These Are The 3 Fastest Growing Destinations In Greece Right Now

We all know Greece for Santorini and its blue domes and whitewashed houses, Mykonos for its party scene and exclusive beach clubs, and Crete for the vibrant coastal cities and ancient culture.

With their traditional Mediterranean flair and picture-perfect sights, it’s no wonder they feature among Greece’s most sought-after destinations: Santorini in particular hosts a whopping 3.4 million tourists on average, despite having a resident population of around 15,000.

Believe it or not, this year, it’s not Santorini, nor any other of the country’s top vacation hotspots, that are leading in tourism growth.

According to the latest report by Airports Council International Europe (ACI Europe), Greece’s fastest-rising destinations right now are not what you expect. Well, at least 2 of them:

Athens, Greece

With a 7.6 percent increase in passenger traffic for the first half of 2025, Athens is among Greece’s top performers this year, and we can’t say we’re surprised.

The national capital, it is a treasure trove of ancient wonders dating back several millennia, from the world-renowned Parthenon, perched atop the ruin-dotted Acropolis Hill, to the landmark Monastiraki Square and its bazaar, there’s plenty in Athens to keep culture buffs busy for days.

Here at Travel Off Path, we’re most passionate about the lesser-known gems tourists are yet to discover, and something most visitors fail to appreciate when it comes to Athens is the city’s proximity to one of Greece’s most beautiful coastal stretches.

The Athens Riviera is interspersed with lively resort towns, crowd-free beaches, and more old temples:

Head to Vouliagmeni for crystal-clear seas and relaxed vibes, Glyfada for the frantic nightlife that puts Mykonos to shame, and the photogenic Temple of Poseidon for that Old World allure and epic sunset views.

Volos

Situated about midway from Athens and Thessaloniki, Volos Airport has seen a 51.1 percent rise in visitors in June.

It primarily serves Volos, a mid-size Greek port city with a population of over 85,000. In short, it’s big enough to escape the picturesque-yet-sleepy feel of some of these smaller Greek villages, yet still far calmer than Greece’s largest cities.

The Port of Volos is the main attraction here, and though it lacks the Instagrammable Old Town, with the typically European cobbled streets, it’s got plenty of amazing food spots to try, with its plethora of cozy waterfront cafes serving café fredo and family-run taverns specializing in local delicacies.

Check out Lepi, a classic tsipouro place serving generously-sized meze, Iolkos, your go-to eatery for fresh seafood on a budget (around $17–$23), and Giro Giro Oloi, for the best, juiciest pork gyros in town.

The main beach in Volos, Anavros, has soft golden sands bounded by azure, shallow seas, and the price for sunbed rentals starts from only $3.30.

Now, if it’s some of that Old World charm you crave, you’ll want to head up to Mount Pelion, the imposing peak lurking in the background: there are a couple of adorable small settlements to visit here, Makrinitsa and Portaria, which both feature stone houses, narrow streets, and views over the coast.

Syros

The only island to feature on the list, Syros is in fact the administrative center of the Cyclades island group (the same one that includes Santorini and Mykonos).

Out of the 3, it’s seen the most significant growth in recent months, with a 112.8 percent increase in airport arrivals in June 2025 alone—now, it’s worth noting Syros Airport only hosts domestic flights from Athens and Thessaloniki, so you could argue Greek vacationers primarily drive this.

We’d beg to differ.

For months now, Syros has done the rounds in mainstream media, including here at Travel Off Path, as a less crowded, more authentic, equally pretty alternative to Santorini:

Its capital, Ermoupoli, has beautiful neoclassical houses and a bustling shopping scene, while Ano Syros, located on a prominent hill further inland, is characterized by its cobble-paved narrow lanes and medieval charm, and unspoiled beaches like Kini and Galissas offer golden sands without the usual crowds.

Sure, it may be that Greeks still form a majority of Syros’ tourist arrivals, but international visitors have already caught wind of it, and they’ve been flocking in here in significant numbers as of this summer. After all, what’s a short 2 to 3-hour layover in Athens?

Learn more about Syros, and why it’s been shattering tourism records lately here.