The next phase of the major regeneration project will continue along the waterfront and port zone, with the work expected to resume in October. Hersonissos advances to the second phase of a 7.2 million euro urban regeneration project targeting its beachfront promenade and commercial center, with a contractual completion date of March 12, 2027. Over 2 million euros of the budget is dedicated to mandatory archaeological investigations, leaving about 4.5 million euros for construction and utility undergrounding funded by the Ministry of Maritime Affairs. Critics and residents point out that the multi-million-euro investment exclusively targets postcard-ready tourist zones, leaving chronic regional neglect and everyday municipal infrastructure issues unaddressed. The money will complete the regeneration of the land-side port zone, where much of the work is already visible. Construction is scheduled to restart in early October, after the main tourist season, with the project currently due for completion in March 2027. The project is expected to bring upgraded walking and recreation areas, improved infrastructure and better accessibility along the seafront. Which, naturally, is the part of Hersonissos that most visitors see first. A Lot of Money, But Not All for paving The headline figure is €7.17 million, but it isn't all going into paving stones, benches and making the waterfront look pretty. According to the project's latest funding breakdown: Construction and regeneration works€5.019 millionArchaeological investigation and enhancement€1.229 millionUnderwater archaeological work€921,400Total€7.169 million The archaeological component therefore accounts for more than €2 million of the current funding package. The archaeological work is being carried out under the supervision of the relevant archaeological authorities, while the construction component is managed through the Directorate of Port Infrastructure. The Waterfront Gets the Makeover The works concern the coastal port zone, rather than a wholesale regeneration of Hersonissos. Hersonissos is a large and heavily visited resort with plenty of streets and neighborhoods beyond the postcard waterfront. This project does not appear to address the town's wider collection of infrastructure problems. Instead, it focuses on the highly visible strip between the town and the sea: the bit where visitors walk, restaurants compete for attention, people head toward the harbor, and practically every holiday photograph eventually ends up. Which makes perfect tourism logic. If you have €7 million to spend on a resort, you might as well start with the bit everyone sees. Why the Work Is Restarting Now The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy's Sectoral Development Program secured the additional funding. The municipality says the works will restart in early October, after the peak tourist period, to minimize disruption to local businesses and tourism activity. The funding also has some history. Earlier in 2026, the project had attracted questions over its progress and financing after the original contract covered only part of the overall project budget. The initial contract, signed in December 2025, was worth about €3.56 million plus VAT and included a six-month completion period. The newly secured funding is intended to allow the remaining project scope to proceed. A Prettier Hersonissos, At Least Along the Seafront For visitors, the changes will be immediately noticeable where they matter most during a holiday: the waterfront, walking routes, public spaces and access to the port area. For residents, however, the obvious question is whether the makeover stops at the places that make the best photographs. This project does not claim to solve Hersonissos' wider infrastructure problems, and there is no evidence in the material available that the €7.2 million is intended to do so. It is, quite specifically, a regeneration of the port-side urban waterfront. By March 2027, the waterfront should look considerably different. Now we just have to wait and see whether the pretty bit grows legs and wanders into the rest of town. 😏