Matt & Nikki

Greece is now open for tourists and we couldn't be more excited! There are still COVID-19-related requirements for international travel. To help you out, we've outlined some important information below. 

Entry requirements into Greece
Please familiarize yourselves with the entry requirements into Greece prior to your travel. To enter the country, you will need to either show proof of complete COVID-19 vaccination (so pack your vaccine cards!) or a negative PCR test within the past three days. You will also need to complete a Passenger Locator Form online before you leave. You have up until the day before you arrive to complete it, but we suggest you fill it out once you have finalized your travel plans.

If you plan on visiting (not transiting through) any other countries before coming to Greece, make sure you check the entry requirements for those countries.

Information on entry requirements and the Passenger Locator Form can be found at https://travel.gov.gr.

Entry Requirements Returning to the USA
Currently, all travelers entering the United States are required to submit proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within 3 days prior to boarding their flight home. This applies even if you are fully vaccinated. If you would like to get tested on Folegandros, there is a pharmacy on the island that offers COVID-19 testing. We have emailed the flyer for the pharmacy and instructions for arranging a test to all of our guests. A couple important notes about the testing:

• Tests at the pharmacy in Folegandros cost 100€ for PCR test or 40€ for a rapid antigen test. Both are acceptable for entry into the United States. You may want to check with your health insurance if they will cover this cost.

• To pay for the test, you’ll have to pay for it via bank transfer. The pharmacy does not accept cash. Please let us know if you need any help with this.

More information on the COVID testing requirements for entry into the USA can be found at https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/before-you-go/covid-19_testing_required_US_Entry.html

Because Folegandros has no airport, you'll have to take a ferry from Athens or from one of the other Greek islands. Folegandros is less than an hour ferry ride from Santorini.

We highly suggest booking your ferry tickets in advance

Some places you can catch a ferry to Folegandros:

• Athens (Pireaus) [5 hours]

• Santorini [45 minutes]

To view ferry schedules and book tickets, we suggest the following websites:

Ferry Hopper

Go Ferry

There are a lot of options when it comes to making it to Folegandros. The closest airport is in Santorini (JTR), but you can also fly to Athens (ATH) and ferry to Folegandros from there.

We suggest flying to either Santorini or Athens to catch a ferry to Folegandros. If you can, we suggest flying to Europe early so you can get over the jetlag by the time the festivities begin on September 6.

Direct flights from the US to Athens (ATH):

• Chicago (ORD)

• Philadelphia (PHL)

• New York (EWR, JFK)

Flights from mainland Europe to Santorini (JTR):

• Athens (ATH)

• Zurich (ZRH)

• Naples (NAP)

• Venice (VCE)

• Rome (FCO)

• London (LHR)

• Manchester (MAN)

• And many more. Check out the Santorini airport website for more information.

If you're exploring other Greek islands before the wedding, you can take a ferry from there to Folegandros.

While our ceremony is on Agali Beach, the island is small enough that you can stay pretty much anywhere. We have reserved rooms at the Blue Sand Hotel from September 5-9. Previous reservations have been transferred over, but please confirm with Blue Sand.

If you want to extend your stay either before or after September 5-9 at Blue Sand, just let them know when you book or confirm your new reservation.

Reserved for our guests from September 5-9

Many of you had already booked rooms at Blue Sand for June 2020. These reservations were transferred to the new dates in 2021. Please contact Blue Sand to confirm your new reservation or make any changes.

We stayed at Blue Sand when we visited in 2017 and it was one of the many reasons we fell in love with Folegandros. All of the rooms are nice and have great views of the sea.

To book a room at Blue Sand, send an email to info@bluesand.gr and tell them you are with Matt and Nikki's wedding.

Rooms start at 140€ and include an amazing breakfast.

Kymanemi is across the beach from Blue Sand (1 minute walk).

To book a room at Kymanemi, send an email to kymanemi@gmail.com

We encourage you to stay at the Blue Sand, but here are some other good options on or near Agali:

• AGIA MARINA: http://www.agiamarinarooms.gr/en/

• PERIGIALI: https://www.perigiali-folegandros.gr/

And we mean everyone. Even the newborns need a valid passport to enter Europe. Make sure that your passport is valid for at least 90 days after you plan to leave Europe. If you have a US passport you do not need a visa. More information at the US State Department website.

If you don't have Global Entry, we suggest enrolling in Mobile Passport which can help you get through US immigration a little faster when you return to the US.

Most of the hotels on the island, including Blue Sand, have a shuttle service that will take you to and from the port where you'll arrive on Folegandros. This is included in your reservation, but you will need to let the hotel know when your ferry will arrive.

If you are staying at Blue Sand or on one of the other hotels on Agali beach, you will be on site for all of the events.

If you want to explore the island (and we think you will!), we suggest getting a rental car or an ATV. There are no taxis or rideshares on the island.

If you want to rent a car in Folegandros (or generally any other place in Europe), you will need an International Driver’s Permit in addition to your U.S. driver’s license. You will need to apply for this prior to coming to Greece. More information on this can be found at https://gr.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/local-resources-of-u-s-citizens/driving-in-greece/.