Tourist arrivals in Greece reached 7,429,931 in August 2026, marking a 2.6% increase compared to August 2025, according to provisional data from the Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT). Overnight stays also grew by 2.1%, totaling 34,685,695 nights. The rate of increase in arrivals exceeded the growth in overnight stays by 0.5 percentage points.
Foreign Visitors Drive Growth in Arrivals and Overnight Stays
Foreign visitors constituted 76.7% of all arrivals and accounted for 84% of overnight stays in Greece during August 2026. Greek residents made up 23.3% of arrivals and 16% of overnight stays. Arrivals of foreign visitors increased by 2.9%, outpacing the 1.7% rise among Greek residents. Growth in overnight
stays followed a similar trend, with a 2.3% increase for foreign tourists and a 1.2% increase for Greek residents.
Faster Growth in Rented Rooms Versus Hotels and Campsites
The accommodation sector showed varying growth rates by type. Arrivals in rented rooms, classified as collective short-stay accommodation, rose by 5.2%, substantially higher than the 1.5% increase recorded in hotels and campsites. Overnight stays in rented rooms grew 4.6%, compared with a 1.1% increase in hotels and campsites.
Breaking down by visitor origin, foreign visitor arrivals in hotels and campsites rose 1.9%, while Greek resident arrivals increased by 0.5%. Overnight stays by foreigners and Greeks in these accommodations grew 1.2% and
0.8%, respectively. In rented rooms, foreign visitor arrivals rose by 5.5%, with Greek resident arrivals increasing by 4.2%. Overnight stays in rented rooms went up by 5.1% for foreigners and 2.2% for Greek residents.
Average Length of Stay Remains Stable
The average length of stay for all visitors in August 2026 remained unchanged at 4.7 days compared to August 2025. Foreign tourists stayed an average of 5.1 days, while Greek residents averaged 3.2 days, maintaining a gap of 1.9 days.
This duration pattern was consistent across accommodation types. In hotels and campsites, foreign visitors stayed on average 5.1 days and Greek residents 3.2 days. In rented
rooms, stays averaged 5.2 days for foreigners and 3.3 days for Greeks.
International Demand Strengthens Tourism Activity in Greece
ELSTAT’s figures for August 2026 show that tourism growth in Greece was primarily driven by foreign visitors. The stronger rise in arrivals compared to overnight stays suggests increased frequency of visits or shorter stays for some tourists. The faster growth in rented rooms compared to hotels and campsites indicates a notable shift in accommodation preferences during the month.
Foreign visitors’ larger share in both arrivals and overnight stays, combined with their longer average duration, underscores their significant contribution to tourism activity in Greece in August 2026.
