Tourism in Greece & the islands

Tourism in Greece is a must! It is a beautiful country standing out for its mountainous landscapes, incredible weather, numerous beguiling islands, long sandy beaches, uncountable attractions of all kinds and many more!
This is the perfect place to plan your holidays in one or many of the famous holiday destinations - Take a look at our travel guides!

Table of contents:
General infoWhy GreecePopular DestinationsDevelopment

Greece is the ultimate tourist destination for many Europeans and attracts millions of visitors every year, who travel there for their summer holiday.
This section provides information about Greek tourist destinations on the mainland and the Greek islands.

 

General information

Greek islands and the mainland host some of the top holiday destinations in Europe.
According to the World Tourism Organization, Greece ranks 9th worldwide in terms of international tourist arrivals for 2022. According to the Border Survey of the Bank of Greece, the country receives at least 15 million tourists from abroad every year from 2015 onwards, with the only exception of 2020 due to the pandemic of Covid-19.

Most tourists come from Europe, especially the EU countries, and from the USA, while fewer originate from the other continents.

 

Why Greece?

Greece is a famous country, popular for its clean beaches and rich history.
Hundreds of archaeological and historical sites gloriously depict the country's past - besides, there is a reason why Athens is called an open-air museum!
The landscape is mainly mountainous and the terrain is very fertile in the valleys that are scattered along the Greek mainland.
Greece is also surrounded by water - by the Aegean and the Ionian Sea in particular.
The country features around 6000 islands and islets, but only 227 of them are inhabited. They are the most popular Greek destinations, especially in summer. Big or tiny, green or arid, ideal for cosmopolitan or relaxing vacations, one thing is for sure: all have the requirements and facilities to offer you memorable and safe vacations!

Some reputed island resorts are:
Mykonos, with its cosmopolitan character
Santorini, with the most romantic sunset in the world
Rhodes, the island of the knights, with its medieval castles and the butterflies
Crete, with its revolutionary spirit
Ios, with its wild nightlife
Corfu, with its Venetian style
Ithaca, the homeland of Odysseus
Samos, the greenest of all Greek islands
Skiathos, with its long and sandy beaches
All these constitute just a few examples of the most famous Greek paradises.
Many have airports and are easily accessible by plane from Athens or directly from other European cities. All of them are also accessible via ferry.

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Want to discover Greece and the Greek islands with ease and totally carefree? Take an organized island hopping tour or discover our tours of ancient sites.
Want to make your own island-hopping trip? Book your ferries online and view more services that can help you organize your trip. Alternatively, you can send us your request!

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Most popular locations

Information about tourism in the most popular holiday destinations of Greece:
Athens, Santorini, Mykonos, Paros, Skiathos, Rhodes, Kos, Heraklion in Crete, Zakynthos, and Corfu.

 

Development of tourism

The first hotel in Greece was established in Naflplio, the first capital of the Greek State, in 1834 and was named "LONDON Hotel". Then, the infamous "GRANDE BRETAGNE" in Syntagma Square welcomed its first guests in 1878, and, after that, the hospitality sector in Greece started to gradually grow.

Greek tourism started flourishing in the late 1960s and particularly in the early 1970s.
At a slow but stable pace, Greece has today managed to become one of the most favorite tourist destinations among Europeans, Asians, and Americans.

The tourist season in Greece lasts from May to September, since the third-quarters of the tourism flow choose this time of year to come to Greece.
The sunny weather, warm beaches, and variable landscapes invite people from all over the world to experience Greek hospitality and a peaceful way of life.

Tourism revenues contribute greatly to the Greek economy, with many describing tourism as the country's heavy industry.
Many jobs have been created and businesses are continuously supported, by setting up numerous hotels, restaurants, cafes, gift shops and more in each area.

Efforts are being made to promote other forms of tourism; apart from summer holidays, winter tourist resorts, therapeutic spas, ecotourism, working holidays and discovery holidays have started to become popular, too.
Also, island cruises and island-hopping itineraries are becoming ever more popular.

Are you still hesitating?
We invite you to visit our web pages to get a sense of the astonishing beauty of Greece and the Greek islands. We provide you with a wide range of photos and an even wider range of information for more than 90 destinations.
However, when it comes to Greece, pictures are not enough. You should come to experience its beauty by yourself!

You can find more info about Greece on the website of the National Tourism Organisation.

DISCOVER MORE ABOUT GREECE