Overview

• Germany’s Foreign Office reiterates cautions for Spain and Greece, citing tourist-targeted theft, an elevated terror alert in Spain since 2017, sandstorms in the Canaries, and seismic or volcanic activity in several regions.
• In Greece, officials flag high pickpocketing rates in Athens, Thessaloniki and Piraeus, recurring summer wildfires with temperatures above 40°C, and earthquake risk, urging secure documents, cashless payments and real-time alerts.
• Consumer coverage points travelers to less-crowded Greek islands, with Lesbos identified as a current trend in search and hashtag data, and Kefalonia and Skopelos promoted as quieter alternatives to Crete.
• Crete’s new Kastelli airport is under construction to replace Heraklion, with 19 aircraft stands and a 94,000 m² terminal planned for an initial 10 million passengers, expandable to 18 million, trial operations targeted for August 2026 and opening reported for February 2027.
• Greece welcomed about 36 million visitors in 2024 including roughly 5.7 million Germans, while practical guidance highlights largely dry summer weather on Crete and cost-saving strategies such as off-peak travel and public transport.