Greece's Biggest Airports Have More Visitors in 2023
In The News
11.12.2023
The Most Popular Airports in Greece
According to the latest data from the Greek Tourism Confederation, SETE, the two largest cities in Greece, Athens and Thessaloniki, are still the most popular. They have an increased number of passengers visiting when compared to the same period in 2022. In total, in the first ten months of 2023, passengers arriving at all international airports in Greece numbered 23 million. Athens’s airport received 28.4% more travelers than last year (measuring until October), and Thessaloniki had 20.3% more travelers during this time.
View on Acropolis at sunset, Athens, Greece
Tourists Don’t Stay in Athens and Thessaloniki
For most European travelers who fly to Greece, Athens and Thessaloniki are a starting point for a journey. For example, from Thessaloniki, you can reach the Chalkidiki peninsula, Pelion, or Mount Olympus. From Athens airport, popular destinations are the Peloponnese, Evia, and the Greek islands.
Church Near Mount Olympus
Areas of Greece with Increased Interest
Of all the airports in Greece, the airports in Lesbos, Thassos, and Zakynthos islands had the largest growth. Lesbos received 15% more tourists through its airport in the period from April to September. Thassos, served by Kavala Airport, received 20% more vacationers. The island of Zakynthos received almost 10% more tourists from April to September when compared to numbers from last year.
Heraklion, in Crete, had an increase of 4.7% international arrivals by air between January and October, totaling 3.6 million arrivals. Chania, similarly, had 1.4 million visitors by air, an increase of 8.6%.
In the Dodecanese, from January to October of 2023, Rhodes received 2.6 million international arrivals by air (a 2.9% increase), Kos received 1.3 million international arrivals (a 5.3% increase), and Karpathos had 90,000 international arrivals (a 2.7% increase).
Thassos Island
Where are the International Airports in Greece?
Out of all the airports in Greece, only Athens, Thessaloniki, Heraklion, and Chania (the last two are in Crete) receive flights all year round. The smaller airports only have flights within Greece during the Winter months. The biggest month for tourists traveling to Greece is July – surprisingly, the numbers are even higher than in August.
Balos Lagoon, Crete
Upgrades to Travel in Greece
Of the changes happening in Greece that benefit European travelers, Crete will soon have a larger airport in Heraklion by 2025. A new network of roads is also being built in Crete to make travel easier. In the Cycladic Islands, a new domestic airline, Fly Cycladic, will let you fly between some of the most popular Cycladic islands in small, 12-person propellor planes.
A third Cretan beach, Falassarna, also appears in the global top 20, ranking 11th. Alongside them, Paleokastritsa in Corfu takes 14th place, giving Greece one of the strongest national showings in the ranking. At the very top of the list is Isla Pasión in Mexico, praised for its tropical scenery and distinctive natural shape. But while Mexico may hold first place, Greece clearly dominates the podium, with Crete claiming two of the three highest positions.
Law 5293/2026 introduces a framework that redefines the role of the notary in property transfers in Greece. The notary is designated as a “one-stop shop” for the completion of transactions involving the transfer of property rights. The provisions apply to transfers arising from sale, donation, parental gift, or inheritance.
Let’s start with the data. According to Visa, foreign visitors in Greece increased their card usage by 12% in 2025, while the number of tourists using Visa cards rose by 13%. These figures point to steady growth in both arrivals and spending, as well as a broader shift toward digital payments. Beyond convenience, this trend offers a clearer picture of how visitors engage with the Greek tourism economy throughout the year.
A notable shift is also taking place beyond the peak summer months. Growth is no longer concentrated in July and August, as spending during the off-season continues to rise. February 2025, in particular, recorded the highest percentage increase, highlighting a gradual reduction in seasonality. This trend suggests that Greece is steadily expanding its appeal as a year-round destination, rather than relying primarily on summer tourism.
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