Have you ever found yourself on a beautiful beach in Greece, but had nowhere to lay your towel or umbrella? Have you encountered the issue of overcrowded beach bars that take up too much space? Or were you asked to pay for a spot on the beach as if it were private?

You are not alone. As the issue escalated into a general movement called “Justice for Towels,” Greece decided to resist the privatization of beaches and put an end to it, involving both locals and tourists. Now you can help preserve free access to beaches by using the “MyCoast” app.

How did the “Justice for Towels” campaign start?

Greece is known for its beautiful beaches, but the enjoyment can be diminished when certain beach bars occupy the entire beach with sunbeds. Many of our guests write to us every year about this problem, lamenting the lack of free space to set up their own beach gear and towels. You can read comments from tourists complaining about these beaches on our Facebook page HERE.

During the past season (2023), people rebelled, primarily locals, and started a movement for beach spots that grew into the “Justice for Towels” movement. The movement quickly spread throughout Greece, in the middle of the season, highlighting the issue of illegal and excessive beach occupation by beach bars.

In April 2024, a digital solution was introduced - the “MyCoast” app, developed by the Ministry of Digital Governance under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Economy and Finance of the Hellenic Republic.

The app allows tourists and citizens to report excessive occupation of beach areas, especially when umbrellas and sunbeds occupy more space than legally permitted.

How to report illegal beach occupation?

  • Download the app. The app is available for download on:
    Google Play Store here: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=gr.gov.mycoast&hl=en
    and the App Store here: https://apps.apple.com/gr/app/mycoast/id6477921881
  • All you need to do is locate the beach using the app’s map or by scanning the QR code, which by law must be displayed on the beach bar sign.
  • The app will provide you with all relevant information about the concession, including location, lease duration, and the permitted area for occupation.
  • If you notice irregularities, you can easily submit a complaint, either anonymously or using your Takisnet data (for citizens of the Hellenic Republic), and your report will be sent to the relevant authorities.
    It is important to note that complaints can only be submitted from a device near the location of the issue, and only one complaint per type of problem for a specific location is allowed per day.

Why use ‘MyCoast’?

  • Easy to use: The app allows you to quickly and easily report improper beach occupations.
  • Protection of your rights: With this app, you can help preserve free access to beaches, which is the right of every visitor.
  • Accessibility: The app is free and available on all mobile devices, so you can take action at any time.

Penalties for violations are serious, ranging from 2,000 to 60,000 euros, and inspections are carried out by municipalities, police, and state property services. Last summer, thanks to similar initiatives, over 4,500 inspections were conducted, revealing 1,750 violations.

The “MyCoast” app is of great importance in preserving free access to beaches and maintaining order on the Greek coastlines.

You can easily find the most beautiful beaches in all regions in our guide HERE.

Has the app led to freeing up spots for towels?

During the summer of 2024, thanks to reports through this app, a total of 12,500 inspections were carried out across Greece. More than 1,600 businesses were checked, and the overall picture showed an improvement in compliance with the new rules compared to previous years.

The highest number of complaints was recorded in the following regions:

-Halkidiki: 1,930 complaints were reviewed, and inspectors conducted checks on 24 beaches.
-Eastern Attica: 1,579 complaints were reviewed, with inspections carried out on 22 beaches.
-Preveza: 1,355 complaints were reviewed, with checks on 8 beaches.
-Dodecanese: 799 complaints were investigated, with inspections on 16 beaches.
-Cyclades: 552 reports were explored, with inspections on Mykonos and Paros.
-Corfu: 372 complaints were reviewed, with checks on 4 beaches.
-Chania: 264 complaints were reviewed, with checks on 7 beaches.

These data clearly demonstrate how useful the “MyCoast” app is in maintaining order on beaches and enabling citizens and tourists to actively participate in preserving free access to the coast.

We offer over 3,000 accommodations. Choose the one that suits you and your family HERE.

We offer over 3,000 accommodations. Choose the right one for you and your family HERE.

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