A forewarned yogi is worth two: well prepared, you will calmly enjoy your stay in Greece. Greeks are warm and welcoming; here is the essential on the health side.
Insurance and healthcare
The public healthcare system could be of better quality: if needed, prefer private hospitals (better-monitored hygiene), and take out travel insurance (such as Europ Assistance). Get the European Health Insurance Card: for the French, from Social Security (received within 15 days, valid 1 year, free); for Belgians, the equivalent from your mutual insurance. It works in every EU country.
Pharmacy and traveller’s diarrhoea
No vaccine is compulsory (be up to date). Bring your medicines if you are on treatment, and a small emergency kit; beware of the sun and heat. Against traveller’s diarrhoea: drink clean, lightly salted water (sealed bottle) to avoid dehydration, take activated charcoal, then Imodium and, as a last resort, a fluoroquinolone-type antibiotic. Prevention remains the best method.
A custom to know: the toilets
In Greece, you do not throw toilet paper into the bowl (risk of blocking the pipes): you put it in the bin provided. The other reason is ecological — paper acidifies seawater, and Greeks care about the quality of the blue of their sea.
Useful info: Santé Voyage, traveling-doctors.com.
