greek salad, moussaka, souvlaki, fresh fish, feta, yoghurt with honey, seasonal fruit, and olive oil on everything. Vegetarian options are easy thanks to the nistísima (Lenten) tradition. Eating well in Greece is cheap and genuinely healthy.

Health and Healthcare

• EU/EEA students: bring a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) for basic public healthcare
• Non-EU students: need private health insurance valid in Greece for the residence permit
• Public system: registered students access public healthcare (EOPYY / ESY) via the AMKA social security number
• University health services cover primary care at many institutions
• Pharmacies (farmakío) — green cross sign — are well-stocked and pharmacists give good first-line advice

Language

• Greek is the official language, written in the Greek alphabet (learnable in a weekend)
• English is widely spoken in Athens, Thessaloniki, tourist areas, and on campus — many Master's programmes are entirely in English
• Bureaucracy (tax office, immigration, banks) often operates in Greek — bring a Greek-speaking friend or use translation
• Learning basic Greek (efcharistó = thanks, kaliméra = good morning, parakaló = please/you're welcome, yiásou = hi/bye) goes a long way socially
• Many universities offer Greek-language courses for international students — take them from year one

Staying Connected

• Prepaid SIM: Cosmote, Vodafone, or Nova — generous data bundles at low cost
• Home internet is widely available and reasonably priced; fibre is common in cities
• Card payments are accepted in cities, but carry cash for tavernas, kiosks (períptero), and the islands
• Bureaucracy is online-ish: the gov.gr portal handles a growing number of services, but expect paperwork too

Health and Safety

Greece is generally safe, with low violent crime. A few practical notes:

• Emergency number: 112 (all services)
• Petty theft — pickpocketing happens in crowded tourist spots and on busy Athens transport; watch your belongings
• Demonstrations — occur in central Athens (Syntagma, Exarcheia); usually peaceful and easy to avoid
• Summer sun — heatwaves are real; hydrate, avoid midday sun, and respect the heat
• Verify rentals and jobs before paying — scams target newcomers

Settling In and Making Friends

Greeks are warm and social, and students are usually welcomed quickly. The fastest routes into a social life:

• Join your university's student associations and societies
• Embrace café and taverna culture — say yes to invitations, build your paréa
• Take Greek classes — even basic Greek signals respect and opens doors
• Travel — KTEL coaches and student ferry fares make weekend island and mainland trips cheap
• Be patient with bureaucracy — bring a full document folder and a sense of humour to every office

A Quick Glossary

A few terms you will meet constantly:

• AFM — your Greek tax number (needed for rent and banking)
• AMKA — social security number (needed for healthcare)
• Adeia diamonis — residence permit
• Πάσο (Páso) / Akadimaiki Taftotita — academic ID card for student discounts
• Estíes — student dormitories
• DOY (ΔΟΥ) — local tax office
• KEP — Citizen Service Centre (one-stop admin)
• Filoxenia — hospitality toward strangers
• Paréa — your group of friends
• Laïki agora — open-air local market
• Sitisi — subsidised/free student meals
• KTEL — intercity coach network

Next Steps

1. Work and career — the 20-hour rule and post-study pathways
2. Costs and funding — full budgets and scholarships
3. Visa and arrival — the D visa, residence permit, and your first weeks
4. Admissions and application — if you have not applied yet