ℹ️ Useful information
Emergency: 112 — the European emergency number (police, ambulance, fire) from any phone, free, English spoken.
🏥 Health
- Emergencies: 112 · Coastguard 108 · Tourist Police 171
- Nearest pharmacy & medical centre: see Places
- Carry GHIC/EHIC cards + travel insurance details (kept in the private area)
🏨 Stay & travel
- Acropolis Apartments, Hersonissos
- Airport: Heraklion Airport (HER) · Transfer: Jet2 transfer
- Time: Europe/London → Crete is +2h (Europe/Athens)
💱 Currency converter
Rate: €1 = £0.860 (ECB reference rate). Updates when online.
🗣️ Handy Greek
Tap 🔊 to hear it (where your phone has a Greek voice). Search to filter.
Essentials
| Hello (formal / informal) Γεια σας / Γεια σου · YAH sas / YAH soo |
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| Good morning Καλημέρα · ka-lee-MEH-ra |
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| Good evening Καλησπέρα · ka-lee-SPEH-ra |
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| Goodbye Αντίο · a-DEE-o |
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| Please / you're welcome Παρακαλώ · pa-ra-ka-LOH |
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| Thank you Ευχαριστώ · ef-kha-ree-STOH |
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| Yes / No Ναι / Όχι · neh / OH-khee |
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| Excuse me / sorry Συγγνώμη · see-GHNO-mee |
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| Do you speak English? Μιλάτε αγγλικά; · mee-LA-te an-glee-KA |
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| Cheers! Γεια μας · YAH mas |
Eating out
| A table for four Ένα τραπέζι για τέσσερις · EH-na tra-PEH-zee yah TEH-se-rees |
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| The menu, please Τον κατάλογο, παρακαλώ · ton ka-TA-lo-go pa-ra-ka-LOH |
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| The bill, please Το λογαριασμό, παρακαλώ · to lo-gha-ryaz-MO pa-ra-ka-LOH |
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| Water Νερό · neh-ROH |
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| A beer Μία μπίρα · MEE-a BEE-ra |
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| Coffee Καφές · ka-FES |
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| Delicious! Πεντανόστιμο · pen-da-NO-stee-mo |
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| No nuts (allergy) Χωρίς ξηρούς καρπούς · kho-REES ksee-ROOS kar-POOS |
Out & about
| Where is…? Πού είναι…; · POO EE-neh |
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| The beach Η παραλία · ee pa-ra-LEE-a |
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| The bus stop Η στάση · ee STA-see |
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| The toilet Η τουαλέτα · ee twa-LE-ta |
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| How much is the ticket? Πόσο κάνει το εισιτήριο; · PO-so KA-nee to ee-see-TEE-ree-o |
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| Left / Right Αριστερά / Δεξιά · a-ree-ste-RA / dhe-ksee-A |
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| Stop here, please Εδώ, παρακαλώ · e-DHO pa-ra-ka-LOH |
Shopping & money
| How much is it? Πόσο κάνει; · PO-so KA-nee |
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| Too expensive Πολύ ακριβό · po-LEE a-kree-VO |
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| Do you take card? Δέχεστε κάρτα; · DHE-khe-ste KAR-ta |
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| A bag, please Μία σακούλα, παρακαλώ · MEE-a sa-KOO-la pa-ra-ka-LOH |
Emergencies & health
| Help! Βοήθεια! · vo-EE-thee-a |
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| Call a doctor Καλέστε γιατρό · ka-LE-ste yia-TRO |
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| I need a pharmacy Χρειάζομαι φαρμακείο · khree-A-zo-me far-ma-KEE-o |
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| I feel ill Δεν νιώθω καλά · dhen NYO-tho ka-LA |
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| It hurts here Πονάει εδώ · po-NA-ee e-DHO |
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| Where is the hospital? Πού είναι το νοσοκομείο; · POO EE-neh to no-so-ko-MEE-o |
Kids & family
| My child Το παιδί μου · to pe-DHEE moo |
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| Is it child-friendly? Είναι για παιδιά; · EE-neh yah pe-DHYA |
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| Ice cream Παγωτό · pa-gho-TO |
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| Thank you very much Ευχαριστώ πολύ · ef-kha-ree-STOH po-LEE |
Numbers
1 ένα EH-na
2 δύο DHEE-o
3 τρία TREE-a
4 τέσσερα TEH-se-ra
5 πέντε PEN-de
6 έξι EH-ksee
7 εφτά ef-TA
8 οχτώ okh-TO
9 εννιά e-NYA
10 δέκα DHE-ka
20 είκοσι EE-ko-see
100 εκατό e-ka-TO
💶 What things cost
Typical summer prices — a guide, not a quote. € is the real currency; £ updates with the live rate.
| Item | ≈ € | ≈ £ |
|---|---|---|
| ☕ Frappé / freddo coffee | €3.50 | £3.01 |
| 🥤 Soft drink / juice | €2.50 | £2.15 |
| 💧 Bottled water 1.5L (shop) | €0.80 | £0.69 |
| 🍺 Local beer (taverna) | €4.00 | £3.44 |
| 🥙 Gyros in pita | €4.00 | £3.44 |
| 🍢 Souvlaki plate | €11.00 | £9.46 |
| 🥗 Greek salad | €7.50 | £6.45 |
| 🍦 Ice cream (scoop) | €2.50 | £2.15 |
| ⛱️ Sunbeds + umbrella (pair) | €10.00 | £8.60 |
| 🚕 Taxi start + ~per km | €1.30 | £1.12 |
| 🏛️ Knossos Palace (adult) | €15.00 | £12.91 |
| 🏺 Heraklion museum (adult) | €12.00 | £10.33 |
| ⛽ Petrol (per litre) | €1.85 | £1.59 |
| 🛒 Supermarket loaf | €1.20 | £1.03 |
🧭 Good to know
🔌 Practical basics
- Plugs: European type C/F, 230V — bring an EU two-pin adapter (UK plugs don't fit).
- Tipping: not obligatory; round up the bill or leave ~5–10% for good service, €1–2 at bars.
- Tap water: fine for brushing teeth in the resorts; most people drink cheap bottled water.
- Siesta: smaller shops often shut ~14:00–17:30 and reopen in the evening; tavernas serve late.
- Cash: cards widely accepted, but carry some euros for small tavernas, kiosks and buses.
🌞 Safety & outdoors
- Sun: July UV is extreme — hat, SPF50, shade 12:00–16:00, drink water. Check the home page UV.
- Beach flags: 🟢 safe · 🟡 caution · 🔴 don't swim · 🟣 marine life/jellyfish.
- Jellyfish: rinse with seawater (not fresh), remove tentacles, ask a pharmacy if it's bad.
- Driving: drive on the right; seatbelts; carry your licence; mountain roads are windy.
- Numbers: 112 all emergencies · 171 tourist police · 108 coastguard.
🔤 Read the signs — Greek alphabet
Α α a — as in "father"
Β β v
Γ γ gh / y (soft g)
Δ δ th — as in "this"
Ε ε e — "egg"
Ζ ζ z
Η η ee
Θ θ th — as in "thin"
Ι ι ee
Κ κ k
Λ λ l
Μ μ m
Ν ν n
Ξ ξ ks
Ο ο o
Π π p
Ρ ρ r (rolled)
Σ σ/ς s
Τ τ t
Υ υ ee
Φ φ f
Χ χ kh / h
Ψ ψ ps
Ω ω o
Handy combos: ΟΥ = "oo" · ΑΙ = "e" · ΕΙ/ΟΙ = "ee" · ΜΠ = "b" · ΝΤ = "d" · ΓΚ = "g".
Insurance policy numbers, card-loss numbers, medication details and family medical notes are kept in the admin (private) area, not on this public page.