India’s UPI system is now officially available in Greece, making the Mediterranean country the 10th to support UPI payments and enabling eligible Indian visitors to make quick, seamless digital transactions at partner merchants without relying heavily on cash or foreign cards when they want to enjoy the archaeological sites of Athens or the mesmerizing beaches of the Aegean and Ionian Seas.
Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal announced the UPI payments launch during his visit to Athens last week, where he witnessed a live system demonstration. The initiative is a collaboration between NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL), the international division of India’s National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), and Eurobank, a leading Greek bank.
Greece is increasingly becoming a favorite European destination for Indian travelers, especially after IndiGo launched direct flights from India to Athens, with the Acropolis, Mykonos, and the monasteries of Meteora being particularly popular. In the past, visitors needed to carry euros in cash, use forex cards, or international debit/credit cards, which often came with high fees, currency conversion issues, and security risks.
With UPI now operational, paying for meals at restaurants, souvenirs, museum tickets, hotel bills, and more is faster and easier at supported locations. This minimizes reliance on cash, reduces transaction costs, and improves the overall travel experience. Additionally, Indian students and business travelers visiting Greece are expected to benefit from the system.
List of Countries Accepting UPI
Greece joins the following nine countries where UPI is available:
To use UPI in Greece, travelers need an eligible Indian bank account linked to a UPI-enabled app (such as BHIM, PhonePe, Google Pay, or a participating bank app) that supports international merchant payments.
Since the network is still growing, merchant acceptance might be limited at first, so it is crucial to carry a backup payment method, such as an international debit or credit card, and some local currency for added flexibility.
