Greece Travel Secrets Blog

Apr 22, 2024

Greece Bans Sunbeds, Umbrellas, Bars on 198 Beaches

Sunbeds, umbrellas, and all sorts of constructions have been banned on 198 beaches across Greece according to a joint ministerial decision signed this week by Economy & Finance Minister Kostis Hatzidakis and Environment Minister Theodoros Skylakakis.

The designated beaches, dubbed “Apatites Paralies” (Untrodden Beaches), are part of a wider government plan to protect shoreline and beaches after complaints last year by residents and holidaymakers for limited access due to bars and other commercial activities.

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Apr 20, 2024

4 Guesthouses in Zagori that Are Worth Visiting

Amidst the mountains and spectacular scenery, these four traditional guesthouses in the heart of Zagori, Epirus, offer the very best in Greek hospitality.

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Apr 20, 2024

Greece’s 10 Highest Mountains

From myth-laden peaks to rugged alpine trails, we explore ten of Greece's highest mountains, where untamed beauty and boundless adventure meet.

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Apr 18, 2024

Paris 2024 Olympic Flame Lit at Ancient Olympia, Countdown to Games Begins

The Olympic flame that will be burning for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games this summer was lit in Ancient Olympia on Tuesday, April 16.

Located in western Peloponnese, Ancient Olympia is one of the most celebrated sacred sites of Ancient Greece and the birthplace of the Olympic Games.

The flame, which was lit during a ceremony organized by the Hellenic Olympic Committee (HOC) and attended by 600 guests and thousands of visitors, is expected to arrive in Paris for the Games’ opening ceremony on July 26 after traveling 102 days in Greece, the Mediterranean, and France.

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Apr 16, 2024

April 17 Greece National Strike to Affect Public Transport, Ferry Travel

Public transportation in Athens as well as ferry travel in Greece will be disrupted on Wednesday, April 17, due to a 24-hour strike called by the General Confederation of Greek Workers (GSEE), the country’s main private sector umbrella union.

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Apr 11, 2024

The Ikaria Way

Greece Travel Secrets reviews the Greek cookbook, The Ikaria Way by Diane Kochilas, containing 100 delicious plant-based recipes.

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Apr 11, 2024

Greece Announces Steep Fines for Beach Access Violations

The Greek Finance Ministry announced this week that it would taking strict measures including fines of up to 60,000 euros to ensure that Greece’s beaches are always accessible to the public.

Fines ranging from 2,000 euros to 60,000 euros were finalized for a wide range of violations, including the construction of walls and buildings, the installation of fences, planters, and awnings as well as the placement of vehicles that impede beach and sea access.

Activities or events such as private beach parties that do not allow access as well as verbal or physical obstruction to the beach are also punishable under the new law which was passed in Greek parliament last month.

Additionally, the revised regulations also penalize individuals or companies caught disposing of rubble, construction materials, or waste along public pathways leading to the sea.

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Apr 09, 2024

Cyprus-Greece Ferry Connection to Start on May 29

For a third year in a row, the ferry service linking Cyprus with Greece is scheduled to resume operations on May 29.

The Cypriot-flagged Daleela, which can transport 400 passengers and 200 vehicles, will operate the first route for 2024 from the port of Limassol on May 29 and complete services on September 3. Operating company Scandro Holding Ltd said the Larnaca port stop was not included in this year’s services.

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Apr 09, 2024

Greece Aiming to Include Knossos on UNESCO’s World Heritage List

The Region of Crete announced this week that all actions had been taken to include the world-famous archaeological site of Knossos on Crete on UNESCO’s World Heritage List.

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Apr 08, 2024

Two Top Floors of Athens Hotel Blocking Acropolis View Shut Down

The Greek Tourism Ministry announced this week that it had sealed off the two top floors and the rooftop bar of a hotel in the center of Athens which were blocking views to the Acropolis.

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Apr 08, 2024

Travel & Tourism Set to Break All Records in 2024, Says WTTC

The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) is projecting a record-breaking year for Travel & Tourism in 2024, with the sector’s global economic contribution set to reach an all-time high of $11.1 trillion.

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Apr 08, 2024

Greece Opens Visa Station on Rhodes to Facilitate Turkish Tourists

In order to facilitate tourists arriving from neighboring Turkey under a new visa-on-arrival scheme, Greek authorities announced the opening of a visa station on Rhodes.

Under the fast-track visa scheme, Turkish citizens will be able to visit the Eastern Aegean Greek islands of Kalymnos, Limnos, Leros, Kos, Lesvos, Chios, Samos, Rhodes, Symi, and Kastelorizo all year round for a period of seven days.

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Apr 06, 2024

Keros: The Island of Broken Figurines

In the heart of the Cyclades, Keros boasts a rich archaeological heritage, brimming with mysterious artifacts and theories about life in the Early Bronze Age.

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Apr 06, 2024

5 Reasons to Visit Chios in Spring

Blessed with natural beauty and a rich cultural heritage, Chios is in full bloom in spring, making it the perfect time to visit.

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Apr 06, 2024

10 Day Trips to Restaurants Near Athens

You don't have to travel far to have a good time in Greece. Here's our list of 10 eateries for day trips from Athens.

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Apr 05, 2024

Ancient Greek History Rewritten by a Quarter Million Years

In June 2023, an archaeological find in the Peloponnese rewrote ancient Greek history, in one of the most sensational discoveries of the decade.

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Apr 05, 2024

Google Flights: Athens in Top 10 Travel Destinations for Summer 2024

Athens is one of the top travel destinations this summer for travelers from the United States, according to data from Google Flights.

The Greek capital was included on the list of top destinations for summer 2024 released recently by Google Flights and based on searches by Americans for travel between June 1 and August 31.

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Apr 03, 2024

Greece’s ‘Rodos Week’ to Offer Free Stays to Last Year’s Rhodes Tourists

Travelers who were forced to flee Rhodes in July 2023 due to the destructive fires last summer will be eligible for free accommodation under the Greek Tourism Ministry’s ‘Rodos Week’ initiative announced this week.

More specifically, the ministry will cover the cost of six overnight stays on Rhodes in spring from April 10 to May 31 and in or autumn between October 10 and November 15.

The program is open to all tourists who were evacuated from hotels on Rhodes when the fire broke out in July 2023. Eligible parties will be able to choose free accommodation in hotels of the same category and room class.

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Apr 03, 2024

Music-themed MEDLEY Hotel Opens its Doors in Athens

A new boutique hotel named the MEDLEY Hotel Athens recently opened its doors in the center of Athens, offering guests high-quality accommodation inspired by the Greek music scene.

A member of the hospitality group Nimaris IKE, the MEDLEY is located in the Psyri district and housed in a 19th-century neoclassical building, formerly used as a restaurant and museum of Greek gastronomy.

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Mar 30, 2024

Welcome to Hydra, the Greek island that said no thanks to cars

The mountainous island of Hydra, off the east coast of the Peloponnese, is a car-free zone where travellers explore on foot, by boat or from the saddle, taking life at a slow pace.

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