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It’s one of the most sought-after holiday destinations in the world, and it’s easy to see why.
Turquoise waters and bright blue skies, whitewashed towns and a laid-back way of life – what’s not to love?
If you’re looking for beautiful beaches spread across 100,000 miles of coastline and some of Europe’s top cultural attractions, there’s nowhere better to go.
A wave of American travelers
Of course we are talking about Greece.
Not only was 2023 a record year for tourism in the country, but Greece has also started 2024 with a bang.
Historically, January is the slowest month for tourism in Greece, but this year they experienced the best January ever. In one month alone, 737.3 thousand foreign visitors arrived in the country.
Furthermore, a large number of those travelers came from the US
The number of travelers to Greece from the United States increased by a whopping 260.2% year over year in January, the report said. Bank of Greece.
American travelers are also spending more in Greece than ever before, with spending increasing 63.6%.
So why is Greece seeing such a huge increase in American travelers?
Easy to reach
This year there are more nonstop flights from the US to Greece than ever.
Delta and American Airlines offer nonstop flights from New York JFK.
If your starting point is Boston, you can take a daily flight with Delta. This is the fastest possible non-stop route between Greece and the US
With American Airlines you can fly between Chicago or Philadelphia and Greece.
United Airlines offers a nonstop route from Washington. And if you want to fly from Atlanta, Delta is the airline for you.
All of these flights have Athens as their arrival city, which is a great place to start your Greek adventures. And from there it’s easy to reach almost any of the most beautiful Greek islands by taking a short flight or passenger ferry.
A large number of Greek island cruises from Athens also depart from the city’s Piraeus port, so this is a great place to start if you want to hop from island to island and see as much as possible during your trip.
It’s also worth noting that American travelers do not need a visa to travel to Greece, which makes visiting the country even easier.
A rich cultural heritage
Cultural and historical destinations are always popular with American travelers. It is said that Greek is the first and therefore oldest civilization in Europe.
Many of the country’s important ancient sites are remarkably well preserved thanks to the dry, Mediterranean climate, meaning there is an abundance of things to see and do for culture vultures.
If you’re planning to go to the island, you should first plan a few days in Athens, as this is where you’ll find some of the country’s best-known and best-preserved cultural highlights.
This includes the Acropolis and the Parthenon, a citadel that sits on a hilltop above the city. It is worth noting that this is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Greece and the number of visitors is limited to 20,000 per day to tackle overtourism.
So book tickets in advance and arrive early.
You can also explore the Ancient Agora of Athens, the best-known example of an ancient Greek agora in the country. The Temple of Olympian Zeus is also located in the city and is a great place for fans of ancient mythology.
Exceptional islands
Greece is known for its breathtakingly beautiful islands, and one of the most popular ways to explore the country is by taking an island hopping tour.
Mykonos, Santorini and Crete are the 3 most popular islands for American travelers interested in island hopping.
When you think of a typical white and blue Greek island, you probably think of Santorini.
Although it can become overcrowded during the summer months, this beautiful island and its traditional architecture are well worth exploring.
And this is also a great place to relax on the golden sandy beaches.
Mykonos is a party island and offers the best nightlife, beach clubs and parties for tourists and locals alike.
If you want to experience the best beaches in Greece, I recommend visiting the island of Kos.
From beachside thermal pools to huge stretches of family-friendly sand like Mastichari Beach, you’ll be spoiled for choice when it comes to beautiful beaches.
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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.
