europe

Greece Strikes- Important Travel Advice

Holiday makers visiting Greece in the next few weeks may face disruptions as yet another strike has been announced affecting flights, public transport and even tourist attractions such the Acropolis. Make the most of your holiday and enjoy the beauty of Greece by following these simple guidelines.

Some strikes will close airports, ferry services and other transport links. Athens airport train station and metro services will close for a short period of time, but you should still be able to get taxis to your resorts. The back log of cancellations and delays mean that travel services may take a few days to resume to full normal service.

Unions representing workers in Greece are planning on making these strikes the biggest in the country’s history. They are striking to protest against austerity measures that the Greek government is trying to implement. They are trying to apply these cuts to try to combat the massive amounts of debt that the country is currently in, by cutting pay, pensions and benefits.

The advice we are giving is to check with your airline before you travel, as some airlines are offering transfers onto different flight times and dates.

Also, if you are already in Greece at this time, simply avoid the crowds, demonstrations and protests where possible as they have become violent previously. The official advice from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is to check with airlines and to avoid urban centres during the times of the strikes.

Most of the tourist resorts and hotels within Greece should be relatively unaffected, so you will still be able to enjoy your holiday, but you should be aware that getting around might be difficult and that some tourist attractions may be closed.

Pre-planned strikes

A 48 hour general strike is expected on the 19th and 20th October

Customs officials are participating in strikes from the 17th to the 21st October

Port services in Greece may not be operating from the 17th to the 20th October

Train services will not be operating due to strikes from the 18th to the 20th October

There are likely to be further periods of industrial action within Greece in the near future so check with your travel provider before travelling.

For more advice check the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.