The Cyclades continue to dominate Greece’s summer tourism season, with Mykonos, Naxos, Paros, Ios and Santorini emerging as the most popular island destinations for international visitors in 2026.
New data from ferry booking platform Ferry scanner shows the five islands attracted the highest number of ferry bookings from overseas travellers for journeys between June and September.
The figures are based on bookings made between 1 January and 28 July 2026, compared with the same period last year, offering fresh insight into how international travel trends to Greece are evolving.
While the five Cycladic islands topped the rankings across Ferryscanner’s key international markets, Milos also proved highly popular among travellers from Australia, France and the United States.
Meanwhile, Sifnos and Skiathos were favourites among British and French visitors, with Skiathos also attracting strong demand from Italian travellers.
American tourists also showed increasing interest in destinations closer to Athens, with ferry bookings to Aegina rising by 35.4% and Hydra by 34.1% compared with 2025.
Santorini sees softer demand
Despite remaining one of Greece’s most iconic destinations, Santorini experienced a decline in bookings across several of Greece’s largest tourism markets.
According to the report, bookings from Australia fell by 31.6%, followed by the United Kingdom (25.8%), Italy (21.4%), France (16.6%) and the United States (14.5%).
Analysts say the figures suggest changing travel preferences among visitors from Greece’s traditional tourism markets, with many travellers choosing to explore a broader range of islands.
Turkish tourism surges
One of the strongest growth stories came from neighbouring Turkey.
Bookings from Turkish travellers increased by 53.9%, the highest growth recorded among Greece’s 15 largest international markets.
The increase has been largely attributed to Greece’s fast-track visa scheme, which has made travel to several Greek islands easier for Turkish citizens.
With strong demand continuing across the Cyclades and growing interest in lesser-known destinations, Greece’s islands remain among Europe’s most sought-after summer holiday destinations.