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Greeks are traveling abroad more often and spending more money than ever before, according to new figures from the Bank of Greece and the Institute of the Greek Tourism Confederation (INSETE).
Rising costs at home are a major driver of this shift.
Many Greeks now find it cheaper to holiday abroad than in popular domestic destinations, where accommodation and transport prices have surged to record highs.
Travel payments abroad reached €2.8 billion (nearly $3.3 billion) in 2024, up 15% from €2.4 billion in 2023.
In the first half of 2025 alone, they rose another 24% to €1.67 billion compared with €1.34 billion during the same period last year.
“This is the highest amount recorded since 2005,” INSETE said, adding that the increase reflects both higher costs and stronger demand.
Examples reported by Greek media show families comparing destinations such as Tinos or Corfu with Prague, Copenhagen, or Tenerife and finding that flights and hotels abroad can cost hundreds of euros less than a week on Greek islands.
The average per capita spending increased 7% to €420, while daily expenses rose 17% to €81.
Spending by region shows clear differences:
| Region | 2023 (€) | 2024 (€) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eurozone countries | 505 | 524 | +4% |
| EU countries non-euro | 171 | 195 | +14% |
| Other countries | 386 | 403 | +4% |
| Total | 393 | 420 | +7% |
Analysts attribute these trends to inflation pushing up package prices and to a shift toward higher-cost destinations.
Greeks are booking shorter trips but spending more per day, with many choosing city breaks or summer holidays abroad instead of long stays with relatives and friends.
The INSETE study also breaks down where Greeks are traveling, showing sharp growth in Central and Northern Europe alongside declines in neighboring Balkan countries.
Travel to eurozone destinations grew strongly in 2024, with departures up 15%, overnight stays up 5%, and payments up 19%.
Popular high-cost destinations such as Germany, France, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and Italy increased their share from 27% in 2023 to 28% in 2024.
Türkiye, once one of the most popular neighboring destinations for Greek travelers, recorded an 8% decline in 2024, with departures falling from 599,000 to 549,000.
Analysts link this drop to the shift away from lower-cost Balkan destinations in favor of Central and Northern European countries, where average per capita spending is significantly higher.
| Destination | 2023 (000s) | 2024 (000s) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bulgaria | 1,069 | 983 | –8% |
| Italy | 578 | 620 | +7% |
| Germany | 474 | 572 | +21% |
| Türkiye | 599 | 549 | –8% |
| United Kingdom | 328 | 349 | +6% |
| Cyprus | 337 | 305 | –9% |
| France | 196 | 240 | +22% |
| Spain | 191 | 212 | +11% |
| Austria | 161 | 197 | +22% |
| Netherlands | 145 | 182 | +25% |
| Poland | 84 | 105 | +25% |
| United States | 86 | 87 | +1% |
| Egypt | 63 | 60 | –4% |
| Czech Republic | 37 | 47 | +26% |
| Russia | 5 | 5 | +2% |
| Other destinations | 2,113 | 2,429 | +15% |
| Total | 6,468 | 6,945 | +7% |
According to INSETE, the overall pattern shows a decline in budget-friendly Balkan destinations and an increase in travel to countries where per capita spending is significantly higher.
Unlike inbound tourism to Greece, which peaks in summer, outbound tourism is now distributed more evenly across the year.
In 2024, the share of departures in the first quarter rose to 22% from 20%, while travel payments in that period climbed to 20% of the total.
Overnight stays in the last quarter increased to 25%.
At the same time, the share of third-quarter travel declined across departures, nights and spending.
This year-round trend shows Greeks are no longer concentrating their trips only in the summer.
The trend suggests Greek travelers are moving away from summer-only vacations and turning to year-round trips across Europe.
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