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Greece will Reportedly Open for Tourism Earlier than Expected

UPDATE – Friday, April 16, 9pm:
Alex Patelis, the chief economic adviser to the Greek Prime Minister, has confirmed via twitter that Greece will lift the seven-day compulsory quarantine for visitors from the European Union, the United States, the United Kingdom, Serbia, Israel and the United Arab Emirates as of Monday April 19.
“Visitors will still need to provide proof of vaccination or a negative Covid test from within 72 hours before arrival,” he tweeted.
No further details are available at this time. An official announcement is expected to be made soon.

Greece is said to be taking its first step next week in re-opening for tourism, almost one month ahead of schedule.

According to reports, as of Monday, April 19, travelers from all EU member states, the United States, the United Kingdom, Serbia, Israel and the United Arab Emirates will be able to enter Greece without having to undergo mandatory quarantine after arrival only if they have proof of vaccination or present a negative PCR test performed less than three days prior to their trip.

It is reminded that Greece has already lifted the quarantine measure for passengers from Israel.

Citing a government official, Reuters news agency said that the only airports open to travelers from those countries will be those located in Athens and Thessaloniki, as well as on the islands of Crete (Heraklion and Chania), Rhodes, Kos, Mykonos, Santorini and Corfu.

Under current rules, which expire on April 19, all international passengers arriving in Greece must have a negative PCR test with them and must undergo a mandatory quarantine for seven days.

Serbian Ambassador confirms opening for Serbs

Speaking to the Tanjug news agency on Thursday, Serbian Ambassador to Athens Dušan Spasojević confirmed that Serbian nationals will be able to travel to Greece from April 19 by air or by road from the northern land border crossings of Promahonas and Nymfeas.

Spasojević clarified that travelers should must have either a vaccination certificate issued by an official Serbian authority or a negative PCR test less than three days old. He added that all Serbian travelers must also submit the Passenger Locator Form (PLF) 24 hours before their trip to Greece.

Lockdown restrictions are still in place in Greece, so visitors will be obliged to follow all rules as Greek citizens do.

Restaurants and cafes still remain closed, travel between prefectures is banned and a night curfew is still in place. Archaeological sites in Greece have re-opened.

Editor’s note: No further details on the lifting of quarantine restrictions for the aforementioned countries are available at this time. Official announcements are expected to be made in the coming days.

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  1. George Klimes Reply

    That’s a good start, but without restaurants, museums, and shops being fully open, many travelers will hold off.

    I am hoping that Greece gets everyone vaccinated by June or so. I would like to get back later in the summer. Tickets for last year were cancelled and can be used once I am sure of a date that actually works.

  2. Mark Brealey Reply

    What is considered proof of both vaccines being completed? I will have had both by the time I travel on 21st June but at the moment only have appointment/vaccination card

  3. Karen M Holthof Reply

    This sounds like a pipe dream. Every state in the US is spiking with COVID though many are getting vaccinated. With shops and restaurants still locked down in Greece, it rather defeats the purpose of visitors coming for shopping and eating. I’m glad to hear the archeological sites are open but people come for the whole package. I wish you well and hope to see Greece recover fully in the near future.

    • Gina Elizabeth DeShera Reply

      Cases are NOT spiking in California and many other states. We have 41% vaccinated and growing. I applaud Greece for stepping forward and opening safely to the vaccinated and COVID tested people. I sure hope others will follow. This is a step in the right direction with all the proper precautions.

    • NektoPoli Reply

      True, but Greece has taken steps to vaccinate entire island population ahead of open to tourist, I do feel April 19th (NEXT MONDAY) is to soon, but with the rate of vaccination in the USA everyone who wants the vaccine(80%) done by July 4th(I know how patriotic). Greece feels that allowing vaccinated tourist is not and issue maybe they know something the general population doesn’t

    • Tim Reply

      Not true! The USA has seen a huge drop!

  4. David Reply

    Cafes and Restaurants closed. Not good for tourists

    • Manos Papanikolaou Reply

      Clean beaches with nice sea water sunshine and picturesque villages as well as the tradiotional Greek hospitality are still there.

    • L Reply

      When willschool open ????

  5. Gina Elizabeth DeShera Reply

    This is great news for ME (A vaccinated US citizen). It is still not official though. I sure hope it’s true. Can’t wait to go to Greece and swim in warm water!

  6. Robert Wills Reply

    I was informed by the Minister, that people who had passed through the covid 19 , would also be accepted as the had the antibodies ???????

  7. Stephen Foulkes Reply

    this is promising news however many uk companies are cancelling flight up to June

  8. Verhulst Reply

    Hope the wil be open the airport of Zakynthos as well
    Soon

  9. R.Ferguson Reply

    Lateral Flow tests would be good instead of the swab type tests which cost £120 or even more and take longer to get a result. 72 hours is not really long enough and puts people under a lot of stress.

    • Tussar Reply

      Hope open for indian citizens tourist visa

  10. Michail ILIOVITS Reply

    Healthy Greetings,

    When travelers from Beirut – Lebanon will be able to enter Greece without having to undergo mandatory quarantine after arrival (if they have proof of vaccination OR present a negative PCR test performed less than three days prior to their trip.

    Stay Safe,

    Michail ILIOVITS

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