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With a written history of at least three millennia, a world-famous cuisine, and no fewer than 227 paradise islands Greece ranks first, along with Italy, Spain and Türkiye, as one of the top destinations in the Mediterranean, with 32.7 million tourists last year only.
In 2024 the arrival figures will be expected to rise further even as the local tourism sector has now fully recovered from the crisis and demand is at a record high, surpassing 2019 levels.
Based on the available data, it’s safe to say it could break tourism records this summer.
Still, you might be wondering what are some of the not-so-obvious things about Greece that have travelers hooked in the first place (other than its claim to being Europe’s party capital, of course):
Islands, islands and more islands
As we have already mentioned, includes Greece 227 islandswith the exception of the smaller, uninhabited islets, and reducing them to the usual Instagrammer-friendly live sets of bougainvillea-filled alleys and overtouristed towns is a big mistake you don’t want to make.
The Aegean archipelagos are more diverse than they think, and while the above description certainly applies to Santorini, Mykonos and the like, where overdevelopment and celebrity-attended beach clubs have all but erased the native charm, there are countless quieter places where you can escape to.
From hilly Folegandros, where cobbled towns sit atop high cliffs overlooking azure waters, to unusual Anafi, with its golden sandy beaches and traditional blue domes, to pristine Patmos, where a monumental medieval fortress towers over an ancient fortress. choraGreece will steal your heart like it did ours.
It’s easy to get around
Since it controls a huge coastline and hundreds of islands, some of which are so far from the mainland and their closest neighbors are in fact Middle Eastern countries like Türkiye, you would expect it to be more difficult to travel around or island hop in Greece, but that is not the case at all.
All island destinations are served by intra-European or domestic flights from larger hubs or during the week by ferry connections: from Piraeus, the main Athenian port, you can travel anywhere in the Aegean, with comfortable night ferries connecting the capital to islands. far East as the Dodecanese.
Traveling within Greece is also surprisingly affordable.
Sleeper fares on commercial ferries traveling from Athens to Mykonos average $41, from Athens to Kos $67, or from Athens to Crete from just $34 when pre-booked with Minoan or Anek Lines.
Don’t underestimate the Greek mainland
The picturesque array of Greek islands is indisputably the main reason why tourists will flock to the southeastern European gem this summer, but they shouldn’t be in a hurry to leave the mainland for the first ferry to Santorini.
Mainland Greece is known for its cosmopolitan cities Athens And Thessaloniki to name just a few: natural and man-made wonders, including the Meteora Monasteries, resting on vertiginous free-standing rock pillars, and scenic train journeys through the green nature of the Peloponnese.
Athens’ restaurant-lined Plaka district, bustling street bazaars and Parthenon, which is on the UNESCO World Heritage List are as quintessentially Greece as whitewashed churches and blue domes, and trust us, you won’t want to leave Greece without visiting Delphi, formerly the seat of The Oracle in ancient times.
Greece has better weather on average compared to other European countries
As one of the southernmost states in Europe, with warmer temperatures all year round, especially in the Aegean archipelagos, it goes without saying that the Greek weather is as much an incentive for tourists to come as the fascinating culture and postcard islands.
It enjoys a unusually long high seasonThat starts as early as April, when the seas start to warm, the clouds disappear and the blood-orange sunsets of spring triumphantly return to the Cyclades, and that perfect ‘Greek island weather’ extends well into late October.
July and August are the hottest months to visit, but most of the year Greece is surprisingly nice to visitif not for swimming, then for sunbathing.
It’s only March and islands like Crete, Rhodes and Karphatos are already recording temperatures of up to 66.2 degrees Celsius.°F.
Greece can be more affordable than you think
Members of the white-on-white cult of Mykonos will disagree, but a week-long trip to Greece doesn’t have to cost you thousands of dollars unless you’re actively looking for a cave suite with your own private space. lagoon or eat in fancy restaurants every night.
Eating in Greece actually is quite affordable by European standardsthanks to the diverse range of locally produced fresh vegetables, tropical fruits and dairy products.
Eating as cheap as $13 shouldn’t be a problem in mainland cities or even on larger islands like Corfu and Crete.
Of course, tourist islands full of seaside resorts are more expensive than average – a simple moussaka dinner in Santorini can cost a shocking $22, compared to $9 in Athenian restaurants – but if you opt for the one around the corner, it will cost ten dollars Gyros every now and then you can reduce costs considerable.
Overall, accommodation in Greece is not too expensive as you might thinkor.
The average price for a week’s stay is an acceptable $603 – again, we’re talking mid-range, non-remarkable all-inclusive villa stays.
7 direct flights from the US
The final reason for Greece’s rising popularity this year is its improved connectivity with the United States, which will increase demand among Americans and help them realize their wildest plans. Mom Mia-inspired fantasies without long layovers in third countries.
There are still no transatlantic flights from the US to any Greek island – airports are far too smalland in most cases they don’t even have any airports at all – so you can’t go to Santorini directly from New York, but you can Easily find non-stop flights to Athens.
Athens International operates commercial flights from no fewer than 7 American hubs this summer, including JFK, Newark, DC, Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago and Atlanta.
Once they arrive in Athens, travelers can connect to domestic flights or hop on a ferry to reach the islands.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author, and not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included in the post.
