Visitor Information

• Passports and Visas
• Access to the Crete Centre for Quantum Complexity and Nanotechnology
• Campus information
• Getting Euros
• Restaurants, Food and Wine
• Recommended Hotels
• Sightseeing
• Reimbursement

Getting Euros

The official currency of Greece is the Euro and its denominations. It is very easy to exchange currencies in Greece, as there is a large number of exchange booths in Athens and all major Greek cites. Currency exchange rates are clearly displayed in every bank that accepts currency exchange, while debit card holders may acquire money from the ATMs of the collaborating banks. ATMs have English menus as well, and in some cases other languages too. Greek banks are open for the public from 8:00 to 14:30 Mondays to Thursdays and from 8:00 to 13:30 on Fridays. They are closed on weekends and Public Holidays. Euros can also be exchanged for notes of other foreign currencies at exchange offices that are situated at the airport and certain main ports, in the larger cities, as well as at many tourist destinations. A passport is required when exchanging currencies.

Credit cards are not very common in everyday transactions in the Greek society, but this varies with the sector. You can pay by credit card in most hotels and upscale restaurants and shops. you may not be able to do so in simple tavernas etc. Make sure that you carry enough cash with you.

Here you can find the universal currency converter.

Restaurants, Food and Wine

• Some explanatory remarks as well as a list of some restaurants in the Heraklion area and the rest of Crete with comments.
• Some (biased) info and recommendations on greek wines by E. Kiritsis.

Recommended Hotels

Hotels in the City Center

Hotel Atrion
Tel. +30 2810 246 000, Fax. +30 2810 223 292, e-mail: info@atrion.gr,
The hotel is located near the El Greco Parc at the City Center (see this map). They have special prices for University visitors: single room 64 euros, double room 77 euros including breakfast. You should mention that you are a university visitor to claim these rates.

Hotel El Greco
Tel. +30 2810 281 071 5, Fax. +30 2810 281 072, e-mail: elgrecohotel@her.forthnet.gr,
The hotel is located in the very center of the city, near the Lions Square (Morozini Fountain) (see number 16 this map). They have special prices for University visitors: single room 36 euros, double room 48 euros, triple room 63 euros including breakfast (1/10-30/6) and single room 43 euros, double room 52 euros, triple room 70 euros including breakfast (1/7-30/9). You should mention that you are a university visitor to claim these rates.

Hotel Kastro
Tel +30 2810 284 185, +30 2810 285 020 Fax +30 2810 223 622, e-mail: info@kastro-hotel.gr
The hotel is located near the El Greco Parc at the City Center (see this map). They have special prices for University visitors: single room 40 euros, double room 50 euros including breakfast(1/1-30/3 and 1/11-31/12) single room 47 euros, double room 57 euros including breakfast(1/4-15/6 and 1/10-31/10) and single room 50 euros, double room 65 euros including breakfast(6/6-30/9). You should mention that you are a university visitor to claim these rates.

Hotel Lato
Tel +30 2810 334 955, Fax +30 2810 240350, e-mail: info@lato.gr
The hotel is located near the custom's office in the city Center (it is number 6 on this map). They have special prices for University visitors: single room 64 euros, double room 84 euros including breakfast They also offer free use of the gym. You should mention that you are a university visitor to claim these rates.

Hotel Megaron
Upscale Hotel, Tel +30 2810 305 300, Fax +30 2810 305 400 e-mail:Megaron@otenet.gr
The hotel is located near the custom's office in the city Center (it is number 6 on this map). They have special prices for University visitors: single room 156 euros, double room 180 euros including breakfast. You should mention that you are a university visitor to claim these rates.

Hotel Olympic
Tel +30 2810 288861, Fax +30 2810 222512
The hotel is located in the city Center (it is near number 3 on this map). They have special prices for University visitors: single room 50 euros, double room 70 euros including breakfast. You should mention that you are a university visitor to claim these rates.

Apartments in Amoudara

Amoudara is a suburb of Heraklion (about 6 Km from the City Center, near the sea). It is a mostly tourist area. It is about 4 Km away from the Physics Department. One can come to the department by bus (difficult, as you must take a bus towards heraklion and change half way to a bus towards the Physics Department, see this info for more details), or taxi (easy, costs about 4-5 euros).

Troulis Apartments & Studios
Ammoudara Beach
Tel./Fax: +30 2810 313 638.

Albatross Studios & Apartments
Ammoudara Beach
Tel: +30 2810 821 698 Fax: +30 2810 822074.

Sightseeing

History and Museums

• A brief history of Crete. See also here.
• The Archeological Museum of Heraklion. See also here . The opening hours during summer (April - October) are 8am to 7:30 pm daily, and in winter (November - March) from 8:30am to 3pm on all days of the week except Mondays (12pm to 5pm). Note that the museum closes on national as well as local holidays.
• The Archaelogical Site of Knossos can be reached by Bus Line Number 2 (KNOSSOS) both from the center (every 10-15 minutes) as well as from the bus stop in front of the physics department (departing hourly at half past the hour).
• The Historical Museum of Heraklion.
• The Natural History Museum of Crete.
• The Icon collection of St Elkaterini of Sinai.
• The icon collection of St Matthaios of Sinai
• The Kazantzakis Museum .
• The Lyxnostatis open air Museum
• The Municipal Museum of the battle of Crete and National Resistance
• The Museum of Cretan Ethnology
• Greek Ministry of Culture whose website contains useful info on several museums in Greece including Crete.

Excursions

• Yuchtas Mountain. This is a treasure trove in spring for many of the endemic wild orchids of Crete (see here).
• Stroumboulas Mountain.
• Agios Nikolaos. See also here.
• Island of Spinalonga.
• Kritsa and Kritsa Gorge .

Links and Information on Local Services

• Crete Aquarium.
• Information on Crete from tourism-related websites Dilos and Travelinfo
• A list of all hotels in Greece and in Crete
• Yes, there is also Tango Argentino in Heraklion.
• Cinemas in Heraklion ( ODEON, TEXNOPOLIS)
• Musical Workshop Labyrinth.

Reimbursement

To get reimbursed by the University of Crete for your travel and accommodation expenses and/or receive support for local expenses (per diem), we will ask you to submit all relevant documents to the Crete Centre for Quantum Complexity and Nanotechnology (CCQCN) secretary, which are absolutely necessary for administrative reasons. Before you travel, please inform us about the dates of your arrival and departure and we will arrange your accommodation.

The documents that are needed for travel and accommodation expenses are:

• the electronic air-ticket that clearly shows your itinerary and fare amount. If the e-ticket doesn’t show the fare amount, the receipt from the travel agent is necessary.
• Please make sure that the travel expense is reasonable. Please note the the University of Crete does not reimburse business class tickets. Even economy tickets have highly variable prices today depending on many factors. The university applies limits like if you come via a non-standard destination, the maximum reimbursement is based on average prices of direct routes. In case of doubt, please contact us in advance so that we avoid unpleasant surprises,
• the original stubs of your boarding passes (both for the arriving and return flight),
• Note: The boarding pass of the return flight should be sent by registered mail to us to the following address: University of Crete/ Physics Department, 71003 Voutes, Heraklion, Greece.
• a copy of your passport,
• data of your bank account (IBAN and swift code),
• the official hotel receipt.

For receiving per diem, please keep all the receipts you will get from meals and transportation means. It also includes the expenses been made to get to the airport and return from it. It is important that taxi receipts are official and emanate from the special machine taxis have for that purpose. Although taxi drivers will try to persuade you otherwise, no other kind of receipt is acceptable in that case.

You will receive reimbursement in Euros and the bank transfer will be made after you leave Greece.