A study by the National Bank of Greece has concluded that if the Greek islands are to maintain their attractiveness to international tourists, investment estimated at 35 billion euros is needed over the next decade, to facilitate the upgrading of critical infrastructure such as transport, energy, water and waste management. The Greek islands welcome almost […]
From Sunday, October 12, 2025, entry to the 29 countries of the Schengen area, which includes the 25 EU countries as well as Switzerland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland, will start to dispense with passport stamps in favour of a new digital border management system. From Sunday, all non-EU citizens travelling to and from the European […]
In Greece, it is the law that at designated times during the day, excessive noise is prohibited. From October 1, the ‘Summer Quiet Hours’ end and the ‘Winter Quiet Hours’ come into force. The new designated quiet hours are 15:30 to 17:30 and 22:00 to 07:30. These run until March 31, 2026 when the summer […]
Whilst the time for beach holidays on Thassos fades in early October and doesn’t start until May, the island is still a magical venue for Autumn and Spring breaks for those interested in walking, sightseeing, archaeology, or sport fishing. Known as the ‘Emerald Island’, it is unique among the Aegean islands, with much of the […]
According to the law in Greece, dogs are allowed access to unrestricted and open beaches, even permitted to swim in the sea; however, the dog is required to be on a lead and under control at all times, and any excrement is picked up and disposed of by the owner. On organised beaches, by law, […]
As overtourism protests continue in many tourist hotspots in southern Europe, including Spain, France and Italy, the Greek island of Symi, one of the islands in the Dodecanese chain, has taken action to try and limit the number of tourists visiting the island. Last week, the local municipality decided to implement a 3 euro fee […]
In Greece, the high-season surge in tourists to the Greek islands is once again creating problems and concerns for both the local inhabitants and visitors, as the islands’ infrastructures are being stretched to breaking point by the rise in the number of tourists year on year. Many islands are suffering from water shortages due to […]
After numerous problems for travellers who have been advised by their airline that their carry-on-board luggage is not accepted due to its size, EU transport ministers have proposed standardised sizing for free underseat luggage on European airlines, leading to this becoming EU law if passed by the European Parliament. The new law would also apply […]
The National Observatory of Athens has reported that the sea temperatures across Greece are warming faster than normal and are experiencing higher-than-average surface temperatures for early June. The unusually high temperature readings are attributed to a combination of seasonal heat and the lack of strong winds, which normally help cool the water. The news is […]
During the winter, the Greek islands are some of the safest places in the world. However, during the summer, some undesirables come to the islands from other countries to take advantage of careless tourists. Even so, the crime rate is still extremely low. Our advice is to follow general guidelines on how to take care […]
