We’re spoilt in Australia. We can turn up to a beach with a towel, sunscreen, hat and cool cabana (if you so choose) and park wherever we like. The idea of having to pay for a spot on the sand is incomprehensible. But that’s the way it is on popular beaches in Greece. 

Come peak European summer, tourism operators fill the sandy shores of Greece’s most popular beaches with sun beds that are available to hire for the day. Prices can vary from 10€ ($16) up to 100€ ($166) depending on which island and beach you’re on. Beaches that offer table service to your sun lounge tend to charge more. While you can turn up to popular beaches with a towel there’s usually no space left on the beach to lay it out and if you can’t afford to pay to go to the beach every day, you’re priced out. But that’s all changed this summer. 

Greek Prime Minister, Kryriakos Mitsotakis, took to TikTok to announce that 70 per cent of beaches must be free of sun beds, increasing to 85 per cent in protected areas. The “beach bill” as the Prime Minister has coined it is designed to make beaches more orderly and fair and prevent overcrowding. The bill will also enforce that a minimum distance of four metres remains between the sun beds and shoreline to make the sea is more accessible. 

There’ll also be a list of “untouchable beaches” that are ecologically rich and sensitive. Under the new laws sun beds on these beaches will be completely banned. Beaches will be monitored throughout the summer by drones and businesses who disobey the new rules will be fined. 

 

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Businesses that want to continue operating on beaches will need to obtain a permit and take on specific responsibilities like cleaning the beach, providing access to people with disabilities and also hiring a lifeguard to ensure beachgoers remain safe.

The ban is being enforced with the help of drones and local citizen reporting. The MyCoast digital app lists legal establishments and encourages users to report violations. Earlier this month, local news outlets reported that over 1,000 complaints were received resulting in over €350,000 in violations fines in just five days.

Finally, locals and tourists looking to spend the day on the beach, swimming in the Med and not drop a motza, can.

If you are heading to Greece for the European summer and are still deciding on which islands to visit these are the 15 Greek islands you can’t skip on your next trip (sans sunbeds) and the must-try food dishes and drinks to order. 

Related story: Dive into the 10 best beaches in Crete