Greece travel advice updated as restrictions to change in May

Greece has announced it is ‘suspending’ its coronavirus restrictions ahead of the summer holidays.

Wearing a face covering and showing vaccine passes will be dropped from May. Thanos Plevris, the country’s Minister of Health confirmed the change.

On May 1, holidaymakers will no longer have to show proof of their vaccination to go to restaurants and bars. On June 1, wearing a face mask indoors will no longer be mandatory.

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According to the Mirror, an official statement from the Ministry of Health has said that these will be reviewed in May including “the removal of the demonstration of the European certificate for entry into the country”. Authorities have said that all Covid measures will be reviewed in September, dependent on the covid situation at the time. Under Greece’s existing travel rules, all UK tourists can visit, but the rules differ depending on your vaccination status.

Fully vaccinated Brits don’t need a pre-travel covid test, but those who are unvaccinated or partially vaccinated will need proof of a negative result. This can be either a PCR test taken within 72 hours before arrival or an antigen test within 48 hours.

Those who are unvaccinated but can show proof of recent recovery from covid will also be able to enter. Meanwhile, it’s worth noting that in Greece and the islands, proof of vaccination is required to enter venues including shops, restaurants, museums and cinemas.

Greece has been a firm favourite with UK holidaymakers for decades – and it’s set to remain popular for 2022. Some of the classic holiday spots tend to be the Greek islands, not to mention there are heaps of family-friendly holidays in Greece to be found.

It’s not the only holiday hotspot to be easing its rules. In recent months a host of countries have scrapped covid travel rules entirely including Mexico and Iceland, while holiday hotspots such as France, Portugal and Spain continue to welcome holidaymakers, easing rules such as pre-travel forms or covid tests for fully vaccinated travellers.

Earlier this month Cyprus announced it would be relaxing travel rules for Brits, including axing its pre-travel ‘flight pass’, and removing on-arrival covid tests for unvaccinated travellers.

The country has also removed a mandatory requirement to wear face masks in outdoor spaces, although these are still mandatory indoors. The UK Foreign Office warned: “The use of a face mask is compulsory in all indoor public spaces for everyone aged six and above. Failure to comply with restrictions may result in a €300 fine.”

Of course for UK travellers, there is no longer covid admin required when returning home, with the UK’s own travel rules having ended, meaning no passenger locator forms or other entry rules when you come back from your trip abroad.

• Travel restrictions can change quickly due to the nature of the pandemic. Always check the Foreign Office’s latest Greece travel advice before booking and going on a trip.

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