Greece is among the top winter destinations in Europe, according to the latest Europe-wide survey by the European Travel Commission (ETC), which is the federation of European tourism organizations.
Spain and France top the list, each chosen by 7 percent of respondents, followed by Italy with 6 percent. Germany, Austria and Greece are also among the preferred destinations, chosen by 5 percent of respondents.
A large percentage of these travelers are young people who are now looking for different activities and experiences, avoiding saturated destinations and focusing on authenticity, according to the survey.
A large part of them, regardless of age, no longer save money so much and are ready to spend more on their trips, even extending their stay for more days. Simply put, Europeans want to travel all year round and not only to established destinations, but also to new unexplored places.
The survey reveals a strong increase of European travel intentions for the upcoming winter season, with 73 percent of Europeans already planning to travel between now and March 2025. This represents a 6 percent increase from last year. December on 23 percent is the most popular month for travel.
According to ETC’s “Monitoring Sentiment for Intra-European Travel” survey, respondents from Europe’s largest traveler markets show a particularly strong willingness to travel.
The UK leads the way, with 84 percent of British respondents expressing a desire to travel, reflecting a 10 percent increase from 2023, followed by the Germans at 79 percent (up 16 percent) and the French at 78 percent (up 15 percent).
Related: Ten Reasons to Take a Winter Trip to Greece
Greece: Winter destination with Mild Weather
Still heavily reliant on a ‘sun & beach’ tourism model, Greece has not prioritized the development of its ‘winter tourism’ industry for foreigners.
However, the impact of climate change and increasing demands for sustainable tourism may present Greece with opportunities to attract tourists outside of the summer months who are interested in winter tourism that goes beyond ski and snow.
Mild weather seems to be attracting visitors to Greece, making it a top winter destination. Last year, from December to February, the average peak temperature was 11.3 degrees Celsius (52.3 Farenheit), 1.8 degrees above the average top winter temperatures from 1960-2024, soaring as much as 7-8 degrees higher in some parts of northern Greece, according to the National Observatory of Athens, which analyzed data by the EU’s Copernicus Climate Change Service.
Indeed, it was the warmest winter since records began in 1936, and follows a trend: six of Greece’s balmiest winters have been recorded in the last 10 years.
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