Greece Reopening + 4 Unique Things to Do in Greece

Greece Reopening for Tourism May 15th: What to Know

What do you need to know about Greece reopening for tourism? Greece announced they will be welcoming tourists back on May 15th. But they will have a few safety measures in place. What does this mean for travelers from the United States? The U.S. Embassy in Greece still states that Americans may not enter the country. However, this may soon change. As with any travel right now, it is of the utmost importance that travelers carefully review current information provided by U.S. embassies, as well as the change and cancellation policies for any travel package.

Here are a few things you need to know about Greece reopening plus a few fun things you can do while you are in Greece!

Greece Reopening Guidelines

Please note: these re-opening guidelines are accurate as of 04/12/2021. According to current information (4/12/2021) from the U.S. Embassy in Greece, Americans may not enter the country, though this may soon change. For most up-to-date travel information please visit gr.usembassy.gov.

On April 6th Greece’s Minister of Tourism, Harry Theocharis, announced that Greece will reopen for tourism “on May 14, and we will open safely, despite the danger.” In order to do so safely, he outlined 5 lines of defense: 

• Upon arrival, travelers must present either proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test.
• The activation of the “EVA” — which allows for travelers to be randomly selected for rapid testing at airports or borders.
• Quarantine hotels for those who do test positive to self-isolated.
• Vaccinations for tourism workers, which will be prioritized after the most vulnerable are vaccinated.
• Strict adherence to health protocols such as mask-wearing and social distancing.

4 Unique Things To Do in Greece

Due to the ever-changing nature of COVID, please verify individually with these locations for safety precautions and hours of operation. 

1. Icaria

Icaria is a Greek island located 10 nautical miles southwest of Samos. This island is one of five “Blue Zones” in the world. This means that Icaria is a unique region where the population has a longer-than-usual life expectancy. Some say this is due to a clean diet, love of walking, or strong community. The other four “Blue Zones” are Okinawa, Japan; Sardinia, Italy; Nicoya, Costa Rica; and Loma Linda, California. You can travel to Icaria by plane or by ferry. Put Icaria on your destination list and discover the secrets of this wonderful island.

2. Melissani Cave

Yet another island destination, Melissani Cave is located on the island of Kefalonia. Here you can travel by boat to an underground lake, where the water is so clear it appears the boats float on air.

3. Thalassino Ageri

What could be more ideal than a seaside restaurant in Greece with a robust menu of fresh-caught seafood? Thalassino Ageri is your place! Feast on grilled octopus, squid, and lobster alongside fresh-baked bread as you watch the sunset over the water.

4. Meteora Monasteries

The cliff-top monasteries of Meteora are located in Thessaly, Greece. While there were originally 24 monasteries, six now remain standing. A small community of monks and nuns inhabit these monasteries and welcome the tourists that come to visit each year. Take a photo tour of these incredible structures here! Or better yet, view some incredible drone footage of the monasteries here.

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