Greece holidays have been a popular choice with Britons this year after managing to remain on the UK’s travel corridor list. Although many of Greece’s islands were removed for a short time, the mainland has continued to garner tourists from the UK. The country and its islands are now on the UK travel corridor list which means Britons do not have to quarantine for 14 days on their return from Greece to the UK.
Like the UK, Greece now has a Tier system in place which could have an impact on Britons’ holidays.
Here’s the latest Foreign, Commonwealth and Departmental Office (FCDO) advice for the country and its islands.
The Tier System
Greece is now operating a Tier system where regions and islands are in different tiers depending on their coronavirus infection rate.
Tier 4 specifies areas with the strongest measures in place and Tier 1 the least strong measures.
The FCDO is advising travellers to “monitor the situation regularly via media and other information sources, including your accommodation or travel provider”.
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Tier 4 includes the regions of Kozani and Kastoria in mainland Greece.
Tier 4 means face masks are mandatory in all outdoor and indoor spaces which includes indoor workplaces.
These are some of the Tier 4 rules that could impact your holiday. They include:
- A ban on travelling into or out of the region
- A curfew is in place between 12.30am and 5am local time. People should remain in their accommodation between these hours, except in case of emergency
- A ban on all public and private gatherings
- A limit of one person (in addition to the driver) in a taxi
- A limit of three people (including the driver) in a private vehicle
- Closure of shops, gyms, bars, beauty parlours, hairdressers, cinemas, concert venues, theatres (though online performances may continue), museums and archaeological sites
- Closure of restaurants (though take away and delivery services may continue, sale of alcohol prohibited)
- Operation of outdoor grocery markets at 50 percent capacity, with mandatory use of a mask for producers and consumers, with a distance of three metres between the counters
- Suspension of operation for all outdoor markets.
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Tier 3 regions: Achaia; Attica (including Athens, and the islands of Angistri, Aegina, Hydra, Kythira, Poros, Salamis, and Spetses); Boeotia (Viotia); Heraklion; Imathia; Ioannina; Karditsa; Kea; Kythnos; Larissa; Lesbos; Mykonos; Pella; Samos; Santorini and surrounding islands (including Anafi, Folegandros, Ios and Sikinos; Serres; Thessaloniki; Trikala; Zakynthos (Zante)
Face masks are mandatory in all outdoor and indoor spaces which include indoor work places.
These are some of the Tier 3 rules that could impact your holiday. They include:
- A curfew is in place between 12.30am and 5am local time. People should remain in their accommodation between these hours, except in case of emergency
- Mandatory use of face masks in crowded outdoor areas where minimum social distancing (of 1.5 metres) cannot be maintained, such as in public squares, at bus stops etc.
- Strong recommendation for anyone aged 65 and over to self-isolate, while limiting their movement to only what is absolutely necessary, avoiding contact with anyone other than members of their immediate family and avoiding use of public transport
- Strong recommendation for the use of face masks by everyone in all outdoor spaces
- Limits on the capacity of public markets, and outdoor cinema and theatre screenings
- A 30 percent limit on the usual capacity of all public events and entertainment events (including cinemas, theatres and concerts) involving the presence of the public
- A maximum limit of 50 people, seated with masks, are allowed to attend weddings, christenings or funerals
- Operation of outdoor grocery markets at 50 percent capacity, with mandatory use of a mask for producers and consumers, with a distance of three metres between the counters
- A ban on all other markets
- Prohibition of operation of all food/catering sector-related shops, services and facilities from midnight – 5am the next day (this does not include delivery or take-away services, sale of alcohol prohibited)
- A limit of four people per table in any restaurant
- A limit of two passengers allowed in a taxi, in addition to the driver.
Tier 2 regions: Argolida; Chios (including Psara); Corfu; Evia (including Skyros); Florina; Grevena; Halkidiki; Kilkis; Korinthia; Kos (and surrounding smaller islands) Lakonia; Naxos (and surrounding islands, including Amorgos and Iraklia); Paros and Antiparos; Pieria; Preveza; Rhodes (and surrounding smaller islands); Rodopi; Veria; Volos; Xanthi
Tier 2 areas mean that face masks must be used in crowded outdoor spaces as well as indoors and on public transport.
These are some of the Tier 2 rules that could impact your holiday. They include:
- The prohibition of operation for restaurants, bars, clubs, entertainment venues etc. starting from midnight until 5am.
- A 50 percent limit on the usual capacity of all public events and entertainment events (including cinemas, theatres and concerts) involving the presence of public.
- The operation of outdoor grocery markets at 65 percent capacity, with mandatory use of a mask for producers and consumers, with a distance of three metres between the counters.
- A maximum of six people per table in restaurants/bars
- A maximum of 50 people are allowed in all public and social events and gatherings, except for in the case of religious services, where the limit is 100 people, seated, with social distancing;
- A ban on gatherings of more than 50 people, either indoors or outdoors
- A limit of 3 passengers allowed in a taxi, in addition to the driver.
Tier 1: If the region is not listed above then it is in this tier
These are some of the Tier 1 rules that could impact your holiday. They include:
- A 65 percent limit on the usual capacity of all public events and entertainment events (including cinemas, theatres and concerts) involving the presence of the public
- The prohibition of operation for restaurants, bars, clubs, entertainment venues etc. starting at 1am, until 5am
- The operation of outdoor grocery markets subject to distancing between stalls, with mandatory use of a mask for producers and consumers, with a distance of three metres between the counters
- A maximum of six people are allowed to be seated at one table in bars and restaurants
- Face masks must be worn in indoor workplaces, crowded outdoor places (such as bus stops and public squares), as well as on public transport. This is mandatory
- A maximum of 200 people (all seated, and wearing masks) are allowed in public and social events and gatherings, except for at large sporting events, where the limit is 500 people
- A ban on private gatherings of more than 100 people, either indoors or outdoors (except religious ceremonies, whose limit is 200 people with social distancing).