Total 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 during the same month. The growth in arrivals outpaced the rise in overnight stays by 0.5 percentage points.
Breakdown of Foreign and Greek Visitor Contributions
Foreign visitors made up 76.7% of total arrivals and accounted for 84% of overnight stays in August 2026. Greek residents represented the remaining 23.3% of arrivals and 16% of overnight stays. Arrivals of foreign tourists increased by 2.9% year-on-year, while Greek resident arrivals rose by 1.7%.
Overnight stays grew 2.3% for foreign visitors and 1.2% for Greeks, indicating a stronger contribution from international tourists to Greece’s accommodation sector.
Accommodation Types: Rented Rooms vs Hotels and Campsites
Rented rooms experienced the fastest growth among accommodation types. Arrivals in rented rooms climbed 5.2%, significantly outpacing the 1.5% increase in hotels and campsites. Overnight stays in rented rooms rose 4.6%, compared to just a 1.1% increase in hotels and campsites. This demonstrates a faster expansion in collective short-stay accommodations.
Visitor Growth Patterns by Accommodation and Nationality
In hotels and campsites, foreign visitor arrivals increased by 1.9%, while Greek resident arrivals grew by 0.5%. Overnight stays rose 1.2% for foreigners and 0.8% for Greeks in
the same segment. In rented rooms, foreign visitor arrivals jumped 5.5%, with Greek resident arrivals rising 4.2%. Overnight stays in rented rooms increased 5.1% for foreign tourists and 2.2% for Greek residents. The data reflects higher growth rates for foreign visitors across both accommodation categories.
Average Length of Stay Remains Stable
The average length of stay in August 2026 held steady at 4.7 days, unchanged from August 2025. Foreign tourists stayed an average of 5.1 days, while Greek residents stayed 3.2 days, showing foreign visitors stayed nearly 60% longer. This pattern persists across accommodation types, with foreigners staying 5.1 days in hotels and campsites and 5.2
days in rented rooms, compared to respective stays of 3.2 and 3.3 days by Greek residents.
