Despite rising costs and higher prices for accommodation and transportation, Greeks are not abandoning island getaways. Instead, they are adapting by choosing closer and more affordable islands, shorter trips, and last-minute bookings.

This is reported by Ferryscanner, a Greek platform for selecting and booking ferry tickets, in a statement regarding its findings from a survey of traveler behavior conducted between June and August. 

At the top of the preference list were the islands of Tinos, Paros, Mykonos, Aegina and Naxos. 

Compared to 2024, the most notable change was the rise of Aegina, which displaced Syros from the top five, recording an increase of 12.65%. 

Other nearby and “value for money” destinations in the Saronic Gulf and Cyclades followed the same trend: Agistri, with a spectacular increase of 13.46%, Kythnos, with 5.5%, and Kea, with 2.05%. Mykonos also continued to rise steadily, up 5.82%. 

On the other hand, more “premium” and traditionally expensive destinations experienced a decline. Santorini saw a decrease of 5.33%, with recent seismic activity considered a possible deterrent, while Hania experienced a dramatic drop of 26.54%.

This shift appears to be accompanied by an increase in traffic toward Iraklio, which recorded a small but positive rise, confirming a shift of interest on Crete.