Tourists will pay less for this. The holiday destination is making changes.

This is due to ATM fees, which until now were charged every time in Greece . Many tourists lost out, especially those unaware of the additional fees – 1.5 to 3 euros were added to each transaction. Many people traveled without cash, opting to use only their cards or planning to withdraw funds on the spot. This proved to be a mistake. This will soon change.

Greeks are abolishing these fees

We read about the good news on greekreporter.com, among others. Greek Minister of National Economy and Finance Kyriakos Pierrakakis announced the change on July 21st. This law will eliminate withdrawal fees for bank customers using ATMs—even those operated by third-party providers.

This decision stems from growing public concerns following Piraeus Bank's recent sale of ATMs. This was followed by the announcement of a fee increase. The changes are expected to take effect on August 11th.

"Public services should serve, not be a trap. We are taking immediate action – we are setting boundaries, establishing rules, and restoring balance between the market and society," emphasized Minister Pierrakakis. The main goal is to abolish fees for cash withdrawals from ATMs owned by Greek banks – regardless of the type of card used.

There is a catch.

Tourists will not be charged a fee for cash withdrawals at ATMs, provided the machines are part of the DIAS (Interbank System) network. Therefore, you'll need to be careful with ATMs owned by private companies. It's also worth remembering that Polish banks may still charge a fee for withdrawals. Many banks have their own policies for cash withdrawals abroad and currency conversions. It's always worth checking this before using your card or opening a foreign currency account.

According to the new rules, the following will apply in Greece: