Greece Overtakes Spain As Top Short-haul Destination For 2025

Published on October 30, 2025

On October 20, during nan London version of nan 2025 Food and Travel Reader Awards, Greece won nan title Short-Haul Destination of nan Year and surpassed Spain. This highlights nan truth that Greece is gaining immense fame among UK visitors for its culture, astonishing views, and nan beauty of speedy and affordable tours.

Travel and Food Reader Awards person awesome prestige successful nan recreation industry, and they grant Britain’s champion cross-industry practices complete travel, food, and tourism. The accolades are voted connected by astir 31,000 readers, astir of whom are British professionals, aged 26 and over. The grant is simply a reflection of nan shape successful British tourism which portrays that they are looking for alternate options that are wrong a short region and much enriching.

Greece’s Appeal arsenic a Top Short-Haul Destination

For years, Spain was nan go-to destination for UK travellers seeking a quick, sun-filled break. However, Greece’s caller emergence successful fame signals a displacement successful recreation trends, pinch visitors progressively seeking much than conscionable beaches and nightlife. The country’s operation of earthy beauty, humanities landmarks, and culinary delights has captured nan attraction of UK visitors looking for unsocial and immersive experiences.

The accessibility of Greece is simply a important facet successful its emergence to prominence. With nonstop flights from London to Athens taking conscionable 3 hours, nan destination is cleanable for spontaneous getaways. In addition, Greece’s year-round appeal, driven by its Mediterranean ambiance and scope of attractions, makes it an charismatic action for UK tourists, whether seeking a wintertime flight aliases a summertime holiday.

Tourism Surge and Economic Impact

Tourism to Greece is connected nan rise, pinch nan state seeing a notable summation successful visitors. According to nan Greek National Tourism Organisation (GNTO), nan first months of 2025 person seen a 4.1 percent summation successful arrivals compared to nan aforesaid play successful 2024. Non-EU visitors, peculiarly from nan UK, are driving overmuch of this growth, further solidifying Greece’s spot arsenic a apical short-haul destination.

The GNTO has welcomed nan emergence successful tourism, recognising nan displacement towards sustainable and high-quality tourism experiences beyond nan summertime highest season. This inclination is successful statement pinch Greece’s ongoing efforts to beforehand sustainable recreation practices and heighten nan visitant acquisition passim nan year.

Rich Cultural and Natural Offerings

Greece’s taste and earthy offerings proceed to captivate tourists. The state boasts complete 6,000 islands, each offering thing unique, from nan lively shores of Mykonos to nan tranquil beauty of lesser-known islands for illustration Kythnos. Tourists tin research humanities sites specified arsenic nan Acropolis successful Athens aliases nan Palace of Knossos successful Crete, wherever ancient myths travel to life amid stunning archaeological sites.

The land of Rhodes, pinch its rich | history and medieval architecture, remains a celebrated prime for UK travellers. Similarly, Crete and nan Cyclades connection a divers scope of experiences, from ancient ruins and oliva groves to idyllic beaches and accepted villages perched connected rugged cliffs.

Greece’s practice towns, specified arsenic Kardamyli and Molyvos, connection a glimpse into a slower, much serene measurement of life, allowing visitors to acquisition nan warmth of Greek hospitality successful settings that consciousness untouched by time.

The Allure of Greek Cuisine and Warmth

Greece’s cuisine is different cardinal facet successful its increasing appeal. Renowned for its usage of fresh, section ingredients, Greek nutrient is arsenic overmuch a tie arsenic its sights and sounds. From nan iconic gyros and souvlaki to nan much refined moussaka and baklava, Greek nutrient offers thing for each palate. Its rich | culinary history, influenced by some Eastern and Western flavours, is an integral portion of nan country’s personality and an attraction for nutrient lovers.

Another defining characteristic of Greece’s tourism entreaty is its legendary hospitality, known arsenic filoxenia. Visitors often rave astir nan warmth and generosity of Greek people, which makes for an unforgettable recreation experience. This genuine hospitality, mixed pinch nan country’s rich | civilization and breathtaking scenery, makes Greece a destination that welcomes visitors year-round.

A Bright Future for Greek Tourism

With Greece enhancing its abilities arsenic 1 of nan astir sought-after tourer destinations successful nan world, nan outlook for Greek tourism appears ever much bullish. Sustainable tourism, arsenic good arsenic nan promotion of little explored destinations, will further its entreaty for travelers seeking genuine opportunities.

This increasing entreaty is only apt to fortify arsenic much and much British visitors opt for short trips to Greece offering history, culture, and earthy beauty successful 1 enriching package. Greece’s location and offer, alongside nan value tourism being developed, is winning Greece nan Food and Travel Reader awards and further establishing Greece’s early short haul recreation offer.