Greek Consumer Group: Know Your Beach Rights

Photo Source: @Ekpizo

Greek beaches, whether private or public, are required by law to provide access to all bathers, according Greece’s main consumers group, EKPIZO.

According to EKPIZO’s statement this week: “All beaches are communal and as such free access is allowed to all citizens. Organized beaches should provide free space for other bathers.”

EKPIZO goes on to note that even in cases of the so-called “organized beaches” – offering umbrella and F&B services – free space must be available for bathers, adding that pricing for basic goods should be the same as those charged on ferries or at airports.

Rules of the Beach

• Fees for umbrella and sun lounger use should be clearly listed and prominently displayed,
• Ask for a receipts – they must be issued by law,
• Beaches charging admission fees are required by law to have a sufficient number of lifeguards on duty from 10.30am to 5.30pm in the June-August period,
• Beaches with additional recreational facilities are required to indicate swimming areas with floating buoys,
• Beaches with marine leisure and recreational facilities including boats, jet skis, wind surfing etc are required to operate out of a special designated sea corridor measuring 7-15 meters wide and length according to each area,
• Recreational activities, including water skiing, paragliding, jet skis, surf jets, sea beetles, and water bikes are prohibited in the sea area under 100 meters from the buoys,
• The aforementioned recreational activities are prohibited between 2pm and 5pm from the months of June to September,
• Wind surfing activity should take place outside the buoyed area, or 200 meters from swimming areas.