Greece News

Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson excited to celebrate the bicentennial of the Greek War of Independence (VIDEO) 10/03/2020
Oscar-winning actor Tom Hanks, who recently acquired Greek citizenship, and his Greek American wife Rita Wilson, have released a video inviting people around the world to join the events in commemorating 200 years since the Greek Independence War and the Revolution of 1821.

Complete Guide to Antiparos 17/02/2020
Like all Greek Islands Antiparos is a magical shimmering jewel shining in the Aegean sea. Only 7 minutes by ferry from Paros yet visited by few, it is one of those true Greek island hidden gems and it’s easy to see why Hollywood royalty like Tom Hanks calls it home in summer. To inspire you to include it on your trip to Greece and to help you best plan your visit, Greece Travel Secrets has put together this complete guide to ensure you get the most out of Antiparos, Greece.

Ferry connection between Greece and Cyprus gets the green light from Athens 17/02/2020
Greek authorities have approved the reintroduction of a ferry connection between Greece and Cyprus, a line that stopped operating in 2000.

Greek holiday houses are back in high demand 07/02/2020
Greece’s property market is showing signs of a strong comeback with more and more foreign buyers searching to purchase holiday homes in lesser-known destinations besides popular Santorini, Paros, and Mykonos.

Greece’s new Olympic team uniforms for Tokyo 2020 unveiled 06/02/2020
Greece’s new official uniforms for the Tokyo Olympics have been unveiled, with two of Greece’s leading athletes trying out the attire as the countdown to the Summer Olympics begins.

Athens named Europe’s second ‘Best Destination for 2020’ 06/02/2020
Athens has been voted the number two European destination for 2020 from 20 “must-see locations” that made the finalists’ list of contenders for the prestigious title organised by European Best Destinations.

Athens Airport major expansion project given the green light 28/01/2020
Athens’ International Airport “Eleftherios Venizelos” is set to receive a huge expansion and major renovations, after the massive project was given the green light.

Greece elects Katerina Sakellaropoulou as the first female President 22/01/2020
Katerina Sakellaropoulou has been elected Greece’s first female President, after a vote in Greek Parliament on Wednesday. Former Council of State head Sakellaropoulou, won the support of 261 lawmakers in the 300-seated parliament.

Piraeus-Limassol ferry ticket to cost €130 return 14/01/2020
A return ticket by ferry from Limassol to Piraeus will cost about €130 per person without a car, deputy shipping minister Natasa Pilides said on Tuesday.

Condé Nast Traveler names Skiathos as the best island for beaches 13/01/2020
Skiathos was awarded the Readers’ Choice Awards 2019 by top travel magazine Conde Nast Traveler, for the island with the world’s best beaches for 2019!

Pence’s and Pompeo’s Positive Message on Greek economy 10/01/2020
“I am proud to report firsthand that, thanks to your leadership and the leadership of President Donald Trump, the bonds between the United States of America and Greece have never been stronger,” US Vice President Mike Pence said on Wednesday referring to Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

Kyriakos Mitsotakis: EastMed 'Very Important' Energy And Geopolitical Project 10/01/2020
Greece`s Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has said that the EastMed is a very important energy but also geopolitical project, which will allow Europe to have access to new hydrocarbon reserves to be discovered in the Eastern Mediterranean, the CNA reported.

Hollywood Stars Going Greek 09/01/2020
Tom Hanks can now add Greek citizenship to his list of accolades and awards. President Prokopis Pavlopoulos signed an honorary naturalization order allowing the actor to claim citizenship, his office told The Associated Press on Friday.

Greece, Cyprus and Egypt want closer ties between their diaspora communities 20/12/2019
Senior Foreign Ministry officials from Greece, Cyprus and Egypt held a meeting in Athens on Thursday to discuss how to bring closer the diaspora of the three countries and promote cultural understanding.

Greece voted Most Beautiful Country in World for 2019 13/11/2019
Prestigious and worldwide leading travel publication Condé Nast Traveller has presented the 10 most beautiful countries in the World.

Aristotelian University honours President of Cyprus Republic 04/11/2019
The Law School of the Aristotelian University of Thessaloniki, on Thursday honoured Mr Nicos Anastasiades, President of the Republic of Cyprus with an honorary law degree.

Ryanair announces 14 new routes for Greece Summer 2020 23/10/2019
European low-cost carrier Ryanair has announced that it will launch fourteen brand new routes to and from Greece for the Summer 2020 schedule.

Conde Nast Traveller names Corfu and Santorini as top destinations to holiday in September 05/09/2019
Corfu and Santorini have been named among the Top 25 destinations to go on holiday in September, according to the Editors at worldwide renowned magazine Conde Nast Traveller (CNT).

Bank of China to open branch in Greece 22/08/2019
The Greek Foreign Ministry have announced that Bank of China plans to open a branch in Greece.

Paros sets sights on becoming world’s first waste-free island 21/08/2019
Like many islands in Greece, waste production on the island of Paros explodes in summer when over 400,000 tourists join a local population of roughly 13,000.

Paros voted Best Island in Europe for 2019 29/07/2019
A new, great distinction for Greece is the “Best Island in Europe for 2019” award. Paros was the island which won the World’s Best Travel Awards.

Athens Airport becomes the Best in the World 24/07/2019
Athens International Airport (AIA) is planning to invest 400 million euros into upgrade due to the surging numbers of travellers visiting Greece!

Cyprus-Greece ferry link by next summer, MPs told 09/07/2019
A ferry link between mainland Greece and Cyprus is expected to be operational by next summer while the government is mulling over similar agreements with other neighbouring countries, MPs heard on Tuesday.

Newly Elected Prime Minister Of Greece to Visit Cyprus 08/07/2019
Newly elected Prime Minister of Greece Kyriakos Mitsotakis will visit Cyprus in the next days, the Cyprus News Agency reports.

Greek Passport ranked sixth most powerful worldwide 04/07/2019
The Henley Passport Index has released its latest research and Greece has once again made it into the top 10 most powerful passports in the world.

Why Greece is the best place in the world to travel with kids 14/06/2019
Greece has just been named best Family Holiday Destination for 2018 by leading British publication Travel Bulletin and we aren’t the least bit surprised, as we agree, Greece is the ideal place in the world to travel with children of all ages.

Beaches all across Greece deemed “excellent” for swimming in 2019 11/06/2019
For anyone heading to Greece this summer for a swim after swim, you’ll be happy to know the annual European bathing water quality report released this week from the European Environment Agency (EEA) shows the majority of Greece’s swimming areas are clean and free of pollutants, harmful to human health and the environment.

Greece ranks 2nd in the Blue Flag programme for 2019 31/05/2019
Among the Blue Flag sites in Greee are Akti Vouliagmeni beach in Attica, Komotini's Fanari Beach and Alimos Marina. 

Greece ranked second among 47 countries in the Blue Flag programme for 2019, as 515 Greek beaches, 15 marinas and four sustainable tourism boats won this year's international quality award. The Regional Unit of Chalkidiki ranked first in Greece this year, with 92 Blue Flags. 
 

18 Most Beautiful Places In The World To Visit 03/05/2019
Have you got a list of everywhere you would like to travel? Maybe you would like to add some places to your bucket list? I am going to share with you 18 of the most beautiful places in the world that you can visit.

Greece, Bulgaria, Serbia and Romania sign memorandum for joint Euro and World Cup Bid 15/04/2019
Greece, Bulgaria, Serbia and Romania have all signed a Memorandum of Understanding connected with the joint bid to host either UEFA Euro 2028 or the 2030 FIFA World Cup.

Paros voted Best Island in Europe for 2019 10/04/2019
A new, great distinction for Greece is the “Best Island in Europe for 2019” award. Paros was the island which won the World’s Best Travel Awards.

New nonstop airline service between New York and Athens to launch this Summer 18/02/2019
The new Athens-New York route will be Norwegian’s first long-haul route in Greece. The service will begin on July 1 and operate four times per week —every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. The route will run until October 26.

Launch of Hellas Sat 4 a new chapter in space history of Cyprus and Greece, Minister says (video) 06/02/2019
The launch of Hellas Sat 4 communication satellite opens a new chapter in the space history for Cyprus and Greece, Minister of Communications Vassiliki Anastasiadou has said from the Kourou Space Centre in French Guiana, where Hellas Sat 4 successfully launched last night.

WTO congratulates Greece on tourism performance 04/02/2019
The World Tourism Organization (WTO) commended the Greek tourism sector for its record-breaking performance in 2018.

Greek Capital nominated for ‘Best European Destination’ 2019 28/01/2019
Athens has once again been nominated for the title of “Best European Destination” for 2019. The competition is organised by the European Best Destinations (EBD) and aims to promote culture and tourism in Europe.

Greece one of the most popular summer destinations for 2019 28/01/2019
It comes as no surprise that Greece is one of the favourite destinations of TUI holidaymakers in all European markets for 2019! According to recently released data, based on TUI Group’s bookings, Spain is still the most popular and Turkey is also currently recording significant growth in booking numbers across all markets, and the same trend is observed for Egypt.

Primary surplus for 2018 Greek State budget 15/01/2019
Greece’s Finance Ministry released a report on Monday showing the state budget had recorded primary surplus of 3.162 billion euros in 2018, down from a budget target for a surplus of 3.604 billion but sharply from a primary surplus of 1.940 billion in 2017.

Greece named as one of the most hospitable places in the world 10/01/2019
It comes as no surprise that Greece, which is one of the most popular holiday destinations in the world has been included on the list of 10 most welcoming places on earth!

The Best of Christmas in Athens for 2018 14/12/2018
The City of Athens, museums and cultural institutions are hosting a bright, festive and creative array of events, happenings, and displays to celebrate Christmas in the city.

Greek airport passenger traffic has a “historic” increase in 2018 14/12/2018
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has announced a 10.1 percent increase in passenger traffic at Greek airports in the 11-month period from January to November 2018 compared to the same period in 2017.

President inaugurates science centre 11/12/2018
Greece’s President Prokopis Pavlopoulos, inaugurated on Monday the Eugenides Foundation “Athena” Centre for Science and Technology (ACST).

Navagio in Zakynthos named best beach in the world 28/11/2018
Travel site Flight Network has ranked the world’s 50 best beaches for 2018 according to over 1,200 travel journalists, editors, bloggers and agencies and Zakynthos island’s Navagio has taken first place!

GREECE named 2nd most Beautiful Country in The World 03/10/2018
Greece (Greek: Ελλάς, Hellas) is a country in southeastern Europe, on the southern tip of the Balkan peninsula. Much of the country consists of peninsulas and amazingly beautiful islands in the Aegean, Ionian, and Mediterranean Seas.

Greek economy sees more growth 04/09/2018
The Greek economy saw a 1.8% increase in growth according to the latest report released by the Hellenic Statistical Authority on Monday.

Greece’s airports nationwide reach record numbers 31/08/2018
Greece’s airports nationwide have reached new heights, welcoming over 34.4 million passengers in the first seven months of the year, which marks a 10.1 percent rise from this time last year, according to the Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority (HCAA).

Greece’s population sits at 11.14 million in 2018 21/08/2018
Greece has an estimated population of 11.14 million, which ranks 84th in the world, based on the latest data from the United Nations.

Greece Emerges from Eurozone Bailout Programme 21/08/2018
Greece has successfully completed a three-year eurozone bailout programme designed to help it cope with the fallout from its debt crisis. For the first time in eight years, Greece is now free to borrow money on the financial markets.

Greece’s Tourism Hits an all-time High 13/08/2018
Greece’s tourism figures have soared to new heights, exceeding the expected forecasts and paving the way for another record year, as the Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority (HCAA), 

Oia named one of the Most Charming Villages in Europe 07/08/2018
Leading travel publican Travel & Leisure (T+L) have made a list of the top 6 most charming villages in Europe and Oia village on Santorini is one of them!

Greece named as one of 10 most Beautiful Countries in the World 23/07/2018
Prestigious and worldwide leading travel publication Condé Nast Traveller has presented the 10 most beautiful countries in the world and it comes as no surprise that Greece has made it onto their exclusive list!

Greek Island Paros voted Best Island in Europe for 2018 18/07/2018
Paros was declared the Best Island in Europe for 2018 by Travel + Leisure Magazine, one of the most respected travel magazines in the world. The readers chose the island not only for its glorious sandy beaches, but also for its traditional architecture and picturesque villages. The lively cosmopolitan nightlife and the historical monuments from the Ancient Greek era, along with the genuinely hospitable locals, make for a unique experience.

On this day in 2004 Greece wins the Euro Cup 04/07/2018
The UEFA Euro 2004 Final was a historical match played on 4 July, 2004, at the Estadio da Luz in Lisbon, Portugal, when Greece was crowned European Champions! The match featured tournament hosts Portugal, who went into the match as favourites, and Greece, playing in only their second European Championship.

Greek tourism set to make history in 2018 with over 32 million visitors 05/06/2018
Greece’s tourism industry is expecting to welcome 32 million international visitors in 2018, in what will be a record year for the sector, according to Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras on Thursday.

Greek Passport ranked 6 most powerful in the world 24/05/2018
Greece has kept its sixth spot ranking regarding the most powerful passport in the world, according to the Henley Passport Index. Japan has knocked Germany off the top spot on the list of the world’s most powerful passport, according to the new research, while the UK has fallen from third to fourth.

Greece wins 2018 Best Destination in the Mediterranean and SE Europe Award 11/05/2018
Greece has been awarded as the number one tourism destination in the Mediterranean and Southeastern Europe for 2018 by SACEN International, known as the “Oscars of Tourism,” during a special ceremony recently held in Belgrade, Serbia.

Top 10 Beaches in Greece for 2018 03/05/2018
Elafonissi was once again voted the best beach in Greece. It is a peninsula-like island and has an amazing coast covered in white sand and has turquoise waters.

Greece is Number One Summer 2018 destination for wealthy holidaymakers 30/04/2018
Greece has been named the fastest-growing destination for 2018 and the most in demand country in the world for affluent holidaymakers, according to global luxury travel network Virtuoso.

Athens becomes World Book Capital 2018 23/04/2018
Today Athens becomes the World Book Capital for 2018 and for the next 365 days, Greece’s capital city will be celebrating books, reading, culture and events promoting knowledge.

Athens International Airport Welcomes First Cyprus Airways Flight from Larnaca to Athens 04/04/2018
Cyprus Airways first flight to Athens departed from Larnaca at 3:00 in the afternoon and landed in Athens at 4:45. Athens International Airport welcomed Cyprus Airways aircraft with the ceremonial water cannon salute, followed by the “ribbon 

O Όμιλος Εταιρειών Λεπτός Χορηγός φιλοξενίας των Θεατρικών ομάδων του Δήμου Θάσου στην Πάφο. 16/03/2018
O Όμιλος Εταιρειών Λεπτός μετά τη δυναμική στήριξη της Πολιτιστικής Πρωτεύουσας Πάφος 2017, δεν σταματά εδώ αλλά συνεχίζει να ενισχύει και να προωθεί όπως έκανε διαχρονικά, την τέχνη και τον πολιτισμό όπως επίσης και τη συνεργασία των τοπικών αρχών της Πάφου με πόλεις του εξωτερικού.

Athens International Airport named one of Best in Europe 12/03/2018
Athens ‘Eleftherios Venizelos’ International Airport has been named the best in the “15 – 25 Million Passengers/Year” category at the 2017 Airport Service Quality (ASQ) Awards held by the Airports Council International (ACI) World.

Greece’s Beaches Rank 2nd in World 02/03/2018
Greece and the Greek Islands is a number one destination for vacation-goers wishing to relax, visit ancient ruins and beautiful beaches the country has to offer.

Athens in the Best top 10 destinations in Europe 09/02/2018
With 19,424 votes, Athens remains an unmissable destination. It is in the top 10 destinations every year and all year through it attracts European travellers in search of their roots but also travellers from all over the world.

First Flights to Jordan 05/02/2018
Ryanair, Europe’s favourite airline, today (4 Feb) launched its first flights to Jordan with 14 routes in total to Amman and Aqaba airports, which will deliver almost 500,000 customers p.a., as Ryanair expands its operation in the Middle East.

Athens nominated for title of “Best European Destination 2018” 23/01/2018
Greece’s capital city has once again been nominated for the prestigious title of “Best European Destination 2018”, according to the European Best Destinations (EBD) website. A total of 20 cities in Europe are competing for the prestigious title.

Greek passport ranks 7th among 199 countries 16/01/2018
Greek passport holders enjoy visa-free access to 171 countries according to the recently published Henley Passport Index for 2018.

US ranks Greece at lowest risk level for tourists 11/01/2018
US Ambassador to Athens, Geoffrey R. Pyatt, expressed his expectation to see more US tourists in Greece during the coming season, on the occasion of the country’s ranking at the State Department’s new Travel Advisory Program.

Greek President calls out to Greek diaspora 22/12/2017
The President of the Hellenic Republic Prokopis Pavlopoulos reached out to the Greek diaspora in a message for the Festive Season calling for unity and thanking them for their contribution to the homeland.

Athens gets into Festive mood with free celebrations for all 07/12/2017
Athens’ stunning Christmas tree will be lit for the festive season on Tuesday, December 12, at 7 pm on Syntagma Square, the City of Athens announced on Tuesday.

Optimism as Greek economy grows, unemployment drops: OECD 29/11/2017
The Organisation for Economic and Cooperation and Development (OECD) announced on Monday projected growth for the Greek economy by 2.3% in 2018.

Thousands Hit the Streets for 35th ‘Athens Marathon. The Authentic’ 16/11/2017
More than 51,000 professional and amateur runners from 101 countries enjoyed perfect weather conditions in the 35th “Athens Marathon. The Authentic” on Sunday, November 12.

Greece and China sign off on major deals 03/11/2017
Greece and China have entered into another four major agreements consolidating their bilateral relations. The new collaboration agreements signed in Athens on Thursday, are part of the Greece-China Action Plan initiative which aims to promote economic cooperation between the two countries, and the effective combination

Athens Airport set to receive 400 million euro upgrade to help with increased travellers to Greece 25/10/2017
According to recent reports, Athens International Airport (AIA) operators are planning on investing 400 million euros into the upgrade of Eleftherios Venizelos Airport

Katerina Stefanidi named ‘European Female Athlete of the Year’ 16/10/2017
Congratulations to Greece’s leading pole vault champion Katerina Stefanidi who was named European Female Athlete of the Year by European Athletics. Stefanidi won the gold medal at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio with a jump of 4.85 metres and is currently the European and World champion in her field.

AEGEAN and Ryanair announce new destinations for Greece Summer 18 13/10/2017
With Greece’s tourism growing rapidly each year, AEGEAN Airlines has announced its new extended program for 2018, which includes 153 destinations in 44 countries and 16.6 available seats, making it a total of 700,000 more than in 2017.

China lands in Athens as direct flights take off 02/10/2017
The much anticipated first Air China direct flight from Beijing to Athens landed in the Greek capital on Saturday carrying over 200 passengers.

Greece turning to sports tourism agenda 22/09/2017
Greece is set to develop tourism markets other than its long established, successful summer tourism agenda, with a particular emphasis on sports tourism which according to data is growing annually at a rate of 14 %.

Acropolis Museum among 10 best in the world for 2017 22/09/2017
The Acropolis Museum in Athens is among the top ten best museums in the world, ranking 8th on the list of the 2017 Travellers’ Choice Awards for Museums, recently released by travel and booking site TripAdvisor.

Greece and Cyprus amongst the top 20 of the World’s Healthiest Countries of 2017 04/09/2017
Also this year Bloomberg published the ranking of the 50 healthiest countries in the world and results are quite surprising.

Greece and Cyprus among Most Changed in Job Mobility in EU 28/08/2017
A social mobility report by Eurofound, the EU Agency for the improvement of living and working conditions, shows that Greece, Cyprus, Finland and Poland have changed the most, having seen massive mobility out of agriculture towards manufacturing and services over the last generation or so.

Greece 6th Most Popular Spot in Europe for British Home Buyers 18/08/2017
Greece is the sixth most popular European country for Britons looking to relocate or buy a second home, according to property website Rightmove.

Greece Among Top 10 Sunny Countries To Live In 2017 04/08/2017
Looking for sunny places to live with lots to do? The weather seems to play a crucial role in choice of destination: almost seven out of ten (67%) say the climate in their new home was a factor to consider before moving abroad.

Greece to Break Record with 30 Million Visitors in 2017 04/08/2017
Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said on Thursday that his country is expected to break through (for the first time) the 30 million visitors barrier this year, said an e-mailed press release from his office.

EU Ministers Approve Funding Deal for Greece 16/06/2017
Eurozone ministers have struck a deal to unlock the latest tranche of Greece's bailout cash. The bailout fund will disburse €8.5bn to Greece, eurozone ministers said in a statement.

Crete - TIME Magazine and TripAdvisor 30/03/2017
Crete was chosen as one of the top travel destinations in the world for 2017 by TIME Magazine and TripAdvisor. Its distinct culture, world-famous sites, unique gastronomy and beautiful beaches were among the reasons why TIME Magazine ranked Crete in 3rd place of the best international destinations for this year. According to TIME, Crete brings together quality and value to provide a terrific travel experience.

Emirates to Launch Daily Direct Service from Athens to New York 24/01/2017
Emirates announced it will launch a new daily service from Dubai to Newark Liberty International Airport, via Athens, starting on 12 March 2017. Emirates’ new Dubai-Athens-Newark flight will provide a year-round non-stop daily service between the United States and Greece – a service that does not exist today and has not existed since 2012.

Greece & Cyprus on the Top 3 Countries With the Best Weather and Climate 08/08/2016
Sun-seekers rejoice! InterNations survey finds that Greece, Costa Rica and Cyprus have the most favorable weather For all those who dream of 365 days a year of sun, the members of international expat community InterNations have identified the places around the world with the best weather:

New Paros airport will give extra boost to the Real Estate and Tourism of the Island 29/07/2016
The new airport in Paros has already began the full and normal operation and is expected to handle four times the traffic and contribute in the increase of tourism and Real Estate, strengthen the local economy by creating new jobs.

Greece Offers Russians Long-Term Schengen Visas 08/06/2016
Greece has moved to offer Russians long-term Schengen visas to increase an already considerable tourist flow from Russia, the Interfax news agency reported Thursday.

Conde Nast Traveler: The 14 best Greek islands for holidays during 2016. Why Crete is in the list 19/05/2016
The 14 best Greek Islands to visit during 2016 are highlighted by the leading travel magazine Conde Nast Traveller.

Rio 2016 Olympic flame is lit at temple of Hera in Greece 25/04/2016
The official countdown to this year’s Rio de Janeiro Olympics has begun with the lighting of the torch at the site of the ancient Games, which organisers hoped would shift attention away from Brazil’s political and financial turmoil.