Can you vape in Greece?

The legal position for UK visitors

Greece is an EU member state with vape laws based on the EU TPD. Greek rules largely mirror UK product rules but with some unique national additions, particularly around nicotine-free products and in-car use with children.

• Legal purchase age: 18, same as the UK.
• Maximum nicotine strength: 20mg/ml, same as the UK.
• Maximum e-liquid bottle: 10ml for nicotine liquid, same as the UK.
• Maximum tank or pod: 2ml, same as the UK.
• Personal import: Bringing your own kit and supplies for personal use is fine.
• Online sales: Permitted within Greece (unlike Portugal or Italy).
• Disposable vapes: Still legal and widely available, sold in many shops.
• Advertising: Restricted.

The nicotine-free e-liquid ban

One unusual Greek rule that catches UK visitors off guard. Since 2018, Greek shops have been prohibited from selling nicotine-free e-cigarettes and e-liquids. The reason was a regulatory quirk in how Greece defined and licensed vape products.

If you usually vape 0mg shortfills or use nicotine-free pods, you cannot buy them in Greece. The law restricts retailers to selling nicotine-containing products only. Bring your own nicotine-free liquid with you.

• Banned for Greek retail: Nicotine-free e-liquids, nicotine-free shortfills, nicotine-free disposables.
• Personal use: Bringing your own nicotine-free e-liquid for personal use is fine.
• Permitted in Greek shops: Nicotine-containing e-liquids only.
• Practical implication: Plan ahead if you use 0mg products. Greek shops will direct you to nicotine products instead.

The €1,500 in-car fine

Greece has a specific and strictly enforced rule about smoking or vaping in cars carrying children under 12. The fine is €1,500, doubled for bus or taxi drivers.

• Who it applies to: The driver and any passenger smoking or vaping. The driver is liable regardless of whether they are the one vaping.
• Where it applies: In any private vehicle while a child under 12 is a passenger.
• Enforcement: Generally enforced in cities and on tourist routes. Less enforcement in rural areas, but possible everywhere.
• For UK visitors: Particularly relevant if you are hiring a car for family holidays in Crete, Rhodes or the islands.
• Bus and taxi drivers: Penalty doubled to €3,000 for professional drivers found vaping with under-12s on board.

Where you can and cannot vape in Greece

Greek law on indoor public spaces is among the strictest in Europe and was extended to vaping in line with smoking. Outdoor rules are much more relaxed.

Greek vape duty

Greece imposes an excise tax on e-liquid that is much lower than Portugal or Germany. The headline rate is around 10% of the cigarette duty rate. In per-ml terms this works out to around €0.10 per ml on top of the wholesale price.

• Rate: Around €0.10 per ml of e-liquid.
• Practical price: A 10ml bottle of nicotine salt costs around €6 to €8 in Greece. Slightly higher than UK pre-duty but cheaper than Portugal or Germany.
• Compared with UK VPD: Roughly half the UK rate that starts October 2026. After UK duty, Greece becomes cheaper.
• Applies to: Nicotine-containing e-liquids. Greek shops cannot legally sell nicotine-free e-liquids anyway.

Buying vapes in Greece

1. Periptera (Greek kiosks)

   The traditional Greek corner kiosks found in every town. Many sell cigarettes, vape products and e-liquid refills. Open long hours including evenings.

2. Dedicated vape shops

   Concentrated in Athens, Thessaloniki, Heraklion and Rhodes. Larger selection of devices and flavours. Tourist areas like Mykonos and Santorini have at least one specialist shop.

3. Tobacconists

   Sell cigarettes plus a smaller range of vape products. Found in every Greek town.

4. Online retailers

   Permitted in Greece (unlike Portugal or Italy). Several reputable Greek online vape retailers. Useful for stocking up on a longer trip.

5. Pharmacies

   Sell some NRT products including nicotine pouches and patches. Useful for the flight or for venues where vaping is not possible.

Selection of disposable vapes is still good in Greece as the ban has not yet arrived. You cannot buy nicotine-free products in shops, so plan ahead if you use them.

The bottom line