Tourism in Greece & the islands

Tourism in Greece is a must!
This website is the perfect place to plan your holidays in one or many of the famous holiday destinations.
It is a beautiful country characterized by its mountainous landscapes, its incredible weather, its many islands, its long sandy beaches and more.
Discover our travel guides!

Table of contents:
• General info • Why Greece • Popular Destinations • Development

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

General information

Greece mainland and the Greek islands have some of the favorite holiday destinations in Europe.
Greece comes in 13th place (2019) in the world rating of tourist destinations, since, according to the National Statistical Service of Greece, it receives more than 30 million tourists every year, after countries such as the USA, China, Spain, France and Great Britain.

Most tourists to Greece come from Europe, especially the EU countries, and from the USA, while fewer originate from the other continents.
In 1989 and 1991, approximately 90% of the tourists to Greece were Europeans, in particular, German and British citizens.
Until the mid-1990s, the tourism flow in Greece would not surpass 8 or 9 million; however, 1994 was a determinant year for Greece tourism because more than 10 million people chose Greece and the wonderful Greek islands to spend their summer vacations.

Why Greece?

Greece is a famous country, popular for its clean beaches and its long history.
There are hundreds of archaeological and historical sites to visit in Greece that gloriously depict the country's past.
Its landscape is mainly mountainous and the terrain is not very fertile, except for some valleys scattered along the Greek mainland.
However, Greece is surrounded by water, in particular, the Aegean and the Ionian Sea.
The country consists of more than 1,400 islands and islets, but only 169 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 these islands have the requirements and facilities to offer you memorable and safe vacations!

Some of the most popular island resorts are:
• Mykonos island, with its cosmopolitan character;
• Santorini island, with the most romantic sunset in the world;
• Rhodes island, the island of the medieval castles, the sun and the butterflies;
• Crete island, with its revolutionary spirit;
• Ios island, with the wild nightlife;
• Corfu island, with its Venetian style;
• Ithaca island, the homeland of Ulysses;
• Samos island, the greenest of all Greek islands;
• Skiathos island, 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 some European cities. There 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 to 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 Greek tourism started flourishing in the late 1960s and particularly in the early 1970s.
The first Greek hotel unit was created in 1968 in Agios Nikolaos, Lassithi, Crete and since then many accommodation options have made their appearance all along Greece.

In a slow but stable pace, Greece has today managed to become one of the most favorite tourist destinations among Europeans, Asians, and Americans.
It is worth mentioning that, according to surveys, the Chinese and the Austrians vote for Greece as the best holiday spot ever!!

The season for tourism 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 the Greek hospitality and peaceful way of life.

The income from tourism constitutes a large part of the Greek economy.
Many new jobs have been created and business has been supported, by setting up numerous hotels, restaurants, cafes, gift shops and more in each area.

A special interest is also given to promote, apart from summer holidays, winter tourist resorts, therapeutic spas, ecotourism, working holidays and discovery holidays.
Also, island cruises and island-hopping itineraries are very popular.

Are you still hesitating?
We invite you to visit our web pages to take a view 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.