Essential Apartment Setup Checklist

Moving into a long-term rental in Crete involves a series of practical steps that nobody gives you in a single place. This is the list I wish I had had — the things to do in roughly the order you should do them, during the first two weeks in a new apartment.

Day One

Document the apartment's condition. Before you unpack anything, photograph every room thoroughly — including inside cupboards, under sinks, and any existing marks or damage. Send these photos to the landlord by WhatsApp or email immediately, with a message like "Photos from move-in day." This timestamp protects your deposit.

Check the basics work. Hot water, all light switches, every socket, the washing machine, the oven, any air conditioning units. Do this on day one, not day five, so that any issues are clearly pre-existing rather than things that could be argued either way.

Get a Greek SIM. Walk to the nearest Cosmote or Vodafone shop (both are in central Heraklion) with your passport. A basic SIM with 30GB of data costs around €12/month. This is your internet backup until the home connection is set up, and you will need a Greek mobile number for almost every form you fill in over the coming weeks.

First Week

Order internet. Do this on day two or three at the latest. Installation typically takes five to ten working days. Visit a Cosmote or Vodafone store with your passport and rental address. The technician will come to the apartment to connect the line. Living without home internet for two weeks is manageable with a mobile data plan, but getting the process started early avoids extending that window unnecessarily.

Get your AFM (tax number). You will need this for almost everything — opening a bank account, signing any formal contracts, registering utilities in your name. Go to the local Eforia (tax office) or a KEP centre with your passport and proof of address (the rental agreement works). Bring a Greek-speaker if you can, or at minimum a printed note explaining what you need. The process takes a couple of hours on a quiet day.

Register your electricity account. Electricity in Greece is supplied by DEI (Public Power Corporation) or one of the independent suppliers. If the electricity is in the landlord's name and you need to transfer it, ask the landlord to accompany you to the DEI office or give you a signed letter authorising the transfer. If utilities are included in the rent, this step is not needed — confirm this with the landlord explicitly.

First Two Weeks

Get your AMKA (social security number). AMKA gives you access to the public healthcare system and is required if you plan to work legally in Greece. EU citizens can register at a KEP centre with their passport and AFM. The process is usually straightforward, though wait times at busy periods can be a couple of hours. Register in person — the online system for foreign registrations is not reliable.

Open a Greek bank account. You will need an AFM, your passport, and a proof of address. Eurobank, Alpha Bank, Piraeus, and National Bank of Greece all have English-speaking staff in Heraklion branches. Greek bank accounts are useful for paying rent by transfer, receiving local payments, and avoiding the international transfer fees that eat into your monthly budget if you are paid from abroad.

Register with a local GP. If you have AMKA, you are entitled to register with a NHS (EOPYY) contracted GP. The process involves registering online and then visiting the surgery. For most day-to-day healthcare needs, private clinics are faster and more straightforward — a consultation costs €40–60 — but having a public GP registered is sensible for anything that requires ongoing care.

Practical Apartment Essentials to Buy

Most furnished rentals come with beds, wardrobes, basic kitchen equipment, and a washing machine. The things you typically need to buy yourself: bedding and towels, a good kitchen knife (landlord-provided ones are usually poor), a power strip with surge protection, a doormat, hangers if the wardrobe does not have them, and cleaning supplies.

Ikea delivers to Crete, which solves most furnishing gaps. Local alternatives include Praktiker (hardware and home), Jumbo (everything cheap and slightly chaotic), and the covered market in central Heraklion for kitchen and household items at local prices.