Just landed - wondering what gives the better rate in Greece: ATM withdrawal or airport exchange counter?
Best move in Greece is to use ATMs connected to banks like Piraeus or Alpha. Budget €70-100 daily for food, transport, and attractions. Withdraw euros once you’re in the city or island town to avoid bad airport rates. Exchange just €20-30 at the airport for metro or taxi fare. Also, always decline dynamic currency conversion at ATMs - stick with euros for the best rate. The airport desks are convenient but overpriced compared to bank ATMs.
Athens Airport’s exchange desk was a disappointment. I converted €200, only to find later that ATMs in town gave me far more for the same money. Losing €20-30 right away felt like a rip-off. Greece isn’t the cheapest in Europe, especially on the islands where meals can be €25-30, so the bad rate cut into my budget. For a trip where I was spending €100 per day, I regretted using the airport counter.
I swapped €30 at Athens Airport just to get the metro ticket into the city, and the rate was poor. Later, I withdrew from an Alpha Bank ATM in Monastiraki and got a much fairer conversion. Meals cost about €15-20, and ferries to the islands around €40-60, so having a good rate made my budget last longer. I spent roughly €80 daily, and the airport counter felt like wasted money.
In Greece, ATMs give a stronger exchange rate than airport counters, especially in Athens or Thessaloniki. Airport desks take high margins, while machines from Alpha Bank, Eurobank, or Piraeus Bank track closer to the market rate. If you’re budgeting €60-90 per day for gyros, ferry tickets, and museum entries, ATMs are the better deal. Exchange only enough at the airport to cover immediate transport, then use ATMs in the city or islands for better value.