Is overtourism a problem in Greece?

Sunset on Santorini in August

Everyone knows that Greece is a popular tourist destination.

Known for its rich history, "mythical" mythology, breathtaking landscapes, numerous listed sites and distinctive art of living, the country is a major tourist destination whose appeal has grown steadily since the 1970s.

Contributing 30% of GDP today, tourism in Greece is a key element of economic activity and one of the country's most important sectors.

 In 2023, Greece ranked ninth out of all the countries in the world in terms of the number of foreign tourists, which is considerable for a "small" country.

Source Statista 2024

With a population of just 10 million, Greece will have welcomed 32 million foreign tourists in 2023, and will probably welcome over 35 million in 2024.

Why talk about overtourism in Greece?

Considering the country's vast surface area (131,000 km2), 15,000 km of coastline and thousands of islands, the large number of tourists would not be a problem if it did not suffer from two major shortcomings: on the one hand, its hyper-concentration on a small number of destinations and sites, and on the other, its distribution over just a few months of the year, particularly July and August for seaside tourism.

Typically, the Cycladic islands, with their picture-postcard sun and sea, tavernas and white houses with blue shutters, are subject to heavy tourist pressure in summer. But even here, the problem only affects a few islands in particular, including Santorini, Mykonos and Paros.

So Greece doesn't have a general problem of overtourism, but one of congestion in certain parts of the country and at certain times of the year.

Mykonos

Other islands, such as Amorgos, Rhodes, Corfu, Zakynthos and Tinos, are also faced with the difficulties of excessive summer concentration, with all its attendant problems (overbuilding, saturation of urban areas, loss of identity and heritage, deterioration in quality of life, water and waste management, etc.).

Elsewhere than on the islands, difficulties are mainly concentrated in the north-east of the country during the summer season, notably in Chalkidia near Thessalonica, as well as in Athens, which is very busy in April-May and September-October.

How is this situation being handled by the Greek authorities?

The Greek Prime Minister, Konstantin Mitsotakis, acknowledged the difficulties associated with excessive pressure on a few popular destinations such as Mykonos and Santorini, but also declared: "Greece does not have a problem with overtourism", adding that when Greece is compared to countries such as Spain, or Crete to destinations such as Majorca, "Greece is in a much better situation".

The Greek government has recently taken measures to regulate and limit these difficulties: restrictions on building permits, higher accommodation taxes, the introduction of a tax on cruise passengers, quotas on cruise ships in ports, limits on the number of visitors to certain popular sites such as the Acropolis in Athens, etc.

 Greece's aim is not to develop mass tourism, but quality tourism. The country is therefore making great efforts to promote lesser-known destinations, such as Macedonia or Epirus in the north, and to encourage more diverse forms of tourism, such as diving, hiking or itinerant tourism.

 Hellenic Rides' motorcycle road trip business is fully in line with this evolution.

what's it like outside the islands in summer or in Athens?

Not only is there no problem of overtourism elsewhere, but in many cases the opposite is true, as a large part of the territory remains undiscovered and untouched by mass tourism, guaranteeing an authentic and highly enjoyable experience.

Whether in the Peloponnese, mainland Greece or Crete, as soon as you get away from the main tourist attractions, you don't meet many people, and this is particularly true on the roads we take, where you'll come across more sheep and goats than cars!

The Ionian coast

And even on the busiest sites, such as those listed as World Heritage Sites - of which there are 19 in Greece - there are always ways to avoid the crowds. For example, we recommend visiting them early in the morning or late in the afternoon, or giving priority to secondary sites, such as the temple of Athena at Delphi. That's the whole point of hiring a professional motorcycle tour operator.

For lovers of tranquillity and authenticity, our charming road trips guarantee an exceptional tourist experience.

At Hellenic Rides, our motorcycle road trips use only the secondary network, often of excellent quality, our selective addresses favor small establishments with character, and we love nothing more than to help you discover original places and sites away from the crowds.

Give it a try, you won't regret it.