Page last updated: 20 July 2025
Greece, a country known for its rich history, fascinating mythology, and stunning landscapes, is a popular tourist destination. Contributing about 5-10% of GDP, the tourism industry plays a crucial role in Greece’s economy.
How many tourists visit Greece each year?
Over 30 million tourists travel to Greece each year (before and after the pandemic).1
- In 2019, Greece welcomed 31.3 million international visitors.
- Visitor numbers dropped to 7.4 million in 2020 due to travel restrictions surrounding COVID-19.
- Despite global travel restrictions, Greece saw its tourism sector begin to recover by 2021 and 2022, with 14.7 million and 27.8 million international visitors, respectively.
- Greece welcomed 32.7 million international arrivals in 2023 and continued to increase in 2024 to 35.9 million international visitors, a 14.7 % increase over 2019 and a 9.8% increase over 2023.
How many people visited Greece in 2025?
- As of May 2025, Greece had welcomed a total of 6.27 million visitors during the first five months. For 2025, international arrivals are projected at 37.8 million, a 5 % increase over the arrivals in 2024.
2025 Monthly Arrivals in Greece
| Month | Total Arrivals |
| January | 528,785 |
| February | 486,812 |
| March | 662,810 |
| April | 1,569,374 |
| May | 3,026,667 |
| Year-to-Date | 6,274,448 |
How many people visited Greece in 2024?
- In 2024, Greece welcomed 35.9 million international visitors, a 9.8 % increase over the 32.7 million arrivals in 2023 and a 14.7 % increase over the 31.3 million visitors in 2019 (pre-pandemic).
How much do people spend in Greece each year?
Visitors to Greece spent approximately $20.6 billion in 2024.2
- Before the pandemic, in 2019, Greece earned $17.7 billion from tourism.
- Tourist receipts dropped to $4.3 billion in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. The following year, 2021, saw a recovery, with revenue climbing back to $10.3 billion.
- The growth continued, reaching $17.3 billion in 2022 and increasing further to $19.7 billion in 2023.
- In 2024, visitor spending of $20.6 billion represented a 4.6 % increase over the $19.7 billion recorded in 2023 and a 16.4 % increase over the $17.7 billion earned in 2019 (pre-pandemic).
How much did people spend in Greece in 2024?
- In 2024, tourists spent $20.6 billion, a 4.6 % increase over $19.7 billion in 2023 and a 16.4 % increase over $17.7 billion in 2019.
How much did people spend in Greece in 2023?
Tourists spent approximately $19.7 billion in Greece in 2023.
- This marked an increase of 13.9 % compared to the $17.3 billion spent in 2022.
- Compared to 2019, which saw the highest pre-pandemic spending of $17.7 billion, the 2023 figure represented an 11.3 % growth in total expenditure.
Where do visitors to Greece come from?
- In 2024, the majority of tourists visiting Greece were from Germany, recording 5.40 million visits.
- The United Kingdom closely trailed with 4.55 million visits.
- Italy, France, and the United States made up the rest of the top five with 2.03 million, 1.99 million, and 1.55 million visits, respectively.3
Impact of Coronavirus – Greece Tourism Statistics 2020 and 2021
Tourism is one of the major contributors to the Greek economy.
- Greece saw tourism GVA drop 44.8% to $5 billion in 2020 which contributed 4.4% to the national economy.4
- The global pandemic severely affected Greece’s tourism industry, with only 7.4 million visitors in 2020, a 76.48% decrease compared with 2019.
- However, a slight recovery in tourism was observed in 2021. The numbers rose to over 14.7 million international visitors, which was a 99.42% increase from the previous year, yet still down 53.09% from 2019.
Greece Travel Statistics 2024 – International and Domestic Tourism
2024 was an amazing year for tourism in Greece with large shares of international and domestic visitors.
- In 2024, Greece welcomed over 40.7 million international visitors, contributing approximately $20.6 billion to total tourism expenditure in the country.
- Most of the tourists that visited Greece that year were from Germany (4 million visits) and Bulgaria (3.9 million visits). Followed by the United Kingdom (3.5 million visits), Italy (1.6 million visits), and France (1.5 million visits).n 2024, Greece welcomed over 40.7 million international visitors, contributing approximately $20.6 billion to total tourism expenditure in the country.
- In 2024, there were 9.7 million domestic air arrivals; detailed figures for overnight stays and trip counts are not yet published.
- Overall, international arrivals of 35.9 million in 2024 were up 9.8 % from 32.7 million in 2023 and up 14.7% from 31.3 million in 2019; domestic air arrivals of 8.6 million were up 43.3% from 6 million in 2023 and up 65.4 % from 5.2 million in 2019.5
How long do people stay in Greece?
Over the past decade, tourists visiting Greece stayed for an average of one week to nine nights.
- In 2010, the average stay was 9.3 nights, gradually decreasing each year to reach 7.4 nights by 2019.
- In 2020 and 2021, there was a slight increase in the length of stay, with visitors staying an average of 8.7 nights and 8.9 nights, respectively.
- However, by 2022, this figure decreased to 7.8 nights.
- In 2024, the average length of stay was 5.9 nights, a 9.2% decrease from 6.5 nights in 2023 and a 20.3 % decrease from 7.4 nights in 2019.
Greece Travel Resources
- Car hire prices in Greece
- Car hire prices in Athens
- Car hire prices in Corfu
- Car hire prices in Heraklion
- Car hire prices in Rhodes
- Car hire prices in Thessaloniki
When is the best time to visit Greece?
- The best time to visit Greece is during Spring, April to June, and early Fall, September and October. The days are long and the weather is mild. Destinations are open but relatively quiet.6
What are the top attractions to visit in Greece?
- Athens: The city attracts approximately 6 million visitors annually, with the Acropolis and Parthenon being primary highlights. This includes both international and domestic tourists.
- Santorini: The island welcomes around 2 million visitors each year, with the summer months being the peak season. This figure reflects the island’s popularity for its unique landscapes and romantic appeal.
- Thessaloniki: Thessaloniki receives approximately 1.5 million visitors annually, drawn to its cultural and historical attractions, including UNESCO-listed sites.
- Corfu: Corfu sees about 1.1 million visitors per year, with its Venetian-inspired architecture and UNESCO-designated Corfu Town being major draws.
- Crete: Crete is Greece’s most-visited island, with an estimated 5 million visitors annually, attracted by its historical sites like Knossos, natural beauty such as Samaria Gorge, and scenic beaches.
Why do people visit Greece?
- Greece captivates many visitors with its rich history, rich islands, and pleasant climate, making it a popular holiday destination. This is evident from the increase in holidaymakers, from 3.6 million in 2020 to 4.9 million in 2022.7
- Another common reason people visit Greece is to see friends and relatives. Although this saw a drop from 1.4 million visits in 2019 to around 789,078 visits in 2020, the numbers rebounded, reaching approximately 1.3 million visits in 2022.
- Business-related visits to Greece also contribute to the tourism figures. While business visits dipped from 391,724 in 2019 to 163,750 in 2020, they recovered somewhat to 276,632 in 2022.
- Business-related visits to Greece also contribute to the tourism figures. While business visits dipped from 391,724 in 2019 to 163,750 in 2020, they recovered somewhat to 276,632 in 2022.
Greece Outbound Tourism Statistics for 2019
In 2019, approximately 7.8 million Greece residents travelled abroad, spending approximately $3.1 billion on their overseas holidays.8
- Germany, Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Italy, and Cyprus, in particular, seem to hold a place in the hearts of the Greeks.
Greece Travel Statistics Resources
Europe Travel Statistics Resources
- Austria Statistics
- Belgium Statistics
- Croatia Statistics
- Denmark Statistics
- France Statistics (incl. Paris, Disneyland Paris, Eiffel Tower, Louvre Museum, Notre Dame)
- Georgia Statistics
- Germany Statistics (incl. Berlin)
- Iceland Statistics
- Italy Statistics (incl. Florence, Milan, Rome, Venice)
- Netherlands Statistics (incl. Amsterdam)
- Norway Statistics
- Portugal Statistics (incl. Lisbon)
- Spain Statistics (incl. Barcelona, Madrid, Mallorca)
- Sweden Statistics
- Switzerland Statistics
- UK Statistics (incl. Edinburgh, Glasgow, London, Oxford, Scotland)
References
- UNWTO: Greece Inbound Tourism Arrivals ↩︎
- UNWTO: Greece Inbound Tourism Receipts ↩︎
- INSETE: Inbound Tourism Statistics ↩︎
- OECD: Tourism Trends and Policies – Greece ↩︎
- UNWTO: Tourism Statistics Database ↩︎
- AT: When is the best time to visit Greece ↩︎
- EuroStats: Trips by Purpose – Greece ↩︎
- UNWTO: Outbound Tourism Statistics – Greece ↩︎
