Travelling to Greece | Greece opens its borders for travel

Greece, a safe destination

Greece has been one of the EU countries least affected by the pandemic, largely thanks to measures imposed by local authorities that effectively contained the spread of the disease. Current measures comply with European Union standards, and Greece is on the “white list” of countries open to travel.

Travel with suitable routes

Although Greece is a popular destination, our route explores the mainland, often overlooked by conventional itineraries. There are far fewer visitors here and less contact with other travellers. Some popular monuments may still attract crowds. Local authorities monitor access and compliance with safety measures; we will visit at quieter times and follow the necessary hygiene and distancing precautions. Authorities have also introduced hygiene and distancing measures on public transport, which is therefore considered safe.

Travel restrictions

A ministerial decree issued by the competent authorities of the Greece, states that, from 1 July, entry restrictions for foreign visitors are as follows:

• From 01 July, international flights are permitted to all airports in Greece.
• All passengers on international flights to any Greek airport must complete the Passenger Locator Form (e-PLF) 48 hours before check-in. This form can be completed on-line at this address: https://travel.gov.gr/#/.
• Passengers without the e-PLF and QR code will be denied boarding.
• Passengers arriving without an e-PLF and QR code will be declared inadmissible passengers (INAD) on board and returned to their point of origin.
• Passengers arriving without a QR code are subject to an administrative fine.
• The QR code must be valid and match the passenger's date and flight.
• All international passengers will be given another form on board, which must be filled in and delivered upon arrival.

Upcoming trips to Greece

Greece is one of the countries least affected by the pandemic and is now preparing to welcome visitors. With departures in late July, August and September, it is one of our options Tuareg Travel Safe for this summer/autumn 2020.

A trip to Greece and Macedonia in September introducing us to Macedonia and the lesser-known regions of northern Greece. We will explore the vertiginous monasteries of Meteora. We will enter Macedonia through the peaceful city of Ohrid The route ends near Mount Olympus National Park, in Thessaloniki.

Updated June 14, 2020

Greece opens all airports and border points for visitors on 1 July

Greece announced on Friday (12/06) that it will fully open all its airports to flights from abroad at all its borders. All passengers in transit will also be allowed from that date.

Restrictions on flights from Italy, the Netherlands and Spain will be lifted from 15 June (when the first flights from abroad will be allowed, but only for the international airports of Athens and Thessaloniki). There will still be a ban on flights from the United Kingdom and Turkey, at least until the end of June.

Greece will open its borders to flights from 15 June in accordance with all public health safety measures, according to Deputy Minister of Civil Protection Nikos Hardalias.

Updated 30 May 2020

From 15 June, tourists from 29 countries around the world will be able to fly to Greece. According to the government, the reason only citizens of these countries can visit Greece as tourists is that they all share a similar epidemiological situation.

Spanish citizens will not be able to fly to Greece until at least 1 July, due to the covid-19 situation. This has been announced by the Greek government which has assured that this decision has been made on the basis of scientific criteria.

From 1 July, the list of countries will expand, subject to health data and agreement with the European Aviation Safety Agency. Let us hope Spain is among them.

From 15 June, when international flights resume, tourists of the 29 nationalities that are on the list will be allowed to enter Greece without taking a test for covid-19 or to remain quarantined, but health officials shall carry out spot testing when they deem it necessary.

When can we travel to Greece?

Although nothing specific has yet been reported on the possibility of start travelling abroad, travel to Greece is expected to become possible in late June or early July, depending on each Spanish autonomous community’s reopening phase. This may coincide with our inclusion on the Greek government’s “green” lists.

Updated on May 22, 2020

With a low fatality rate and fewer than 200 deaths in two months of the pandemic, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced last Thursday (21/5) that on 1 July will restart international flights to and from your country. The Greek Prime Minister stated that the effective response Greece has applied to COVID-19 can be a “security, credibility and health passport“ to attract visitors seeking health safeguards.

Greece will reopen its entire tourist infrastructure on 15 June, but foreigners will have to wait until 1 July when international flights will be restarted.

In a televised address, the Prime Minister said that foreign visitors would be subject to random COVID-19 testing and required to follow the same health safety protocols as the local population. “Opening the borders is necessary to allow visitors to enjoy the country's natural beauty“, Mitsotakis said.

Tourism Minister Harry Theocharis added that 600 beds will be reserved if necessary in the event of new cases of the coronavirus in the Greek islands. In Greece, tourism is a vital sector of the economy providing a significant share of GDP.

Random diagnostic tests

Tourists arriving in Greece will do so without a mandatory quarantine but may be subjected to random tests of COVID-19 upon arrival and will have to follow a health measures protocol throughout the journey.

“Our strength is the reputation for safety, reliability and health that Greece has earned: its great name, its health safeguards, hospitality everywhere and, of course, the passion of the Greeks,” Mitsotakis declared.

Low infection rate

As of 25 May, Greece had recorded only 166 deaths from COVID-19 and just over 2,800 cases, a far lower infection rate than other European countries thanks to early action.

“Greeks, who were said to be individualists, has become a conscious part of the collective effort”, Mitsotakis noted.

Travel to Greece, walks through mainland Greece

A cultural and hiking trip introducing us to the lesser-known regions of northern Greece. We start in the capital, Athens, before heading to the Oracle of Delphi. We will travel north to explore Meteora’s vertiginous monasteries and cross the roof of Greece: Ottoman Ioannina and Vikos Gorge. We will continue to Mount Olympus to walk along its slopes and end up in the northern capital, Thessaloniki. We will return to Athens by train to spend the last night.

We will explore Meteora’s spectacular monasteries, the Vikos Gorge and Mount Olympus, ending in Thessaloniki.

Greek climate

The climate in Greece is very similar to that of our own country. The itinerary will adapt to daylight hours and the weather. In the hottest months, walks will start earlier to avoid peak heat.

When can we travel abroad?

Although nothing specific has yet been reported on the possibility of start travelling abroad, it is expected that it will be by the end of June or early July depending on the phase of each autonomous community.

With travel disrupted and COVID-19 health policies constantly changing in each country, we will update this article as often as possible to show which borders remain closed, where you can travel and when you can go.

Front.➜ Border situation
Open? Closed.
Tur.➜ Open borders for tourism
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Routes ➜ Routes available in the country
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