Saturday, 8th February 2025
Health Services
Crete is a generally healthy place – the main risks are likely to be sunburn, foot blisters, insect bites, minor stomach problems and hangovers.

Bring your medications in original, clearly labelled containers. Get a signed and dated letter from your doctor describing your medical conditions and medications, including generic names. In Greece it is illegal to import codeine-based medication without a doctor’s certificate. No vaccinations are required for travel to Crete but the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that all travellers be covered for diphtheria, tetanus, measles, mumps, rubella and polio.

European Health Insurance Card

If you’re an EU citizen, a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC; formerly the E111) covers you for most medical care but not emergency repatriation home or non-emergencies. It is available from health centres, and post offices in the UK.

Citizens from other countries should find out if there is a reciprocal arrangement for free medical care between their country and Greece. If you do need health insurance, make sure you get a policy that covers you for the worst possible scenario, such as an accident requiring an emergency flight home. Find out in advance if your insurance plan will make payments directly to providers or reimburse you later for overseas health expenditures.

Availability & Cost of Health Care

If you need an ambulance call 166.
For minor illnesses, pharmacies provide valuable advice, sell medication (often available only on prescription in the US and other European countries) and advise on whether to see a doctor.
Medical training is of a high standard in Greece, but the health service is chronically underfunded. Public hospitals are often overcrowded, hygiene can be a problem and relatives are expected to provide food for the patient. That said, Iraklio, Hania and Rethymno have modern hospitals.
Condoms are widely available (in kiosks, supermarkets and pharmacies) but emergency contraception may not be.

Water

Tap water is chlorinated and safe to drink in most of Crete.
Bottled water is widely available.

Environmental Hazards

Dangerous snakes include the adder and the less common viper and coral snakes. To minimise the possibilities of being bitten, always wear boots, socks and long trousers when walking through undergrowth where snakes may be present.
Mosquitoes can be an annoying problem, though there is no danger of contracting malaria. The electric mosquito-repellent devices are usually sufficient to keep the insects at bay at night. Choose accommodation that has fly screen on the windows wherever possible.

The Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) may be encountered in mountainous areas, can be a voracious daytime biter, and is known to carry several viruses, including Eastern equine encephalitis, which can affect the central nervous system and cause severe complications and death. Use protective sprays or lotion if you suspect you are being bitten during the day.

 HOSPITALS & HEALTH CENTERS
 19 Chania  19 Nautical

 CHANIA GENERAL HOSPITAL "ST.GEORGE"
MOYRNIES CHANIA, CRETE ΤΚ 73300, GREECE

Email: info@chaniahospital.gr
Tel. Exchange: +30 28210 22000
Emergency Department: +30 28210 22256

 Naval Hospital ...........................................................28210 89307
 19 Tomy  19 Vamos
 Address: Ioanni Kapodistriou ke, Dragoumi, Chania 731 33
Hours: Opens 7AM - 10PM Mon-Fri
Phone: 2821 026110
Health Centre of Vamos
Tel.28250 22580
Address: Unnamed Rd, Apokoronos 730 08
Hours:Open 24 hours
 
 
DOCTORS IN THE AREA
 19 Cardiology  19 Medical
Fountoulakis Ioannis
Kardiologist
Kalives, 73003
Tel: 28250 32724
 Kalyves Medical Care
info@kalyvesmedicalcare.gr
IOANNIS M. LAMPOUSAKIS GENERAL PRACTITIONER/FAMILY DOCTOR MEDICAL ACUPUNCTURE
EMMANOUIL S. SPETSOTAKIS GENERAL PRACTITIONER/FAMILY DOCTOR
AGIOS ANTONIOS, 539 KALYVES CHANIA, CRETE
TEL.+302825033000 - FAX +302825033001 - MOB. +306975519599
 19 Radiology  19 Pediatros
Diagnostic Imaging Laboratory - Papagianaki
Kalives 73003
Telephone: 2825 041265
Maria Skalidaki Apanomeritaki
Pediatrist
Kalives 730 03
Telephone: 2825 031153 - 697 697 4710
19 Microbio  19 Dentist
ΚΟΤΡΟΝΑΚΙ GEORGIA
MICROBIOLOGY
KALYVES
TELEPHONES:2821031828-6976990767-2825031829
ZOUMADAKI DESPOINA
DENTIST
KALYVES
TELEPHONES:28250 32403

Banking & Post Services

BankingThe Crete banking system offers the majority of services that you would expect from any Bank in Europe, including user friendly cash machines, internet and telephone banking, credit cards,etc

For your banking (Money withdraws, Payments etc) you can use the ATM you can find in Almyrida.

For advances Banking requirements you can use the Pireus Bank Branch in Vamos, and Pankritia Bank in Kalives (4 klm from Almyrida) or in Chania where all major Greek Banks have Branches.

AtmCredit Cards
Most banks in Crete issue credit cards for their customers, you do not need to bank with a specific financial institution to obtain a credit card, to apply for a credit card, most banks will ask for your passport and your last tax return with the application.

There are alternative cards, a charge card requires you pay your balance in full, or debit cards, which automatically deduct payment from your bank account.

Web Banking
Banks in Crete offer a web banking service that allows you to pay your bills over the internet, check to see if your bank offers this service, it saves a lot of time as its quick and easy.

Greek PostThe main post-office in Chania has moved to Peridou Street (around the corner of Kydonias Street) and is open from 7.00 am to8.00 pm Monday to Friday and Saturday morning.
Our village is served from the Post office in Kalyves (4 klm from almyrida) or the Post office in Vamos (10 klm).

The mail to and from European countries is quite fast, about 2 to 4 days but some letters can also - inexplicably - take weeks. 

If you need to send something in a hurry, I have noticed that by sending it registered (cheap at around Euro 2.50 extra) it seems to get treated as an express letter.

You can also buy stamps at kiosks (and many shops selling postcards) but will need to pay an extra 10%, well worth it if you want to avoid the sometimes long queues at post-office counters.
A letter to European countries (up to 20g) costs Euro 1.30 (2018).
Some mailboxes seem to get emptied only occasionally (and some very rarely) so if you want to play it safe put them in the post-office letterboxes.
Sending something up to 2 kg is considered a letter. If you send anything over 2 kg you will have to submit to an infuriatingly stupid and senseless bureaucratic rule: you must present the packet open at the counter. They are not at all interested in looking at what is inside (there are after all no more customs within the EU) but they have to do it. Then you need to seal it in a hurry because people are queuing behind you.