Covid Restrictions for Greece autumn / winter 2021 – 2022

The Greek government has announced the new Covid restrictions which will be in place from 6th November 2021. Here is everything you need to know if you are currently in Greece.

Summary of Covid restrictions for autumn / winter 2021 – 2022

This article will no longer be updated. For Covid restrictions from 22 November 2021 onward, please refer to this new article.

Here is a summary of the Covid restrictions in Greece which are in place for all adults, from 6 to 22 November:

• Supermarkets and grocery stores, pharmacies, churches and open-air archaeological sites are accessible to everyone, without the need of a certificate or test
• Certain venues, like indoor cafes and restaurants, will only be accessible to vaccinated people, or people with a certificate proving they have contracted Covid in the past 6 months 
• To enter most other venues, including hotels, unvaccinated customers or those who haven’t contracted Covid will need to show a rapid test taken max 48 hours before their visit, OR a PCR test, taken max 72 hours before their visit
• Masks remain mandatory in all indoor spaces and in crowded outdoors areas. This applies for everyone aged 4 and above, whether they have been vaccinated or not

All customers will need to show their documents as described above, along with their ID or other proof of name and age. 

Documentation for people under 18 years old

Here is what applies for people under 18 years old at all venues, even those where access is restricted for adults, e.g. indoor cafes:

• In addition to a rapid or PCR test, children and teenagers aged 4-17 are also allowed with a negative self test, taken max 24 hours before their visit. The result of the self test needs to be registered in this paper form.
• Children under 4 years old do not need to produce any documents.

Let’s check what applies for different venues:

Supermarkets, grocery stores, take-away, pharmacies, churches

Supermarkets, grocery stores, take-away cafes / restaurants, pet stores, pharmacies, churches and other religious buildings will be accessible to everyone. There is no need for a vaccination certificate or a test. 

Open-air archaeological sites

Open-air archaeological sites like the seven ancient sites in Athens, Ancient Epidaurus, Ancient Mycenae or Ancient Delos currently operate with no restrictions. 

However, if you are visiting with an organized group tour, check with your tour company as they may have further rules in place.

Note that, in order to visit museums and other enclosed spaces within the archaeological sites, you will need to produce an appropriate document.

As an example, you can visit the open-air site of the Ancient Agora in Athens without any document, but in order to visit the museum in the Stoa of Attalos you will need a vaccination passport / proof of Covid / appropriate test.

Some venues will not accept unvaccinated adults

Certain venues will not accept unvaccinated adults, or those who haven’t contracted Covid in the past 6 months. Rapid / PCR tests are not accepted in these venues, for adult customers.

This applies for the following types of venues:

• Indoor cafes and cafe-bars, including the ones in shopping malls
• Indoor tavernas and restaurants, including the ones in shopping malls
• Nightclubs
• Internet cafes
• Pool and bowling venues
• Indoor play centers for children. 

Customers under 18 years old can visit these venues with a negative test, as described above.

All other indoor and outdoor venues 

All other venues will be accessible to

• fully vaccinated customers
• people who have contracted Covid in the past 6 months
• people who can show a negative rapid / PCR test, taken in the last 48 / 72 hours (customers under 18 years old can also visit with a negative self test, as described above).

These measures apply for the following types of venues:

• Outdoor tavernas, restaurants, cafes and cafe-bars 
• All commercial stores, including the ones in malls
• Hotels*
• Hair salons and beauty parlours
• Gyms and wellness services
• Public services, including courts (with the exception of an urgent visit to a police station)
• Banks
• Cinemas and theatres
• Museums, galleries, archaeological sites with enclosed spaces
• Casinos
• Zoos and national parks (possibly ticketed ones, will update this if there are any clarifications)
• Amusement parks
• Escape rooms
• Sports stadiums

*Hotel residents who have not been vaccinated / contracted Covid might need to take more than one tests, to cover the duration of their stay. 

Here are some ideas for museums and free museums you can visit in Athens.  

Some of these entertainment venues (e.g. museums, galleries, theatres, cinemas, stadiums, casinos and gyms) can choose to operate only for vaccinated people or those who have recovered from Covid. You can ask each venue their policy in advance of your visit.

Hospitals and medical centres

People who are going for a routine visit or routine check (e.g. blood checkup) will not need to produce any of the above documents. 

If you are going to the hospital for an operation, you will need to produce a vaccination certificate / proof of Covid / Covid test, as described above. This does not apply in a medical emergency.

The same applies for vets (as opposed to pet shops, where no documents are necessary). 

Employees / workspace

Employees who have not been vaccinated will need to take two rapid tests per week at private medical labs. The rapid tests will be priced at 10 euro.

Note that those people will not be able to take advantage of the free rapid tests that are administered around the country (link in Greek).

School students will receive 2 free self tests per week. University students who have not been vaccinated will need to take 2 rapid tests per week, at their own expense.

Rapid tests are now administered by most pharmacies, and you might need to pre-arrange your appointment. Additionally, here are some private labs where you can take a Covid test in Greece.

Documentation checks for non-EU visitors 

Documentation checks are usually made with a special app, called the Covid-free app, which is valid for people who have been vaccinated in the EU.

For people visiting Greece from outside the EU, the Covid-free app will not scan their documents. In this case, a visual check of your paper document will be made instead.

A well-known example are US citizens who may not have a QR code. Don’t worry – if your vaccination certificate is good enough to fly to Greece, you can visit any of the above venues!   

Travelling around Greece

In order to travel between different Regional Units in Greece, passengers over 4 years old should carry with them one of the following:

• vaccination certificate 
• proof that they have contracted Covid in the past 6 months 
• a negative rapid / PCR test, taken max 48 / 72 hours before travel. Children aged 4-17 can also take a self test, valid for 24 hours.

The above applies for ferries, trains, planes, inter-regional KTEL buses, and tourist buses / coaches. However, it’s always best to ask your travel company if they have any additional rules.

Here is more information about travelling to and around Greece, including how to take any of the above tests.

Hello! I’m Vanessa from Athens and I’ve been following Covid restrictions in Greece since spring 2020. If the last months have taught us anything, is that these restrictions can change very often. You can also follow my FB page where I post all information about Covid restrictions in Greece. This article was last updated on 6 November 2021. For new information, please refer to this new article.