Tourism in Greece

Discover the cradle of Western civilization

Greece stands as one of the world's
most captivating tourist destinations.

From ancient archaeological wonders to pristine Mediterranean islands,
experience the rich tapestry of Greek history, culture, and natural beauty.

Overview

Tourism in Greece has been a cornerstone of economic activity, representing one of the country's most vital sectors. Greece has served as a major tourist destination in Europe since the 1970s, attracting visitors with its extraordinary cultural heritage and natural splendor.

The country boasts 19 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, among the most in Europe and the world. Its extensive coastline, numerous islands, and pristine beaches provide natural attractions of unparalleled beauty. Popular destinations include Athens, the capital city; the islands of Santorini, Mykonos, Rhodes, Corfu, and Crete; and the Chalkidiki peninsula.

Greece has established itself as one of Europe's most popular LGBT tourist destinations. Religious tourism, ecotourism, conference tourism, and medical tourism are particularly prominent. The Greek government actively promotes seasonal tourism and diverse travel experiences to maximize visitor satisfaction and economic benefit.

History

Ancient and Roman Periods

Tourism in Greece traces its origins to antiquity. Cultural exchanges occurred between Greek colonies of Magna Graeca and the emerging Roman Republic before Rome's Mediterranean dominance. Following Greece's incorporation into the Roman Empire, cultural interchange sparked extensive Roman tourism to celebrated Greek centers of philosophy and science, including Athens, Corinth, and Thebes. Greeks enjoyed Roman citizenship, facilitating travel and cultural engagement.

Modern Tourism Development

Contemporary Greek tourism flourished during the 1960s and 1970s, marking the era of mass tourism. Extensive hotel and facility construction projects dramatically increased international visitor capacity and accessibility.

Major international events significantly enhanced tourism development. The 2004 Summer Olympic Games hosted in Athens and the Eurovision Song Contest 2006 substantially boosted tourism infrastructure and international interest. The establishment of large-scale nationally funded cultural facilities, particularly the New Acropolis Museum, continues attracting cultural tourism. Thessaloniki was designated European Youth Capital in 2014, further promoting northern Greece tourism.

Land and Climate

Greece enjoys a Mediterranean climate along its coasts and islands, while inland regions experience continental conditions. Summers are typically hot and dry, whereas winters are generally mild and wet. Northern Greece experiences colder winters, while Southern Greece and the islands enjoy considerably milder conditions—ideal for year-round tourism.

This favorable climate enables diverse tourism opportunities throughout the seasons. Visitors experience optimal conditions for beach activities, archaeological exploration, and cultural engagement across different regions and times of the year.

Infrastructure

As a developed nation heavily dependent on tourism, Greece offers comprehensive tourist facilities. Tourism infrastructure has been substantially improved since the 2004 Athens Olympic Games and continues expanding with significant projects in less-visited regions.

Beach Resorts

Popular beach destinations include Crete, Rhodes, Kos, Corfu, Kefalonia, Zante, and Skiathos, attracting millions of international visitors annually. Athens will host Greece's first integrated resort with the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Athens opening in 2027.

Hotels and Accommodations

According to the Hellenic Chamber of Hotels in 2016, Greece housed approximately 9,730 hotels with 788,553 bedplaces:

Marinas

Greece operates 51 marinas providing 14,661 mooring places with services including berths, fuel, water, electricity, telephony, and repairs. The marinas of Alimos and Flisvos, located south of Athens, have combined capacity exceeding 1,800 vessels.

Spas and Thermal Springs

Greece possesses 752 thermal springs, many classified as therapeutic by the National Institute for Geographical and Mineral Research. Several were known and utilized in antiquity, with thermal tourism representing one of the earliest forms of ancient travel. The Hellenic Association of Municipalities with Thermal Springs was established in 1983.

Notable thermal destinations include Aidipsos (known from Aristotle's time), Loutraki (mentioned by Xenophon), Traianoupoli (founded by Emperor Trajan in the 2nd century AD), and the Byzantine thermal baths of Lagkadas. High-standard facilities now operate in Pozar, Aidipsos, Kamena Vourla, Loutraki, and Kaiafas on the Peloponnese's western shores.

Cultural Attractions

Museums

Approximately 150 museums throughout Greece offer tourists accessible cultural experiences. Every major Greek city and town maintains an Archaeological Museum housing local findings. Significant institutions include the New Acropolis Museum and National Archaeological Museum in Athens. Thessaloniki houses numerous museums including the Byzantine Museum.

Archaeological Sites

Greece contains numerous significant archaeological sites attracting visitors worldwide.

Athens features the Acropolis, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, the ancient Kerameikos cemetery, Philopappou Hill, the Tower of the Winds, Plato's Academy, and the Ancient Agora.

Central Greece includes Delphi with its distinguished ancient theatre and Oracle site, Thebes, and Thermopylae, site of the legendary 480 BC battle where approximately 7,000 Greeks (including the famous 300 Spartans) resisted a substantially larger Persian force.

The Peloponnese features Ancient Corinth, Epidaurus with its restored ancient theatre, Argos, Nemea, and Mycenae—the dominant power during the second millennium BC that dominated southern Greece and parts of southwest Anatolia. Sparta preserves ancient ruins including Leonidas' tomb. Olympia contains the Temple of Zeus, the Temple of Hera, the Palaestra, and the Leonidaion.

Northern Greece and Macedonia include Dion, the sacred Macedonian site; Pella, capital of Ancient Macedonia and birthplace of Alexander the Great and Philip II of Macedon; Vergina, a World Heritage Site containing the Macedonian Royal Tombs; and Philippi.

Island Archaeological Sites include Delos (an uninhabited Cycladic island with extensive ruins), Knossos in Crete (featuring the famous Minoan palace), Akrotiri (Minoan Bronze Age settlement), and the Asclepeion of Kos (healing temple and training site of Hippocrates).

Alternate Tourism

LGBT Tourism

Greece has established itself as one of Europe's most popular LGBT tourist destinations, particularly in Athens, Thessaloniki, and islands including Lesbos, Santorini, Skiathos, and Mykonos. Mykonos is particularly renowned as a gay-friendly destination with numerous establishments catering to the LGBT community. Both Skiathos and Mykonos rank among Europe's and the world's most LGBT-friendly destinations.

Religious Tourism

Greece actively promotes religious tourism and pilgrimages to regions with significant historical religious presence, particularly the Christian monasteries in Meteora and Mount Athos, in international cooperation.

Medical Tourism

Greece's temperate climate, highly-trained medical personnel, and cutting-edge medical innovations substantially contribute to the country's growing medical travel industry.

Ecotourism

Greece has emerged as a premier ecotourism destination, particularly for hiking, canoeing, caving, and climbing activities. Primary skiing destinations include Arachova, Kalavryta, Karpenisi, and Metsovo. The Greek government prioritizes environmental conservation through ecotourism promotion.

Conference Tourism

Conference tourism targeting academic, business, and cultural markets represents a cornerstone of Greek national tourism policy. The government offers lucrative incentives including cash grants, leasing subsidies, employment support, and tax allowances to establish and expand conference facilities. Greece ranked eighth globally for conference overnight stays, with business travel revenues projected to increase from US$1.51 billion (2001) to US$2.69 billion (2011).

Four Seasons and Winter Tourism

The Greek government actively promotes four-season and winter tourism to potentially increase international arrivals further.

Economic Impact

Top Revenue-Generating Countries (2023)

Tourism consumption has increased dramatically since the millennium, from US$17.7 billion (2000) to US$29.6 billion (2004). The tourism sector directly or indirectly generates jobs representing approximately 16.5% of national employment.

Visitor Statistics

Greece continues attracting record numbers of international visitors. In 2009, the country welcomed over 19.3 million tourists, a substantial increase from the 17.7 million in 2008. The tourism market is projected to reach USD 1.43 trillion by 2037.

The vast majority of tourists originate from European Union countries (12.7 million), followed by visitors from the Americas (0.56 million), Asia (0.52 million), Oceania (0.1 million), and Africa (0.06 million).

Top Visitor Arrivals by Country (2023)

Most-Visited Regions

Central Macedonia in northern Greece ranks as the most-visited region, welcoming 3.6 million tourists (18% of annual total) near attractions including Halkidiki, Mount Olympus, Pella (Alexander the Great's birthplace), and Thessaloniki (Greece's second-largest city).

Overall, Northern Greece receives 6.5 million visitors annually, while Central Greece attracts 6.3 million. Attica welcomes 2.6 million tourists, and the Peloponnese receives 1.8 million annually.

Tourism typically peaks between May and September, when approximately 75% of annual visitor arrivals occur. In 2015, Greece welcomed 26 million visitors, and this number was projected to reach 28 million in 2016.

Promoting Greek Tourism

The Greek National Tourism Organisation (GNTO) oversees tourism promotion. Helena Paparizou, a celebrated Greek singer who won the Eurovision Song Contest in 2005, served as ambassador. Singer Sakis Rouvas, who represented Greece at the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest, currently serves as ambassador for Greek Tourism.

While traditional GNTO advertising emphasized sea, sun, and sand, the tourism campaign undergoes significant transformation. City-breaks and conference tourism now receive promotion alongside cultural and wellness tourism initiatives. This strategic shift aims to increase overall tourism revenues through diversified market appeal. The current commercial campaign is branded "You in Greece," emphasizing authentic Greek experiences.