Everyone knows Greece for Santorini and its blue domes and whitewashed homes, Mykonos for its occasion scene and unique seashore golf equipment, and Crete for the colourful coastal cities and historic tradition.
With their conventional Mediterranean aptitude and picture-perfect sights, it is no surprise they function amongst Greece’s most sought-after locations: Santorini particularly hosts a whopping 3.4 million vacationers on common, regardless of having a resident inhabitants of round 15,000.
Imagine it or not, this 12 months, it is not Santorini, nor every other of the nation’s prime trip hotspots, which are main in tourism development.
Based on the newest report by Airports Council Worldwide Europe (ACI Europe), Greece’s fastest-rising locations proper now are not what you anticipate. Nicely, a minimum of 2 of them:
Athens, Greece
With a 7.6 p.c enhance in passenger site visitors for the primary half of 2025, Athens is amongst Greece’s prime performers this 12 months, and we won’t say we’re shocked.
The nationwide capital, it’s a treasure trove of historic wonders courting again a number of millennia, from the world-renowned Parthenon, perched atop the ruin-dotted Acropolis Hill, to the landmark Monastiraki Sq. and its bazaar, there’s loads in Athens to maintain tradition buffs busy for days.
Right here at Journey Off Path, we’re most passionate concerning the lesser-known gems vacationers are but to find, and one thing most guests fail to understand on the subject of Athens is town’s proximity to one among Greece’s most lovely coastal stretches.
The Athens Riviera is interspersed with full of life resort cities, crowd-free seashores, and extra outdated temples:
Head to Vouliagmeni for crystal-clear seas and relaxed vibes, Glyfada for the frantic nightlife that places Mykonos to disgrace, and the photogenic Temple of Poseidon for that Outdated World attract and epic sundown views.
Volos
Located about halfway from Athens and Thessaloniki, Volos Airport has seen a 51.1 p.c rise in guests in June.
It primarily serves Volos, a mid-size Greek port metropolis with a inhabitants of over 85,000. Briefly, it is large enough to flee the picturesque-yet-sleepy really feel of a few of these smaller Greek villages, but nonetheless far calmer than Greece’s largest cities.
The Port of Volos is the primary attraction right here, and although it lacks the Instagrammable Outdated City, with the usually European cobbled streets, it is acquired loads of wonderful meals spots to attempt, with its plethora of cozy waterfront cafes serving café fredo and family-run taverns specializing in native delicacies.
Take a look at Lepi, a basic tsipouro place serving generously-sized meze, Iolkos, your go-to eatery for contemporary seafood on a price range (round $17–$23), and Giro Giro Oloi, for one of the best, juiciest pork gyros on the town.
The primary seashore in Volos, Anavros, has tender golden sands bounded by azure, shallow seas, and the value for sunbed leases begins from solely $3.30.
Now, if it is a few of that Outdated World appeal you crave, you may wish to head as much as Mount Pelion, the imposing peak lurking within the background: there are a few cute small settlements to go to right here, Makrinitsa and Portaria, which each function stone homes, slim streets, and views over the coast.
Syros
The one island to function on the listing, Syros is the truth is the executive heart of the Cyclades island group (the identical one that features Santorini and Mykonos).
Out of the three, it is seen probably the most vital development in current months, with a 112.8 p.c enhance in airport arrivals in June 2025 alone—now, it is price noting Syros Airport solely hosts home flights from Athens and Thessaloniki, so you can argue Greek vacationers primarily drive this.
We would beg to vary.
For months now, Syros has accomplished the rounds in mainstream media, together with right here at Journey Off Path, as a much less crowded, extra genuine, equally fairly various to Santorini:
Its capital, Ermoupoli, has lovely neoclassical homes and a bustling purchasing scene, whereas Ano Syros, situated on a outstanding hill additional inland, is characterised by its cobble-paved slim lanes and medieval appeal, and unspoiled seashores like Kini and Galissas provide golden sands with out the standard crowds.
Positive, it might be that Greeks nonetheless kind a majority of Syros’ vacationer arrivals, however worldwide guests have already caught wind of it, they usually’ve been flocking in right here in vital numbers as of this summer time. In spite of everything, what’s a brief 2 to 3-hour layover in Athens?
Be taught extra about Syros, and why it has been shattering tourism information currently right here.
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