Holidaymakers travelling to Greece warned of new beach laws (2024)

Greece has new beach laws (Image: Getty)

Holidaymakers heading to Greece in 2024 will have to follow new rules when sunbathing on the beach. The Greek Government has introduced strict laws to prevent overcrowding, meaning that 70 percent of the beach must be free from sun loungers.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis shared the news in a TikTok video. He said these changes aim to tackle overcrowding and make it easier for people who can't afford a sunbed to use the beaches.

Starting next month, the rules also state that 85 percent of protected areas must be free from sun loungers. Sunbeds will be completely banned in areas marked as "untouchable beaches" due to their ecological importance.

The popularity of beach spots has caused overcrowding issues. Many businesses like restaurants and hotels take up large parts of the shoreline, leaving little space for the public.

Now, there will be a strict rule enforcing a minimum distance of four meters between the shoreline and the sunbeds. Beachfront businesses that rent out sunbeds will have to take part in online auctions to secure space, reports Bristol Live.

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Greece is one of Europe's prettiest beach destinations (Image: Getty)

Drones will be used to keep an eye on the beaches and make sure everyone is following the new rules.

Beach behaviour isn't just a problem in Greece. In the Spanish holiday spot of Benidorm, tourists could be fined up to 1,200 euros (£1,029) for swimming between midnight and 7am or sleeping on the beach.

Earlier this year, Greece revealed a new charge for overnight visitors called the climate resilience levy. This is to help fix the damage caused by extreme weather like the wildfires and floods that hit the country last year.

Last summer, big fires destroyed parts of Greece, including popular holiday places like Rhodes and Corfu. The new tax is expected to bring in 300 million in 2024 and will go into a special budget to help rebuild areas damaged by climate change.

If you're going on holiday to Greece between March and October, you'll have to pay this extra charge. The cost will change depending on where you're staying and could be anything from 1 euro (£0.86) to 4 euros (£3.45) per night.

This new tax will be added to the existing accommodation tax, so charges will go up.

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