This spring, Greece will be introducing new regulations for beaches to offer them better protection and make trips to the seaside more accessible for all.
Find out how your trip to the beach will change…
We all love Greece for its beaches. From craggy coves with an intimate atmosphere to tourist hotspots on wide expanses of the finest sand, there’s a stretch of beach for everyone on Greece’s 13, 676 kilometres of coastline. Indeed, if you’re dreaming of purchasing a property or making the move to Greece, trips to the beach are likely a major part of the country’s appeal.
However, if you are heading out to Greece soon, either for a holiday, viewing trip or even to settle into your home, there are some new rules about enjoying the beach that you ought to be wary of.
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Greece’s new beach bill
Last year, Greeks complained that pay-per-use sunbeds were taking up too much beach space. The protests started on the island of Paros and then went on to other tourist hotspots. As beaches are public spaces, protestors claimed felt that they felt shut out from spaces that they were entitled to.
Heeding the protests, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis took to TikTok to announce the country’s new ‘beach bill’. These rules will be introduced in the spring and are intended to make Greece’s beaches fairer and more orderly. They are also meant to stop there from being a business monopoly on a space that is, ultimately, meant for public use.
Bye bye beach bed
70% of beaches must be free of sunbeds as this will help to prevent overcrowding. In protected areas, this will be increased to 85%. Additionally, some ecologically sensitive areas will be marked as ‘untouchable beaches’ – in these areas, there shan’t be a sunbed in sight.
Plus, a distance of at least four metres must be maintained between sunbeds and the shoreline. This will give beachgoers more space and a clearer pathway to the sea.
While this new rule might mean that you need to invest in a pretty towel or two, hopefully, it will make beach trips a more pleasant experience for everyone.
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Another bit of beach-based news
Sarakiniko beach.
Every year, Lonely Planet releases their pick of the best beaches for 2024. If you’re interested, you can find out about the best beach of them all: The Pass, Byron Bay in Australia, here. But the Greek beach of Sarakiniko, Milos Cyclades slid into fifth place. Milos is one of Greece’s volcanic islands, sitting at the southernmost part of the Cyclades. While its close to Santorini and Mykonos, making it opportune for island hopping, it is not as well-known, and therefore, you can anticipate less crowds and a gentler atmosphere.
What makes Sarakiniko special is its lunar landscape, featuring beautiful, gleaming smooth white rocks. It has a couple of caves to explore too, should you feel like changing up your read-snooze-swim beach routine. Although it was once used as a hiding spot by pirates, fortunately, you won’t find any there today.
Plus, the Aegean Sea looks its best here: crystal clear and turquoise.
Even though its popular, the beach has had little intervention, you won’t find a huge amount of facilities – you will really need that towel.
Towards the end of the day, take a seat on the white cliffs for the most spectacular sunset views.
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