Greece updates Santorini warning
Greece issued an updated 2026 travel warning covering hotspots like Athens and Santorini and is urging tourists to review current safety advice before the Mediterranean peak season — stay vigilant in crowded tourist zones and monitor local channels for changes to accommodations or transport .
The U.S. State Department reissued Greece as a Level 1 — “Exercise normal precautions” — travel advisory on Oct. 23, [2025 travel.state.gov]. The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office most recently updated its Greece guidance on Mar. 5, 2026, removing a previous warning about mass demonstrations on Feb. 28, [2026 gov.uk]. Canada’s official travel page for Greece shows an editorial update on Mar. 2, 2026 and explicitly lists demonstrations, strikes and natural-disaster risks under safety and security [concerns travel.gc.ca]. The Canadian guidance also highlights that strikes in key sectors such as transport and public health can disrupt travel and essential [services travel.gc.ca]. Greek authorities recorded an “earthquake swarm” around Santorini starting late January 2025, with more than 800 tremors recorded and a strongest quake of magnitude 5.2 on Feb. 5, 2025, prompting a state of emergency declared until Mar. 3, 2025. [euronews.com]. The official VisitGreece site confirmed government monitoring and precautionary civil protection measures were applied during that period. [visitgreece.gr] Transport disruption monitoring tools show ongoing risk from strikes in 2026—Santorini Secrets’ strike dashboard was updated Mar. 13, 2026 to track ferry, flight and service interruptions across [Greece santorinisecrets.com]. During the 2025 seismic episode, airlines and ferry operators added extra services to evacuate residents and reroute passengers while several cruise lines modified calls to alternative Greek ports. [euronews.com] Greek emergency measures in 2025 included temporary restrictions on access and infrastructure changes on Santorini and Thirasia for two months, with reports of suspended cable-car operations and closed walking trails in affected zones. [keeptalkinggreece.com] Cruise itineraries and hotel operations were adjusted that season as ports and local authorities coordinated contingency plans. [euronews.com] The U.S. advisory specifically recommends enrollment in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) for updates and consular contact information. [travel.state.gov] Canada’s advice calls out persistent petty-crime hotspots in tourist areas and urges checking local media for strike notices, while Greek bulletins during the 2025 unrest even instructed some hotels to drain pools and prepare evacuation routes. [travel.gc.ca]
