Finally good news on the travel horizon: Greece soon wants to open the borders for tourism for a number of countries – including Germany. So it's high time to look around for a suitable destination. We present five little-known Greek island paradises for the long-awaited summer vacation.
Thanks to an early and strict lockdown, Greece has managed to get through the pandemic relatively well. Officially there were only about 2,800 infections across the country, almost half have recovered. The number of new infections was less than five a day recently – all in all an astonishingly good balance.
That is why Greece wants to gradually open up to tourism again. While the locals are already allowed to travel to the islands again and the restaurants open again, Greece wants to open the borders for a number of countries with similar positive Corona courses from July 1st. According to the Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis Germany should also be there.
What Greece Holidays Need to Know:
- From June 15th there will again be flights from abroad to Athens.
- From July 1st, all regional airports are also to be opened for flights from abroad.
- Currently, no entries are permitted for tourist purposes. Anyone who enters for other reasons must undergo a test and go to a two-week quarantine.
- Safety and distance rules must be observed in public spaces – the obligation to wear a mask applies to public transport and hospitals.
- The beaches in the country are already open, and distance rules apply here too: no more than 40 people are allowed to stay on 1,000 square meters. The parasols must be four meters apart – only two loungers are allowed per parasol.
- No unwrapped food or alcohol may be sold on the beach – otherwise closures and high fines may result.
Greek tourists should use an app that provides useful information and instructions regarding Corona, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis told the picture. It is also intended to ensure that there are enough testing opportunities on the islands. In emergencies, people suffering from corona should be treated in the large hospitals in Athens.
The exact security concepts of the hotels are still being worked out. Indoor activities should be restricted. It is also planned that hotels will employ hygiene officers and cooperate with doctors.
At the end of May, the Greek crisis team wants to publish the list of countries that without a two-week quarantine allowed to travel in the country. Corona tests for incoming tourists there should only be sporadic. Yet Of course, hygiene and distance rules also apply here to protect tourists and locals to prevent the virus from spreading across the country.
But that shouldn't detract from the joy of vacationing – we present five fantastically beautiful island paradises in Greece that you did not know yet.
Amorgos: Hollywood in the South Aegean
Whitewashed houses with blue roofs, small fishing villages and untouched nature – the Cyclades island of Amorgos in the southern Aegean is one of the picture-perfect islands of Greece. One reason why director Luc Besson also shot his action film "In the Rush of the Deep" there.
In addition to beautiful rocky bays and sandy beaches, the island also has an impressive historical jewel: on a steep slope below the Profitis Ilias summit and about 300 meters above sea level, the thousand-year-old Panagia Hozoviotissa monastery sticks to the rock, to which a steep stone staircase leads up . The sweaty climb is worth it for this fantastic view alone.
Astypalea: Paradise for climbers, snorkelers and non-smokers
This island of the Southern Sporades in the Aegean is just under 100 square kilometers and is still a real insider tip. Its administrative area also includes 45 other uninhabited islets that surround it. At first glance, Astypalea with its mountains looks quite barren – but there are many green valleys, monasteries, churches and golden yellow sandy beaches that give this island its special charm.
In order to protect the environment and to ensure that the bathing areas remain beautiful and clean, the local authority has banned smoking on all beaches. The gently sloping lagoons with sandy bottom are ideal for families, where you can snorkel with the kids. Climbers will also get their money's worth on the island: around 20 routes with different levels of difficulty run through the reliefs of the white limestone cliffs
Sifnos: handicrafts, cliff divers and white dunes
The Cyclades island of Sifnos is located approximately 130 kilometers southeast of Athens. It is known not only for its scenic beauty, but also for its cultural heritage: Even in ancient times, artists created gold and silver jewelry that came from the island's own mines. These are no longer operated today, but there are numerous potteries on the island. Especially in the narrow streets of Vathi and Kamares there are numerous traditional workshops that offer beautiful goods.
The highlights of the island include the long white sandy beaches around the two artist metropolises and the rocky coastline of Pnagia Chryssopigi: there are always particularly daring scenes in which cliff jumpers plunge into the floods with acrobatic tricks. A particularly nice spot to switch off: the somewhat secluded Fykiada beach with its white dunes.
Kefalonia: Greek wine and plenty of sun
Another insider tip island that not many know is Kefalonia. It is located in the Gulf of Patras, west of the mainland and is the largest Ionian island, which also includes such famous neighbors as Zakynthos and Corfu. It is known for its expensive and noble wine, which is made from the Robola grape. It captivates with a fine acidic citrus aroma.
Not only wine lovers are attracted to the island, but also holidaymakers who love their rocky coastal landscape with the many sandy beaches hidden in bays – many of which can only be reached on foot via narrow winding roads. One of the most beautiful is Myrtos in the north of the island, which lies at the foot of white limestone cliffs. A must-see is the underground lake Melissani, which leads through a cave and can be explored on a boat trip. When the sun comes down from above, you feel like you're in a cathedral.
Ikaria: vacation in the blue zone
The island of Ikaria, with a population of 8,000, is located almost 50 kilometers east of Mykonos. It is around 40 kilometers long, seven kilometers wide and belongs to the Southern Sporades with Samos. The locals call it "Nikaria".
According to Dan Buettner, a US researcher and National Geographic author, the Icarians live in one of the only five blue zones in the world. As such, he describes regions in which people live longer and healthier on average. Vacationers feel this positive and pristine energy in the mountains up to 1000 meters high, in the port cities of Agios Kirykos and Evdilos, in the small fishing villages and on the dream beaches.
The largest beaches on the island lie between the villages of Armenistis and Gialiskari. One of them is the Messakati beach with golden sand and many sports facilities. The most beautiful beach is the Seychelles Beach, which can only be reached on foot and which lives up to its name with large, rounded rocks and emerald-green water.
Source: www.discovergreece.com
Differences explained: This means travel advice, safety information and travel warning
Read also: From June 15 – Italy, Spain, Switzerland: Federal government wants to lift Corona travel warning for 31 countries