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Guidance for Travel to Greece – Q & A

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“We are now opening up our country with a renewed sense of hospitality and welcome… We make sure that this summer, our health and safety is our top priority.” – Greek Tourism Ministry

Greece is getting ready to once again welcome the world following the Covid-19 pandemic.

Starting on June 15, the country will be welcoming travelers with rules and protocols.

Following is useful information, provided by the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on the country’s gradual reopening:

Phase 1 – Until 15 June
International flights are allowed only into Athens airport.
All visitors are tested upon arrival and are required to stay overnight at a designated hotel. If the test is negative, then the passenger self-quarantines for 7 days. If the test is positive, the passenger is quarantined under supervision for 14 days.

Phase 2 – Bridge phase – 15 June to 30 June
International flights are allowed into Athens and Thessaloniki airports.
If your travel originated from an airport not in the EASA affected area list, then you are only subject to random tests upon arrival.
If you originate from an airport on the EASA affected area list, then you will be tested upon arrival. An overnight stay at a designated hotel is required. If the test is negative then the passenger self-quarantines for 7 days. If the test is positive, the passenger is quarantined under supervision for 14 days.

Phase 3 – 1 July onwards
International flights are allowed into all airports in Greece.
Visitors are subject to random tests upon arrival.
Additional restrictions regarding certain countries will be announced at a later date.

In addition:
Land border arrivals from Albania, North Macedonia and Bulgaria will be allowed as of 15 June. Visitors will be subject to random tests upon arrival.
Arrivals by sea will be allowed as of 1 July. Visitors will be subject to random tests upon arrival.
Greece at any stage retains the right to modify any of the above in light of changing circumstances.

Frequent Questions and Answers

Q: The European Commission has recommended to member States to restrict non-essential travel from third countries until 15 June 2020. Is this applicable to Greece?
A: Yes. Non-essential travel from third countries to Greece is restricted until 15 June 2020.

Q: Until 15 June 2020, all travelers arriving in Greece undergo a compulsory Covid-19 test and a quarantine. Is this applicable to citizens of all countries?
A: Yes. All travelers, irrespective of nationality, including nationals of EU and Schengen Plus countries, are tested and quarantined. The same rules obviously apply to Greek citizens. If the test is negative, they are placed in a 7-day self-quarantine; if the test is positive, they are under monitored 14-day quarantine. The measures are for the protection of public health and are applicable to all travelers without discrimination.

Q: Are there direct commercial flights from international destination to all Greek airports?
A: Throughout the Covid-19 crisis, there have been direct international flights from many Schengen Plus airports. Until 15 June, international flights arrive only into Athens International Airport. As of 15 June, international flights resume at the Thessaloniki Airport and as of 1 July international flights resume to all Greek airports. Domestic flights have been allowed throughout.

Q: What will change on 15 June 2020?
A: 15 June inaugurates the gradual return to normalcy. Compulsory testing and quarantine will be limited only to travelers, irrespective of nationality, arriving from airports of affected areas with high risk of transmission of the Covid-19 infection, as assessed by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). The list is constantly updated and travelers should check before traveling.
All other travelers will enter restriction-free and may be subject to random tests upon arrival.

Q: What will change on 1 July 2020?
A: All travelers will be subject to random tests upon arrival. Additional restrictions regarding certain countries will be announced at a later date.

Q: Is there a difference whether travel is direct or via transit?
A: No. The same rules apply whether travel is completed directly point-to-point or via transit.

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  1. Ruth Masterson Reply

    Brits now can fly from Manchester airport to Greece without quarantine measures from July 1st- spot checks only- nurses exempt( me ) from self 2 week quarantine on return as on exempt list x

  2. Hayley B Reply

    The advice above says that ‘arrivals by sea will be allowed as of 1st July”.

    I have 3 questions:
    1. Does this refer to private yachts and/or ferries?

    2. Minoan Lines and Anek are currently advertising crossings from Ancona to Igoumentisa from 15th June. This date doesn’t correspond with the advice. Why is this?

    3. As my husband and I both hold a State Citizen Registration Certificate will we be allowed to book a crossing for earlier than the 15th June?

  3. Marie-Jeanne Van Cauwenberge Reply

    Wij hebben onze vlucht naar Athene verplaatst van 31 mei naar 18 juni nadat de Griekse autoriteiten aankondigden dat vanaf 15 juni buitenlandse toeristen welkom zouden zijn.
    Een Corona-test + 24u quarantaine + 7 dagen extra quarantaine ingeval van negatieve test geeft heel wat praktische problemen: aansluitende vlucht van ‘s anderendaags naar Karpathos valt in het water; hotelreservatie Rafina dient geannuleerd; hotel in Karpathos dient deels geannuleerd; reservatie huur plaatselijk vervoermiddel dient geannuleerd. Daar komt nog bovenop dat een verblijf van 15 dagen Karpathos herleid wordt naar 7 dagen.
    En op 1 juli wordt de grote massa (touroperators) toegelaten.
    Waarom niet een Corona-test afnemen, verblijfsgegevens noteren en indien positief de plaatselijke autoriteiten van het verblijf verwittigen om de hotelgast te controleren op naleving quarantainevoorwaarden. Toerist tevreden, hoteleigenaars, luchtvaartmaatschappij en verhuurder transportmiddel tevreden; dus iedereen blij. Dit zou een geleidelijke start naar een uitgebreidere versoepeling ten goede komen.

  4. Marcel Reply

    I’ve read that flights from Spain will be available from June 14th, is it correct?

    And then, will be possible to fly from Athens to Lesvos?

    Thanks a lot

  5. Angela Reply

    “Compulsory testing and quarantine will be limited only to travelers, irrespective of nationality, arriving from airports of affected areas with high risk of transmission of the Covid-19 infection, as assessed by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).”

    So this means that when I fly from Germany (Dusseldorf) to Heraklion, after July 1st, I won’t be tested (unless on a sample basis). Even if I am a Belgian or a Dutch citizen? For me, Dusseldorf airport is closer than Brussels Airport or Amsterdam airport.

    And to be honest, nobody expects that Belgium or the Netherlands will be added to the allowed origin countries after July 1st.

    I own a property / summer house in Crete, that I urgently want to visit to check that everything is OK there. Does that make any difference? I invested in Greece and pay property tax, so it is strange that I am treated as a ‘normal’ tourist 🙂

    Is my understanding correct and am I welcome if I fly from Dusseldorf?

    • Corina de Groote Reply

      Hallo Angela, Ben benieuwd of je inmiddels al wat wijzer bent geworden in deze wirwar van regeltjes? Ik zie dat je nog geen antwoord hebt gehad, maar onze situatie is precies hetzelfde (huiseigenaar of Kreta) en de optie om vanaf duitsland te vliegen bekeken. Ik heb geprobeerd om het consulaat te bellen maar die krijg je niet te pakken.

      • Dia Reply

        Pardon. Zweden moet zijn Zurich. Ook betaalbaar

      • Angela Reply

        Hallo Corina,
        Inderdaad, nog geen antwoord gehad.
        Ik heb wel met mensen in Kreta gesproken (o.a. een van de mensen van de universiteit van Kreta die mee betrokken was in berekeningen mbt openen van het toerisme en die blijkbaar regelmatig in contact staat met de minister van toerisme), en die bevestigde inderdaad dat het de herkomst van de vlucht is, en niet de nationaliteit van de personen.
        Dus wij hebben uiteindelijk een vlucht geboekt, begin juli, vanuit Dusseldorf naar Heraklion.
        Uit interesse: Waar is jullie huisje op Kreta ergens gelegen? 🙂

    • Nina Reply

      Hi,

      If I travel after 15th of June from New Zealand with a transit in Qatar – do you count the transit in Qatar or does it only matter that I came from nz which is on the safe list?

    • Dia Reply

      Je zou vanaf zurich kunnen vliegen. Via swissair en aegean airlines. Dat is te zien bij Schiphol vertrekkende vluchten. Elke dag kun je naar Zweden. Aegean niet elke dag naar Athene.

  6. Georgia Kokliotou Reply

    I’ve booked a flight to Amsterdam after 15th june in order to have a job interview. On my return to Greece and due to my work schedule, is there any way or exception to avoid the overnight stay at the hotel and the self-quarantine? Maybe a recommendation from the doctor I’m working with?

  7. Irina Moghiliova Reply

    Hello guys! Thank you for such detailed and clear information. But what about the travellers coming by their proper cars or bus? From the country that is not in EASA list of restrictions. Do the same rules apply? We are from Moldova with the route to Greace via Romania and Bulgaria.

  8. Angela Reply

    Hi,
    Do I understand correctly that, if you are Dutch and you fly from an airport in Germany, you won’t be tested and you don’t need to go in quarantine? (unless they pick you for a sample test)?
    I live close to the border with Germany, and Dusseldorf airport is very close for me.
    Regards,
    Angela

  9. Herta Tödtling-Schönhofer Reply

    We have a ferry on 17/06 departing from Venice to Igumenitsa. We live in Vienna, but have to cross the border to Italy to board the ship. I wonder if the same rule like in aviation applies, i.e. that not the nationality counts, but the place of departure. Veneto is an area with high risk of transmission of the COVID-19 (accoring to the EASA SD no 2020-01 and 02, Annex). This would imply that we have to be quarantined for 7 days (when tested negatively). This implies that we spend 7 days of our holiday in quarantine – in Igumenitsa. So it does not make any sense to go to Greece by ship, if this applies. I cannot find any information on the procedures when arriving by ship. Could you include this in your Q&A please? Kind regards Herta

  10. Robert Ferguson Reply

    Ruth U.K. maybe allowed to fly from 15th July we lost our Holiday after twenty odd years going to Crete we are going to Malta. And beware if you get a taxi on arrival only one person allowed in a five seater and you have to wear a mask, if the person you are with needs assistance they allow two in the Taxi.

  11. Alina Reply

    I have also booked a flight from Belgium to Corfu. Belgium is not on the list, but by the 1st of July other countries may be added on the list with or without additional restrictions.It all depends on how they evaluate the situation. Let’s hope they will not impose 7 or 14 days quarantine anymore.

  12. I. Miron Reply

    What about tourist travel In Samos in August from Bucharest?

    • Melanie clark Reply

      We are due to fly from manchester airport to greece staying in kos on 26th august will this still go ahead staying at lenaki hotel

  13. Hash Reply

    Bravo GTP team!….. working hard as ever! Kalley Mera Kalllo Mina from Thailand ❣️

  14. Elif Özkan Reply

    The land borders with Turkey…When will they open?

  15. Kathleen bostwick Reply

    We are booked with easyJet to heraklion on 3rd July from Manchester are we likely to be travelling?

    • Robert Ferguson Reply

      They have banned U.K. flights until 15th July

      • Andrew Gilmartin Reply

        Robert, would you be able to share your source on this comment please?

  16. Mina Reply

    What if after being negative then I need to travel to island were I live, Wnat I need to do?

    • Mina Reply

      What if after being negative then I need to travel to island were I live, Wnat I need to do? Can I travel to continue my 7 days quarantine in island?

  17. Karenn holm petersen Reply

    Bravo fantastic

  18. Ruth Masterson Reply

    EasyJet let me book flight to Athens for July 17th-why? U.K. not on list to fly yet??

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