Greece anticipates its summer travel season will start earlier than ever in 2022

With temperatures starting to creep up on its islands and vacationers yearning for a little sun, Greece anticipates its summer travel season will start earlier than ever in 2022. 

With its piercing blue skies, ancient ruins and idyllic beaches, Greece traditionally sees a migration of tourists in the summer months. Now, the country is relaxing some of its entry requirements for vaccinated visitors just ahead of the busy travel season. 

Last year, it was one of the first European countries to welcome back international visitors contributing to a bounce-back of the tourism industry it heavily depends on after a devastating collapse in 2020. This year, Greece anticipates the upward trend will continue with an expected uptick in tourists predicted to start as early as March 1. 

Like many destinations in Europe, Greece has received Level 4 classification by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention meaning the agency advises against travel due to the high number of COVID-19 cases. It recommends that if you plan to visit, you be fully vaccinated before you depart on your trip. 

If you’re planning a trip to Greece and its islands in 2022, here’s what you need to know about how travel has changed due to the coronavirus. 

Entry requirements for Greece

Before departing for Greece, travelers need to fill out the electronic passenger locator form. 

Since February 7, those who hold a valid European Union digital COVID-19 certificate do not need to present proof of a negative pre-arrival COVID-19 test. This includes travelers from the EU and Schengen zone as well as 33 other non-EU destinations that have joined the EU digital COVID Certificate system. 

According to Greece’s government website, those 33 additional non-EU destinations include Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Cabo Verde, El Salvador, Faroe Islands, Georgia, Israel, Iceland, Lebanon, Liechtenstein, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Morocco, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Panama, San Marino, Serbia, Singapore, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tunisia, Togo, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Uruguay, and the Vatican. 

Travelers from Australia, Canada and the United States can also enter by showing one of the following: proof of vaccination, proof of recovery from the virus or a negative COVID-19 PCR test administered 72 before departure or a negative antigen test administered no more than 24 hours prior to departure.

Visitors from all other countries still need to present proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test administered 72 before departure or a negative antigen test administered no more than 24 hours prior to departure. 

Greece still requires masks indoors and in some outdoors locations so tuck one in your pocket. On public transportation, you'll need to double mask or wear a high-quality mask. You can be fined for not wearing one. Taxis are limited to three people in addition to the driver unless they are carrying members of the same family. 

Some spaces, like enclosed eating areas, entertainment facilities (cinemas, theaters), museums, exhibition centers, fitness centers and sports venues, require proof of vaccination to enter. 

UK and EU citizens can prove vaccination status with their EU digital COVID-19 certificate. 

For US travelers, the US Embassy in Greece recommends to “carry a printout of the Ministry of Development and Investment press release and Tourism Ministry press release to show in case you encounter any difficulty with businesses hesitant to accept the CDC card or other U.S. proof of vaccination.” 

If you're boarding a ferry out to one of the Greek Islands, you'll need to have your passenger locator form you filled out to enter the country. You'll also need to provide proof of vaccination, recovery or a negative PCR COVID-19 test administered no more than 72 hours prior or an antigen no more than 24 hours prior.

Test administered overseas are valid if it is still within the testing window. If you need a new COVID-19 test, Greece has a list of pharmacies and other locations that can administer one on its tourism website.