Greece Reopens to International Travel
by Jessica Montevago
Photo: Shutterstock.com.
After more than a year of being closed, Greece reopened its borders to American travelers today without having to quarantine.
Other countries that are currently allowed to visit without self-isolation include EU & Schengen Area countries, UK, Israel, Serbia, UAE, New Zealand, Australia, South Korea, Thailand, Rwanda, Singapore, and the Russian Federation.
Arriving visitors will be required to present either a vaccination certificate or negative PCR test taken up to 72 hours before traveling. (Children under the age of 5 will not be required to undergo a PCR test.) Every tourist will also have to complete a Passenger Locator Form (PLF) form 24 hours before traveling.
Upon entering Greece, they will also be subject to random rapid tests from a targeted sampling system. In the event of a positive result, the traveler will be temporarily accommodated in an isolation hotel.
From mid-May onwards, in the framework of the general opening of the tourism industry, all international airports in the country will be allowed to accept flights from abroad.
Restaurants and cafés/bars reopened as of May 3, with tables set in outdoor spaces only. Archaeological sites are open to visitors across the country. Beaches with amenities are also open across Greece.
As of May 14, museums will re-open with health protocols in place, followed by open-air cinemas operating at 75% capacity on May 21. Beginning May 28, live events may be held in open-air venues with seated guests at 50% capacity.
Mask use is still required in public buildings and outdoors–failing to do so will cost a €300 fine.
United Airlines will resume its daily summer service to Athens from Newark International Airport in New Jersey starting June 3 and will begin flying between Washington Dulles International Airport and Athens on July 1. Other carriers that currently offer direct or connecting flights to Athens from the U.S. include Delta, Air France, Swiss, and Lufthansa.
May 14 will also see the removal of cruise restrictions. In turn, several cruise lines have announced summer sailings from the Greek Isles. This includes Azamara, which plans to begin sailing to Greece at the end of August; Norwegian Cruise Line, sailing to the Mediterranean and Greek Isles beginning Sept. 5, 2021; and Royal Caribbean International, sailing Mediterranean itineraries starting July 10 sailing out of Cyprus.
Seabourn and Silversea will also offer summer sailings in Greece. Celebrity Cruises, meanwhile, will sail out of Greece this summer with the launch of its new 2,910-passenger Celebrity Apex.

