These are the most touristic areas of Greece

Greece is a top tourist destination throughout the year. It constantly attracts millions of people who rush to put our country on their list of countries they have visited, enjoying its beauty.

Grand Travel Awards: Greece Best Tourist Destination of 2023

Greece was named Best Tourism Destination 2023 at the annual Grand Travel Awards (GTA) ceremony, held on 12 January in Oslo, Norway.

This is the second consecutive year that Greece has received a top distinction in these awards. Specifically, in 2022, the Scandinavian GNTO was named The Best Foreign Tourist Office of the year 2022.

The top tourist areas of the country

It's no wonder you're thinking about making an investment in the country's most touristic areas. To do this, you can start by either looking for the perfect house to buy or the perfect house to rent. What you decide lies, first and foremost, in whether you want a permanent purchase investment or a more short-term solution. Then you need to evaluate and set your budget, coming down to the area of course.

Greece has top winter destinations, and no one can resist its beautiful islands. In the whole territory, then, there are dozens of spots that deservedly earn a place on the list of the most touristic areas. Below you will find the most touristic areas of the country, according to the data collected by Spitogatos, as well as the average asking prices of properties for sale or rent in them in the past year.

#1 Mykonos

The famous island of winds conquers, time and time again, the top of the list of the most touristic areas in Greece. The world-famous Greek island constantly attracts heaps of tourists who visit it to enjoy its cosmopolitan air and its charming -and so vibrant- atmosphere. At the same time, it is by far gaining the interest of both Greeks and foreign investors interested in buying a home. In cosmopolitan Mykonos, the average property sale price in 2022 was around 6,000 €/sqm, with an increase of +12% compared to 2021.

#2 Santorini

The seductive Santorini with its Caldera, Oia and its volcanic beaches enchants everyone without a doubt and is certainly a dream of a lifetime for millions of people who want to enjoy the sun and the sea. It is a given that apart from being a top tourist destination, it is also a unique choice for buying a house - either permanent or holiday home. In Santorini, in 2022, the average house sale price reached 3,472 €/sqm, showing a slight increase of +2.7% compared to 2021. Moreover, in 2022 in Santorini there was an increase of +17.3%, compared to 2021, of the average house rental price, which stood at 13.3 €/sqm.

#3 Historic Centre of Athens

The "heart" of the city center is sure to not bore you for a minute. There's so much to see and do, while the quaint alleys and the air of old Athens will surely captivate you. If you're a fan of the center, you're bound to have searched at least once for your dream home in the alleys of Plaka, under the Acropolis or Thiseio. In the Historic Centre of Athens, the average asking price of a house in 2022 was 3,625 €/sqm (an increase of +10.9% compared to 2021). Similarly, in 2022 compared to 2021, an increase of +6.7% was also recorded in the average asking price of a house for rent in the Historic Center of Athens (13.3 €/sq.m.).

#4 Rethymno

Rethymno, which is the third largest city in Crete, is built in the north of the island. It is located on the southern shore of the Cretan Sea and towards the eastern side of the bay of Almyros. It is admittedly an attraction for both tourists and residents of Crete, who wish to change the scenery and experience moments of relaxation. In the last decades it has become a beautiful town with thousands of inhabitants. In fact, it has significant investment interest in terms of the real estate market. In Rethymno, the average asking price for a house in 2022 was on average 1,538 €/sqm.

#5 Zakynthos

Zakynthos is a lush green island with fertile valleys and stunning beaches with indescribable electric blue waters. It is also a point of interest for thousands of tourists who rush to photograph the famous Zante Shipwreck. Certainly, the unique For Di Levante is love at first sight for every visitor. Quite a few even wish to find their own paradise there, looking for a property. It should be mentioned that on the island of Zakynthos, the average selling price of a house last year was 1,687 €/sqm (an increase of +2.5% compared to 2021).

#6 Meteora (Kalambaka)

Meteora is one of the most popular places in the country. And they could not be missing from the list of the most touristic areas of Greece. Millions of people come to admire their unique views and listen to the mystical feeling. So, who wouldn't want to be a breath away from this extravaganza? It is worth mentioning that in Meteora Kalambaka, the average asking price of a house in 2022 was 952.4 €/sqm (+8.5% change compared to 2021).

#7 Chania

Chania is a coastal city of Crete that even has one of its most important ports. It is also one of the oldest cities in Crete, with a rich and turbulent history. Chania impresses with its traditional architecture, having preserved most of its monuments from the Venetian and Turkish era. The average asking price of a property in Chania, during the last year (2022) was 1,869 €/sq.m. with an increase of +8.4% compared to 2021. Similarly, the average rental price in 2022 showed an increase of +11.8% and stood at 7.6 € / sq.m.

#8 Chalkidiki

Over time, "there's no place like Chalkidiki", everyone knows that. People rush to enjoy the charm of the 3 beautiful peninsulas - Kassandra, Sithonia and the third "leg", which includes Ouranoupolis and the famous monastic Mount Athos. The tourist interest is constantly increasing over the years and now in Chalkidiki you have everything you want. It is no wonder that Chalkidiki has significant market interest from Greek and foreign investors looking for properties as a permanent or holiday home. The average house sale price in 2022 in the Chalkidiki region was 1,875 €/sqm (+10.3% compared to 2021).

#9 Rhodes

The famous island of the Knights is particularly attractive for holidays throughout the year, thanks to its heavenly beaches and its rich history since ancient times. Today, visitors from all over the world rush to this special island of the Dodecanese to enjoy its beauties. Lindos is also one of the most famous traditional settlements in the country. At the same time, Rhodes, in recent years, has been attracting increased buyer interest for real estate with the average asking price of a house in 2022 at 1,551 € / sqm (+10.8% compared to 2021). In the same period (Jan. - Dec. 2022) the average asking price of a house reached 7.5 €/sqm.

#10 Corfu

Cosmopolitan Corfu is perhaps the most popular island in June, and one of the most famous in the Mediterranean. It is a major attraction for hundreds of tourists and investors alike. After all, who wouldn't want to wake up to the classic Greek beauty of this diverse island of the Ionian Islands. Corfu has something to offer to everyone: families choose it for its hospitality and warmth, couples for its romance and explorers for its breathtaking landscapes. In Corfu, the average asking price of a property in 2022 was 1,706 €/sqm, showing a +2.4% increase compared to 2021. Similarly, the average rental price in 2022 was €7.7/sqm, with a +5.1% change compared to 2021.

In conclusion, Greece is a country worth investing in whether you are interested in staying permanently or wish to enjoy your holidays for a certain period. Therefore, if buying or renting a property in one of the most touristic areas of the country is officially on your to-do list, then it's time to get started. First, decide what suits your needs. Buying property or renting? Then, go to spitogatos.gr and browse through thousands of property listings until you find the one that meets the specifications you've set. Make the most advantageous deal and finally, enjoy your new home in a top tourist destination.