Tourism has a massive influence on the Greek economy. After decades of developing its tourism infrastructure, there are upwards of a million beds available in Greek resorts, hotels, and other venues. Tourism is responsible, either directly or indirectly, for 20% of the Greek economy. Greece is the 7th most-visited country in the world.
There are a lot of good reasons for this, starting with the climate. It’s no secret that Greece has seen some rough times financially during the last 15 years or so, but it still has the Mediterranean climate, with its light, airy summers and mild, somewhat rainy winters. No matter Greece’s financial state, the one thing that cannot be removed is its climate. Did you know that only about 2% of the world’s land mass has a Mediterranean climate?
Other factors drawing tourists to Greece are its hundreds of islands, its atmosphere of romance, its rich history, and its fascinating culture. Greece attracted over 30 million visitors in 2023. That’s three times its population.
Here are the top 10 destinations for visitors to Greece, as well as how many tourists visit yearly.
Crete – 5 million
This largest (by far) Greek island offers a wealth of sites to see and things to do, from the fascinating historical sites of Knossos and Heraklion, to the wild party town of Malia.
Rhodes – 2.5 million
One of Rhodes’ best features is that, being the most southerly Dodecanese island, beaches stay open longer. You can comfortably swim in Rhodes through October (average sea temperature 23.9°C or 75°F).
Mykonos – 2.5 million plus
This most glamorous of the islands is the place to gawk at the rich and famous.
Santorini–1.5 million
The earth-shattering blow-off of this island’s volcano in the 1400’s BC left the unforgettable view of its dramatic, sea-filled caldera with a small, steaming volcanic island in its center as viewed from its cliff top villages.
Corfu – 1.7 million
Home to 6,000 British ex-patriots, Corfu’s history is rich with the influence of its Venetian occupation during the Middle Ages. It’s one of the most pleasantly green islands, and, off Greece’s west coast, the closest to Western Europe.
Halkidiki – 1 million
This three-fingered peninsula in northern Greece is a short drive away from the amenities of Thessaloniki, Greece’s second city, and is home to the uniquely Orthodox Mt. Athos with its chain of monasteries.
More about Halkidiki peninsula
Kos - 1 million
Known for its sandy beaches and its ancient temple of Asclepius, the god of healing, Kos is also just 5km off the coast of Turkey.
Lefkada- 1 million
Conveniently connected to mainland by a short causeway, Lefkada, like Corfu, is an Ionian island off the west coast of Greece and, other than its ease of access, Lefkada is noted for its stunning turquoise waters, sandy beaches, and dramatic cliffs.
Zakynthos – 850 thousand
The third and southernmost of the three Ionian islands on this list, Zakynthos is home to the most photographed beach in the world, Shipwreck (Navagio) Beach, as well as the fascinating Blue Caves.
Thassos – 200 thousand plus
Thassos occupies the most northerly position of all the Greek islands, just of the coast of Thrace. It has abundant pine forests and great beaches, and is much greener than the other Aegean islands.
