Useful Information

Time Zone

Heraklion’s time is in the Eastern European Time (UTC +2 hours).

Los Angeles, USA: +10h
New York, USA: +8h
London. U.K.: +2h
Lisbon, Portugal: +2h
Berlin, Germany: +1h
Paris, France: +1h
Madrid, Spain: +1h
Rome, Italy: +1h
Nicosia, Cyprus =
Helsinki, Finland =
Ankara, Turkey =
Hong Kong, China: -6h
Tokyo, Japan: -7h

The Eastern European Summer Time (UTC +3 hours) shall be applicable in Greece as of Friday, 31^st of March, 2019.

The climate of Heraklion is characterized as soft Mediterranean, with dry summers and rainy yet mild winters.

Average temperatures are 25ºC or 77ºF in summer and 12ºC or 54ºF in winter. Precipitation is higher during the winter and spring seasons – particularly from October to March – with December being the wettest month with an average of 100mm of rain.

Source: https://www.holiday-weather.com/heraklion/averages/

Currency

The currency in Heraklion is the Euro (10 EUR is approximately 11.4061 USD and 8.97595 GBP). ATMs are available in the city but it is a good idea to carry some cash with you since they are not refilled during the weekends and not all places accept cards.

Electricity

For Greece there are two associated socket types. One of them has two round pins and the other has two round pins with two earth clips on the side (Try to look for adapters marketed as Southern Europe plugs). Greece operates on a 230V supply voltage and 50Hz.

If you are visiting from North America you will need a transformer as North America works on 110V and 50 cycles and Europe works on 220V.

Useful phone numbers

Country code: 30
International call prefix: 00
Heraklion prefecture code: 281

Emergency Services

- European emergency number: 112
- Medical emergency (Ambulance/First Aid Advice): 166, 2810-222222
- Police (Emergencies): 100
- Tourist Police: 171
- Fire Department (Kyprou Square): 199

Hospitals

- Regional Academic Hospital (PAGNI) (Voutes): 2813-402111
- Venizeleio General Hospital (Knossou Avenue): 2813-408000

- Pharmacies: 107

Please use the following website to find On Duty Pharmacies:
https://www.xo.gr/pharmacies-on-duty/heraklion-crete/

Repair Services

Should there be a problem with water or electricity, use the following numbers to report it, and hopefully have it repaired:

- Problems with electricity: 18185 or +30 281 510 9351 (KEN electricity suppliers)
- Public Power Corporation: 210 52930301
- Water supply and sewerage: 28310 29147

Information

Weather service: 148
International Phone Assistance: 139
Greek National Tourism Organization in Heraklion: (+30) 2810 246105

Lost or Stolen Credit Cards

Did you lose, or got your credit card stolen? Call one of the following services to take care of it:
Visa 00-800-11-638-0304
American Express (through Alpha Bank) 210 326 0000
MasterCard/Eurocard 00-800-11-887-0303

Other Information

If you are a resident of the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland, you can consider applying for a free European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). This card gives you the right to access state-provided healthcare during a temporary stay in another European Economic Area (EEA) country or Switzerland. The EHIC covers treatment that is medically necessary until your planned return home. Treatment should be provided on the same basis as it would to a resident of that country, either at a reduced cost or, in many cases, free of charge.

Advices and Hints:

1. Local drivers are not known for their strict compliance with traffic regulations so it’s important to be very careful on the roads of the city. This concerns not only drivers, but also pedestrians.
2. Stores open early, at 8 am, and accept visitors until late in the evening (08:00-10:00 PM). They can also close during the daytime for a break. Sunday is a day off and only stores located in the beaches can work on this day.
3. Visitors can get a consultation from a doctor for free at any drug store. Pharmacies are also a place where visitors can measure blood pressure and get advice about certain medications.
4. Smoking in Heraklion is allowed almost everywhere, except for cultural institutions and closed commercial complexes. However, all complexes and cultural institutions have specially designated areas for smokers.
5. If you are visiting Heraklion for the first time, make sure to get a map of the city, since there are many streets that have the same or consonant names, which may complicate your journey.

Source: www.orangesmile.com

Language

Some Useful phrases in Greek:

Hello: Yassoo (familiar) or yassas (formal)
Do you speak English?: Meelate angleeka?
Good morning: Kaleemera (familiar) or kaleemera sas (formal)
Good evening: Kaleespera (familiar) or kaleespera sas (formal)
Goodnight: Kaleenikta (familiar) or kaleenikta sas (formal)
Can you help me?: Boreeteh na meh voytheeseteh?
Where am I?…Where are we?: Pooh eemeh? pooh eemasteh?
Where is the toilet?: Pooh eeneh i tualéta?
I need a doctor: Kreeahzomeh yeeahktro
I am staying at (the hotel): Méno sto…(xenodocheío)
I am a vegetarian: Eemay chortofagos
Thank you: Efcharisto
Yes: Nai
No: Okhee
Water: Nero
Drink: Poto
Wine: Krasi
Please: Parakalo
I don’t understand: Then katalaveno
How much is it?: Poso kanee?
Excuse me / Sorry: See-GHNO-mee

Source: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/
https://www.greeka.com