With summer just around the corner, everybody is wondering if it’s still possible to have a vacation abroad. Greece is always one of the most desired destinations worldwide -but is it still possible to visit it in 2020? The coronavirus outbreak changed our lives, and tourism is one of the most affected industries. As a Greek citizen stranded for months abroad and willing to return, I’ve been following the news since mid-January. I want to return to Greece, but only when I feel it’s a good time to do so. So, in this post, I’m analyzing if it’s still possible to travel to Greece in the summer of 2020. Moreover, I take into consideration all the official updates of the Greek government, and I offer tips on how to plan your Greek vacation in 2020.
Before starting with my analysis regarding your journey to Greece in summer 2020, I must point out that this is going to be an odd summer. No one can force you to travel to Greece or anywhere else if you don’t feel comfortable doing so. Also, if you have a medical condition that might make it hard for you to travel, you might better stay at home. But, if you feel that traveling is part of your return to normal life (for me, it is) and you’re willing to travel, in this article, you’ll find lots of info. After following for months English, German and Greek news, I’m also ready to go back to Greece this summer.
So, let’s see if it’s possible to travel to Greece in the summer of 2020 and have a great vacation there. I will try to update this post with all the latest info as time goes by. However, there’s always a chance that you might have an additional question. If that’s the case, please leave a comment below, and I will reply to it. Bookmark this site and check back for updates. Let’s start.
*Due to the numerous updates (latest update: August 29th) I’m adding an extra section at the bottom of this post. Please read the full article in order to understand the situation and check the updates for a better overview.
**Update: I finally took my first flight after the lockdown and I wrote a comprehensive post about it, accompanied by several photos. Read here how it felt to be up in the air again.
***Some links within the text are affiliate links
Travel to Greece in the summer of 2020: What’s currently the situation?
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis implemented strict measures early on, and the country managed to handle rather well the Coronavirus outbreak. At the time of writing this article (mid-June), Greece has slightly more than 3,000 confirmed cases and 183 deaths. If you would like to see the up-to-date numbers, please visit the official website of EODY or check Worldometers. In general, I would strongly advise you to follow only the official announcements. And this is for every country you’re willing to visit, and not just about Greece. Speculation and fake news won’t offer comfort; they will just feed the Monster.
There was a lot of controversy in Greece whether the country should open to tourism in 2020 or not. As time went by, though, it became apparent that Greece’s dependence on tourism is too big to ignore. Almost 30% of Greece’s GDP depends on tourism, and if the country wasn’t willing to accept tourists this year, this would turn into a substantial financial loss. There’s one more big crisis on the way for Greece, but this time it won’t be a debt crisis like the previous one. However, a crisis is always a crisis, and that’s how Greece decided to open up to visitors in 2020.
Last year (2019), Greece welcomed more than 34,000,000 travelers. There’s no chance for such crowds this year, though. Since this is an unpredictable summer, it’s impossible to estimate the tourist flow. In my opinion, Greece should celebrate big time if it gets more than 10 million tourists. People working in the tourism industry of Greece estimate approximately 5 to 6 million travelers -or even less. The truth is that no one really knows what is going to happen. All we have is estimations.
On the bright side of life, fewer visitors translate to a relative absence of crowds. That said, if you don’t like packed places, then you won’t probably observe them in most of the areas. If you’ve been following this blog for a while, you probably remember that I’m not a fan of mass tourism. I complain about mass tourism in Santorini, I don’t like beaches with sunbeds, and I’m always up for some raw, off the beaten track islands. In my opinion, this is going to be the trend this summer. If you want to travel to Greece in the summer of 2020, you should, therefore, try to visit smaller places. And I’ll explain shortly why.
Travel to Greece in summer 2020: When will Greece open its borders?
After several back and forths from the Ministry of Tourism, it was announced that Greece would accept international travelers from June 15th, 2020. There are, however, specific protocols and procedures to keep in mind.
First of all, between the 15th and the 30th of June, flying to Greece will only be possible towards the airports of Athens and Thessaloniki. All other airports will remain shut to international flights until the 30th of June, 2020. Practically, this means that if you’d like to travel in June to Santorini, for example, you’ll have to stop in Athens (or Thessaloniki) first. Then, you can take a domestic flight to Santorini (or any other destination). From July 1st, 2020, this will change, though. From then on, direct international flights will be allowed to every Greek airport.
Now, one would ask: how do I know if I can travel to Greece in the summer of 2020 from my country? Your country of origin seems to be the key if you are willing to fly to Greece. Once again, after changing several times their mind, the guys from the Ministry of Tourism decided to follow the EASA lists. The EASA is issuing weekly an annex with airports that should take extra cleaning precautions. This list was taken by the Greek government and was baptized in a way as “a list of airports that seem dangerous.” Don’t ask me why, ask them. This odd interpretation of the list even caused minor diplomatic incidents with Italy, Belgium, and France.
That said, if you’re flying from one of the countries in the EASA annex, you might a) not be able to travel or b) you might go through tests at the airport. Supposedly, from July 1st, Greece will accept tourists from most of the countries, but you shouldn’t pay for a vacation in Greece before clearing things out with the Greek Embassy in your country of residence. Unless, of course, it’s okay for you to end up with a voucher for a future vacation.
As for the tests, well, the current process (up to the 15th of June) is the following: after arriving at the International Airport of Athens, you will go through a Coronavirus test. Then, you will be transferred by bus to a hotel in downtown Athens, and you’ll stay there until your test results are out. This usually takes 24-48 hours -but lately, people visiting Greece claim that it takes even longer. If you are negative, you have to currently quarantine yourself in an address that you should provide. If you are positive, you’ll have to stay for two weeks in your hotel room. It’s not tempting, and in my opinion, there’s no tourism with quarantines. Period.
So, long story short, if you see your country in the latest issue of the EASA annex, do not book anything before you inform yourself via the Greek Embassy in your home country. If your country is not listed in the EASA indexes, you are free to travel to Greece from June 15th, 2020, without a quarantine. However, there will be random testing in airports. If you don’t consent to a test, you will have to return back home with the next flight.
Update 27/6. From June 27th, 2020, and minimum up to August 31st, 2020, every passenger arriving in Greece has to fill in a Passenger Locator Form (PLF). You must do that before arriving in Greece. You can find more info and fill your Passenger Locator Form here. It’s not clear yet if the EASA lists are still something to consider.
How would I travel to Greece in the summer of 2020 if I was a tourist?
After being stranded in Berlin for more than five months due to the Coronavirus outbreak, I’m trying to find a way back to Greece. The lockdown affected my mood, and the last thing I want is to be on quarantine for half a month. This quarantine translates to strictly isolating yourself in a flat for two weeks—no walking, no cycling, nothing at all. Still, since I’m a Greek, it would be much easier for me to return for, let’s say, two months, and stay there the whole summer. But a tourist to Greece that might have only 10-15 days in the country won’t find the scenario tempting. So, what would I do if I was a tourist to Greece?
First of all, I would check the EASA list of countries. And to be more precise, I wouldn’t only check the latest issue. I would check the latest 4-5 issues to see if my country was on the list. The list takes into consideration local outbreaks, the holy R0 factor, the free beds in hospitals, etc. If for the past month, your country is not part of the list, and there’s also no sign of an outbreak, then you are good to go.
Then, I’d have to decide. Shall I visit mainland Greece or the islands? Apparently, the islands sound more tempting, and for most of the people, that’s what Greece is all about. However, and since we have no update on how the Greek government would deal with an outbreak on an island, think about it twice. There’s no easy reply here. Going to an island without knowing what’s the plan of dealing with a local outbreak is risky. I love the Greek islands, but this year I’m skeptical. I’d choose an island that has a medical facility, that it’s not crowded and -potentially- having an airport. I know that smaller islands are the most beautiful ones. But since there’s a chance of a local lockdown, it might be risky visiting one this year.
That said, in mainland Greece, you might feel more comfortable. I wrote a long travel guide about how to travel around Greece and the mainland occupies a good part of it. Renting a car and driving through Greece is a marvelous experience. Greece has beaches almost everywhere, and you will also find plenty of beautiful places. The landscape is raw, and rural Greece is mostly undiscovered by tourists. I’d probably feel safer knowing that if things go wrong, I can drive my car to the airport and fly back home.
So, all that said, where would I travel to Greece in the Corona-summer of 2020? Right now, my reply is 70% mainland and 30% islands. There are currently (mid-June) no signs of a COVID-19 outbreak in Greece and, therefore, the country feels safe. Follow the news and try not to book too much in advance. If, after the start of tourism, there are still no signs of an outbreak, I’d take that vacation. In fact, if the government succeeds in handling the new Corona-cases without ruining the vacation of tourists, I might change my reply and say I’m 70% for the islands and 30% for the mainland. But right now, I stand up for my initial response.
Q&A regarding the best time to visit Greece in Summer 2020
Now, I know that lots of people are interested in different timeframes. Some of you would love an early summer vacation while others would like to visit Greece in September 2020. However, with things being so fluid right now, it’s a bit tough to give specific advice. In this section, I’ll try to reply to you if and when you can travel to Greece in the summer of 2020. However, I don’t plan to speculate. I prefer to update every section when there’s a chance for valid predictions. So, please bookmark this page and check back for updates as summer goes by.
Can I travel to Greece in June 2020?
June 2020 is a bridge month for Greek tourism. From the 1st until the 15th of June, flights are only arriving at Athens Airport. All passengers (Greek citizens included) will be tested for Coronavirus. The process is exactly as I described it above. Test at the airport, spend a night or two in a hotel downtown, and if you are negative, you’ll have to go on a 7-day quarantine. If you are positive, there’s a 14 days quarantine in the hotel.
From June 15th, 2020, Greece opens slowly to tourism. That’s actually the first day you can travel to Greece. However, you can only fly to Athens and Thessaloniki. If you are willing to continue by airplane, you’ll have to buy another ticket. From June 15th there’s no quarantine and just random testing if you arrive from the following countries: Albania, Australia, Austria, North Macedonia, Bulgaria, Germany, Denmark, Switzerland, Esthonia, Japan, Israel, China, Croatia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Malta, Montenegro, New Zealand, Norway, South Korea, Hungary, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Czech Republic, and Finland. For all other countries, and until June 30th, the quarantine is valid with tests, obligatory night in hotels, etc.
But as I said, everything is still fluid. Even if you come from one of the countries mentioned above, do check the EASA lists. Things change all the time in Greece.
Update 13/6: From June 15th you can also fly to Athens, Greece from Italy, Spain, and the Netherlands. All passengers will have to take the test, stay in a Coronahotel, etc. If they choose you for random testing, you’ll have to stay at a hotel of your choice for a day, until your test results are out. If you are negative, you can go on vacation. But if you are positive, you guessed it right: 14 days quarantine.
Would I travel to Greece in June 2020?
June 2020 might be a good option for a spontaneous vacation in Greece. The reason is that the Coronavirus seems to be tamed -but, of course, no one can guarantee what might happen when more tourists arrive. If you come from any of the above countries, it might actually be a very good idea to visit Greece in late June.
Can I travel to Greece in July 2020?
From July 1st, 2020, Greece will open completely (almost) to tourism. You can fly directly to any airport in Greece, and there will be just a few countries excluded. However, the slow Ministry of Tourism didn’t announce these countries yet. There might be random testing at the airport but no quarantine. At least according to what I know right now. And there’s a question mark here: how would Greece take care of a local outbreak? Will they implement a local lockdown? Or will they try to cope with it? To me, that’s the biggest question of all, because this can ruin the vacation of thousands of people.
Would I travel to Greece in July 2020?
Honestly, I would wait. If I were you, I wouldn’t plan anything for the first half of the month. In fact, I would wait and see how they handle new cases in smaller places/islands. If there are lockdowns or measures of panic, I will skip Greece for this year. I know that this sounds to be against my country, but in this blog, I always write what I believe. If, however, Greece handles the situation properly, then mid-July, I’d book a vacation to Greece. If I were you, I’d actually try to travel rather spontaneously. In other words, I’d book something for the end of the month.
Update 15/7. The first fifteen days of July went by without significant outbreaks in Greece. There were a few scattered Corona-cases in the country, but no signs of an outbreak. The number of infections raised, yes, but that’s something natural when societies open up again. Most of the new cases appeared in Northern Greece, probably due to the outbreak in some Balcan countries; the tourists crossed the land borders by car or bus. There are only a couple of cases in the islands right now (July 15th).
The second half of July seems, therefore, a rather good period to travel to Greece. You won’t probably see crowds anywhere: there’s just one-fifth of the traffic compared to 2019 -in some areas, it’s even one-tenth.
In the “Updates” section below, you can find info based only on the official statements. I update this section whenever new rules or regulations appear.
Can I travel to Greece in August 2020?
Right now, August 2020 sounds like part of another century. I can’t forecast how things will develop in July and how the Greek government will deal with smaller or bigger outbreaks. Again, I’ll say that: if you see local lockdowns at the beginning of July, skip Greece for this summer. It’s better to be safe than sorry. If everything goes normally (and I try to be optimistic about that), then August might be the best time to visit Greece.
By mid-July, I will update this section. Then we will have a better overview, and I can offer you better tips and info. Please save this page and come back later.
Would I travel to Greece in August 2020?
As I wrote in the July section, I would wait. If there are no significant outbreaks, yes. Please check back this section around mid-July.
Update 15/7. As I promised you in early June, today I’m updating this section with my opinion. Societies opened up again after the lockdown, and, as expected, new corona-cases appeared. That’s something I find normal when travel and social life resumes. Greece is no exception, and there are, of course, a few more cases right now. However, there are no signs of an outbreak so far.
That said, I’m also considering a vacation in the Greek islands for August 2020. During the last couple of days, there were several statements by Greek ministers (among them from the Minister of Tourism) that there won’t be a horizontal lockdown in Greece. Apparently, the Greek government will probably reply to potential regional outbreaks with regional lockdowns.
After fifteen days of tourism, no Greek islands have been into lockdown even though there were a few cases here and there. At the time of writing (July 15th), the new cases are traced and isolated. When I first uploaded this post, I wrote that I’m 70% for mainland Greece and 30% for the islands. Right now, and after observing the development, I’d say I’m 50-50. All that said, if the situation continues as it is right now, I’ll probably visit a Greek island in August.
For up-to-date news from official sources only, please check the “Updates” section below.
Can I travel to Greece in September 2020?
If August 2020 is another century, then September 2020 is almost another planet. No one can predict how the pandemic will develop, and if we’ll have a second wave or not. That said, it’s irresponsible to make predictions for a vacation in September 2020. I will update this section sometime in August, so please check back then.
Would I travel to Greece in September 2020?
If you follow my journeys, you probably know that for me, September is always the best month for a vacation. The crowds are gone, the prices are lower, the sea is warm and the services better. That said, if there was no Coronavirus, I’d go, once again, on a late Greek vacation. This year though, the situation is significantly different. I can’t predict how things will develop, and I don’t know how the Greek government plans to deal with the virus. Greece is a beautiful country, and if you are willing to wait till mid-August, a vacation in September might be wonderful. I will, therefore, update this section mid-August.
Update 15/8. So, as I promised, I’m updating this section. It’s mid-August now, and the first half of the Greek summer is gone. As I predicted earlier in the year, the best period to travel to Greece in the summer of 2020 was the second half of July. It was a time with a few Coronavirus cases in Greece and just a couple of measures. However, the situation changed significantly at the beginning of August. There were clear signs of a small outbreak (mainly in Northern Greece), and new measures were implemented (check the “Updates” section below.)
Since you are reading this post, you are probably wondering if it’s possible to visit Greece in September 2020. I can’t encourage you nor discourage you. With Coronavirus cases on the rise, I would be a bit skeptical. Traveling to Greece is still possible, but the risk of getting infected is higher now. Personally, I would travel to Greece but with lots of caution. I would avoid crowded islands, resorts, and nightclubs. That said, I’d try to minimize the chances of ruining my vacation -even though you can never be sure.
So, long story short, If I were you, I’d have a 50-50 approach. If I were desperate for a Greek vacation, I’d book one, but I’d be very cautious. On the other hand, if I could wait for the next year, I’d skip it for 2021. No matter what, I’d wait till the end of August or -if possible- till the beginning of September. If the situation seems better, September is the best month for holidays in Greece. But, if the situation is pretty much the same as today (August 15th), I’d probably skip it for 2021.
My destination travel tips for the Greek summer of 2020
If you read all the above sections, the travel tips you’ll find here will make sense to you. If you didn’t read the things I wrote above, then you might have some questions. Please do not hesitate to ask me in the comments below. So, in this section, I’d tell you where I’d go to Greece like a local if things don’t get worse. Apparently, if there are big outbreaks, I’d stay at home -or visit another country.
- First of all, I’d visit the smaller islands. I would avoid crowded places. That’s anyway my traveling style, so it’s not a compromise for me. I prefer to travel off the beaten path and relax without thousands of people around me. I wouldn’t go to Santorini or Mykonos. Instead, I’d visit places like Anafi, Sikinos, Astypalaia, or Schinoussa. Fewer people also means fewer chances of getting Coronavirus. Moreover, and that’s what matters to me the most, it also means fewer chances for a quarantine. The last thing I want is stress on my vacation.
- If having good medical facilities around you is a must for this summer, then there’s only one non-mainland place I’d go: Crete. Apart from being a gorgeous island, Crete also has some top medical facilities. Also, there are loads of ferries and planes to Athens or even to destinations worldwide. The landscape of Crete is unbeatable. I wrote a thorough guide about Crete -you can check it out here.
- As I wrote earlier, mainland Greece seems to be a finer option for this summer. If you don’t want to risk things, but you would still like to visit Greece, renting a car and driving around Greece will be rewarding. For me, the Peloponnese is always a great option: lots of places to go, beautiful beaches and it’s never that crowded. The proximity to Athens will give you peace of mind, and you will still have a fantastic holiday. I also wrote a long guide with several itineraries around Greece –you can read it here.
- This summer is better to choose a small hotel for your stay. I always prefer rooms to let or hotels with just a small number of rooms (less than 10). Apart from feeling relaxed, you’ll have fewer chances to ruin your vacation if the whole facility has to go on quarantine. You can use Booking for finding accommodation in Greece or simply use the interactive map below. Plus, in my Greek travel guides, you’ll find the hotels I stayed in every destination.
- If you can afford it, fly business class. The cost will be significantly higher, but you will avoid being squeezed in a packed airplane. In business class, the middle seat remains empty, and this gives you some breathing space. Aegean Airlines has an excellent business class, and the same goes for Lufthansa. Both airlines will serve Greece this year. If you’d like to read more about flying business class, you can read my Aegean Airlines Business Class review here and my Lufthansa one here.
- No matter what, book your tickets directly with the airlines. It’s easier to sort things out if something happens. Book your Aegean Airlines ticket here and your Lufthansa tickets here.
- I often recommend getting travel insurance. While your health insurance might cover some incidents, in such a bizarre summer, it’s better to have extra protection. I always book mine via World Nomads: they offer great services at a fair price. Follow the link and get an online quote for your Greek vacation straight ahead.
In brief, the best advice I can give you is this: if you feel comfortable traveling to Greece during the pandemic, choose a smaller island. If you, however, would like to have medical facilities close to you or easy access to the airport, then choose Crete or a tour through mainland Greece. Check Peloponnese too. Avoid crowded beaches and big hotels or resorts. And, of course, use common sense and follow the hygiene rules.
The updates
Here you will find the latest updates. I’ll only add the official announcements, no speculations or rumors.
Update 13/6: From June 15th you can also fly to Athens, Greece from Italy, Spain, and the Netherlands. All passengers will have to take the Coronatest, stay in a Coronahotel, etc. The plan is valid until further notice.
Update 13/6: If they choose you for random testing, you’ll have to stay at a hotel of your choice (or a friend’s place) for a day, until your test results are out. If you are negative, you can go on vacation. If you are positive, you guessed it right: 14 days quarantine.
Update 27/6. From June 27th, 2020, and minimum up to August 31st, 2020, every passenger arriving in Greece has to fill in a Passenger Locator Form (PLF). You must do that before arriving in Greece. You can find more info and fill your Passenger Locator Form here. It’s not clear if the EASA lists are still something to consider.
Update 30/6. Greece announced today that the country will accept travelers from 14 more countries, as of July 1st, 2020. The 14 countries are Algeria, Australia, Canada, Georgia, Japan, Montenegro, Morocco, New Zealand, Rwanda, Serbia, Tunisia, South Korea, Thailand, and Uruguay. The list will be updated every two weeks.
Update 30/6. Countries like the USA, Great Britain, China, Russia, and Sweden are not currently on the list of safe countries.
Update 4/7. The Greek Minister of Tourism stated yesterday that “tourists from all countries are welcome.” Further on, he said that what is currently not allowed is direct flights from specific destinations. That said, if you come from a country that is currently outside of the “safe-countries list”, you can fly to Greece via a safe country. Therefore, from countries like Sweden, the United States, or Great Britain, you can’t fly directly to Greece right now, but you can fly via a safe airport (ex. Frankfurt).
Update 5/7. Bad news for Serbian citizens. The Greek government decided today that they are not allowed to travel to Greece minimum until the 15th of July.
Update 6/7. The direct flights from Great Britain to Greece will resume July 15th, 2020. That said, from then on, citizens of Great Britain can fly directly to any Greek airport. Until the 15th of July, citizens of Great Britain can only visit Greece with corresponding flights (ex. via Frankfurt).
Update 11/7. The Greek government announced that every traveler willing to enter Greece by car via the land borders should present a negative Coronavirus test. You must take the test up to 72 hours (or less) before arrival and the confirmation should be in English. Entry to Greece will be denied without a negative Corona test. The regulation is valid from the 14th of July on. The reason for that new measure is the recent outbreak in several Balcan countries.
Update 13/7. Good news for the citizens of Sweden. From July 22, 2020, the direct flights between Greece and Sweden will resume.
Update 15/7. Out of more than 42,000 tests conducted in the Greek airports during the first half of July, only 88 passengers had the Coronavirus. This translates to briefly to 2 infected per 1,000 tests. Most of them had no symptoms at all, and none got the virus while flying -they had it already. Right now, air travel seems to be the safest option to travel to Greece in the summer of 2020.
Update 15/7. I just updated the sections about traveling to Greece in July and August 2020. Check them out above.
Update 25/7. From the 28th of July passengers from Bulgaria and Romania can enter Greece only if they present a negative Coronavirus test. The measure is valid minimum until the 4th of August (but most likely the Greek government will extend it.) Check back for updates.
Update 6/8. According to the Greek Minister of Tourism, Harry Theocharis, more than 1,3 million tourists visited Greece in July 2020. As Mr. Theocharis stated, the number of travelers tested positive for Coronavirus was 400. However, the Coronavirus cases are currently on the rise in Greece, even though the number is still not alarming.
Update 7/8. Poros, the small island in the Saronic Gulf (don’t confuse it with Paros in the Cyclades), is the first Greek island that experiences a lockdown. There are 13 Coronavirus cases at the time of writing, and the government implemented a “light” lockdown. Stores, bars, cafes, restaurants, etc., should remain closed between 11 pm and 7 am. A mask is obligatory both indoors and outdoors (therefore, everywhere), and gatherings of more than nine people are not allowed both in public and private spaces. If you are heading to Poros, make sure to contact the local authorities or your hotel. The measures are valid (initially) from August 7 until August 17.
Update 10/8. The Coronavirus is unfortunately still here and it might affect your plans to travel to Greece in the summer of 2020. I’m writing down the latest regulations that appeared in the Greek news a couple of minutes ago.
- From August 17, 2020 passengers flying to Greece from Sweden, Czech Republic, Belgium, Spain, and the Netherlands must present a negative Coronavirus (PCR) test. They must be tested negative to the Coronavirus a maximum of 72 hours before their arrival to Greece.
- Also from the 17th of August, everybody willing to enter Greece via the land borders must present a negative Coronavirus test. This applies to all nationalities and it includes Greek citizens as well. Travelers must present a negative Coronavirus test conducted a maximum of 72 hours before the border crossing.
- From the 11th of August and at least until the 23rd, bars, clubs, restaurants, etc, will remain closed between midnight and 7 am in the following areas: Crete, Thessaloniki, Eastern Macedonia, Thrace, Chalkidiki, Larissa, and Corfu. The same applies to Mykonos, Santorini, Paros, Antiparos, Zakynthos, Kos, Rhodes as well as in Katerini and Volos.
That said, if you are up for some parties in the Greek islands this year, you’d better forget it.
Update 14/8. Paros and Antiparos, the two islands of the Cyclades, are also going into lockdown. The measures are exactly the ones that took place in Poros (check above.) Initially, the measure will be valid until August 24th, but they will most likely be extended. Contact your hotel owner before traveling to Paros and Antiparos.
Update 14/8. Between August 17 and August 24 the clubs, bars, cafes, and restaurants in the Attica region will remain shut between midnight and 7 am. The Attica region light lockdown also includes the islands of the Saronic Gulf (Aegina, Poros, Spetses, Hydra) as well as Kythera. Such a joy this summer is…
Update 15/8. Passengers traveling to Greece from Israel must present a negative Coronavirus test. The regulation will take place from August 17th.
Update 21/8. As it was the case with Paros, Antiparos and other islands, from today on there’s also a mini lockdown in Mykonos. The restrictions are exactly the same as on the island of Poros. Please check above the regulations.
Update 29/8. The islands of Zakynthos and Lesbos are the newest additions in the mini-lockdown list. The regulations are exactly the same as in Poros and the rest of the islands.
Update 30/8. The summer season is coming to an end, therefore I won’t update this section anymore. If you are still willing to travel to Greece in 2020 and you have questions, please leave your comment below. I will do my best to reply with all the latest travel updates.
Greek summer 2020: Conclusion
Greece decided to open rather late to tourism and with lots of regulations in comparison to other countries. While it’s still possible to travel to Greece from June 15th, 2020, this is going to be a strange summer. I never take into consideration the promotional spots of the countries when it comes to deciding on a destination. They are usually soulless imitations of Instagram videos -and that’s what I think of Greece’s promotional spot this year. If, as the spot claims, Greek summer is a state of mind, then I’m allowed to perceive it the way I did. As a call to stay home and keep Greece in your mind, your heart, whatever.
However, I try to remain optimistic, with a risk of getting disappointed. But I will keep my optimism. I believe that it’s still possible to travel to Greece in the summer of 2020 and have a great vacation. I’d personally skip the cheesy quote about the state of mind. Honestly, since everybody talks about Albert Camus and The Plague because of the pandemic, I’d choose one of his most famous quotes: “In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer. And that makes me happy.” Therefore, if the situation allows it, I’d plan a journey to Greece in a heartbeat.
More about Greece: Greek islands guide
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Last Updated on August 29, 2020 by George Pavlopoulos