Six beaches on the island of Rhodes that were awarded by the International “Blue Flag” Program, were withdrawn from the 2024 national and international list and lost their award, because they either did not organize this year’s swimming season, or did not meet the strict criteria of the Program, as …
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Dead fish: Swimming ban along Volos coastal area
The Central Port Authority of Volos decided on Monday to impose a swimming ban on a large breach front – to the east and west of the wider area of the city of Volos – due to the large quantities of dead fish washed up recently from Lake Karla in …
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“Blue Flag” 2024 Greece: 625 beaches,18 marinas, 9 touristic boats (FULL LIST)
Blue Flag 2024: Greece is second in the world with 625 awarded beaches, 18 marinas an 9 touristic boats. The international Blue Flag quality award evaluates cleanness of bathing water and beaches, as well as services for the visitors. The prefecture of Halkidiki emerged as the top prefecture in Greece, …
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MyCoast: Greece’s app to report violations at the beaches
A digital application named “MyCoast” facilitates beach-goers in Greece to directly report violations of beach access regulations by those putting umbrellas and sunbeds on the coastline. The application was introduced to public by the Ministry of Digital Governance on Monday morning. “MyCoast” allows users to lodge complaints regarding instances where …
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Greece declares 198 beaches as “fully protected”, no umbrellas, sunbeds
With a joint ministerial decision, Greece has declared 198 beaches across the country as fully protected in terms of utilization of public property in coastal areas and where neither umbrellas nor sunbeds are allowed, among others. These 198 beaches are within the Natura 2000 network, that is areas of high …
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“Free Beaches”: Over 400 violations in 4 days; one arrest on Τinos
One businesswoman was arrested on the island of Tinos for violating regulations on occupying public space on beaches. Raids have been carried out at beaches of Tinos since Wednesday as finance ministry inspectors continue to check the state of legality by business people who have placed sun-beds and -umbrellas across …
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Three Naxos businessmen in custody for reinstalling sunbeds
The owners of three beach bars on the island of Naxos were taken into custody on Thursday afternoon for reinstalling dozens of unlicensed sunbeds and umbrellas. All three businesses had been ordered to remove items and structures that were in violation of beach zoning and public access laws during inspections …
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Inspectors go, sunbeds return to Naxos beaches
Hardly had inspectors left the island of Naxos and the sunbeds and the umbrellas returned to the island’s beaches. Shortly after the controls carried out at the beaches about violations regarding illegal sunbeds and umbrellas , some business people put the sunbeds back in their old places again, even in …
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Arrests on 7 Greek islands for illegal occupation of beaches
Sweeping control checks are in progress by Greek Police identify violators who have illegally occupied beaches with sunbeds and umbrellas thus hindering free sea access to beach-goers. The controls have already led to several arrests on seven Greek islands. During the three-day period, from 4 to 6 August 2023, in …
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“Free Public Beaches” movement spreads across Greece
The protest movement “Free Public Beaches” has spread like a wildfire from the island of Paros to several touristic areas where swimmers do not find an inch of sand free of charge to lay down their beach towels or chairs and sun-umbrellas. The “Free Public Beaches” or the “Towel movement” …
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Prosecutor probes illegal bars, sunbeds spread at Paros & Serifos beaches
Greece’s Supreme Court prosecutor has ordered judicial inquiries into reported violations of the public’s right of access to the beaches on Greek islands.The first probeσ ordered by newly appointed prosecutor Georgia Adeilini regard reports of blatant violations on Paros and Serifos in the island group of the Cyclades. On Paros …
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Koufonisia ban all water recreational activities
Port authorities have imposed a ban on all water recreational activities except for swimming on Koufonisia islands, part of the Cyclades group in the Aegean Sea. The ban is reportedly in the interest of public safety and preservation of the two eastern Cyclades islets. The ban announced by Rear Admiral …
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Paros residents reclaim beaches; movement in Naxos too
More than 250 residents on Paros defied the uncontrolled spread of privately run loungers and umbrellas on the popular Santa Maria beach demanding space to put down their towels. The Municipality Council had decided to not lease the beach for three years. “We kicked off the campaign at a beach …
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13 Beaches in Greece lose Blue Flag awards in July 2023
A total of 13 Greek beaches lost the Blue Flags awarded by the International Blue Flag Environmental Education, Information and Awareness Program 2023. The Blue Flags were removed because the beaches did not organize according to the criteria of the Program. It should be recalled that with 617 Blue Flag …
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43 beaches in Athens safe for swimming, 7 not; PAKOE Analysis Full List
The Center for Ecological Research (PAKOE) published on Thursday, June 1, its annual evaluation on the stand of beaches water in the southern coast of Athens and Attica. As every year, PAKOE micro-biologically analyzed samples of seawater from 50 beaches along the Athens Riviera, from Piraeus to Vouliagmeni, in south-east. …
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Fancy a day at the beach? See prices along Athens Riviera
As temperatures rise and summer will arrive -sooner or later, more and more people are rushing to the beaches for a swim and a sunbathe. But how much is does the refreshing break cost in an organized beach with sunbeds, umbrellas, snack bar and sanitary facilities? There cheap and not …
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“Blue Flag 2023”: Greece ranks 2nd worldwide with 617 beaches
With 617 beaches, 18 marinas and 6 touristic boats Greece won the “Blue Flag 2023” international quality award and ranked 2nd for second consecutive year worldwide, the Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature (EEPP), Greece’s operator of the Blue Flag international program, announced late on Wednesday. With 617 award-winning …
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Greece Supreme Court: Law does not recognize “private beaches”
Greece’s Supreme Court has sent a memo to prosecutors across the country informing them that “the law does not recognize private beaches.” “The law does not recognize ‘private’ beaches!” the Supreme Court memo stressed, adding that any attempt to block public access – which is protected by the Greek Constitution …
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Over 280 beaches across Greece accessible to people with mobility problems
A project is under way to make a total of 287 beaches across Greece fully accessible to people with mobility problems, including by installing the Greek-designed Seatrac system for wheelchairs and other essential facilities like parking, bathroom/changing facilities, ramps and corridors to sun loungers and refreshment bars etc. Speaking at …
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August in Athens? Organized and free beaches for a cool swim
In Athens mid-August? Longing for a refreshing swim at a beach nearby? There are plenty of beaches along the Athens Riviera, along the whole regional unit of Attica, some of them organized and some free for all. Free beaches have no sunbeds but some like in Glyfada (Blue Flag) and …
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