Tinos, Paros and Mykonos lead the rankings, while smaller and less traditional destinations are attracting growing interest from Greek holidaymakers.
Greek island holidays remained particularly popular during summer 2026, with new booking data revealing the destinations that attracted the most domestic travellers between June and August.
According to figures released by ferry booking platform Ferryscanner, bookings made by Greek travellers for domestic island destinations increased significantly compared to summer 2025. The findings also shed light on travel costs, group preferences, holiday duration and the growing number of passengers choosing to travel with their pets.
The Most Popular Greek Islands in Summer 2026
The Cyclades once again dominated the summer travel landscape, securing several positions among the most popular destinations for Greek holidaymakers.
Tinos claimed the top spot in Ferryscanner bookings, recording an 8% increase compared to 2025. Paros followed in second place, with bookings rising by 18.3%, while Mykonos ranked third with a 5.6% increase. Naxos and Syros completed the top five, recording impressive growth rates of 21.2% and 19.8%, respectively.
The remaining destinations in the top ten were Aegina, Heraklion, Andros, Kythnos and Agistri.
Beyond these established favourites, several other islands experienced considerable growth, suggesting that Greek travellers are increasingly exploring alternative destinations.
Koufonisia recorded the strongest increase among destinations with significant booking volumes, with reservations rising by 43.4%. Chios followed with 36.9% growth, while Lemnos recorded a 21.4% increase. Rhodes and Ios also saw stronger demand, with bookings up by 21.2% and 21%, respectively.
How Much Did Ferry Travel Cost?
The Ferryscanner analysis also examined average ferry ticket prices across the five most popular destinations: Tinos, Paros, Mykonos, Naxos and Syros.
One interesting finding was that families and groups of three or more generally enjoyed lower average ticket prices per passenger compared to couples and solo travellers.
Tinos provides a representative example. The average one-way ferry fare was €27.23 per passenger for families and larger groups, compared to €31.50 for couples and €30.85 for travellers going solo.
The composition of travelling groups also changed slightly compared to the previous summer. Solo travellers accounted for 42.2% of bookings in 2026, down from 43.4% in 2025. Meanwhile, couples represented 38.1% of travellers, compared to 37.4% the previous year. Families and groups of three or more also increased their share, reaching 19.6%, up from 19.2%.
How Long Did Greeks Spend on Their Summer Holidays?
The average duration of summer holidays remained relatively consistent with 2025, with no significant shift towards shorter trips.
Holidays lasting between four and six days remained the most common choice, accounting for 44.8% of return-trip bookings. Shorter getaways of up to three days represented 33.4%, while trips lasting seven days or longer accounted for 21.8%, compared to 20.6% in 2025.
These figures point to a modest increase in longer holidays. Ferryscanner also reported that registered users completed an average of 2.3 ferry journeys throughout the summer season.
More Greeks Are Travelling With Their Pets
Travelling with pets is another trend highlighted by this summer’s booking data.
Approximately 2.1% of all reservations made through Ferryscanner included at least one pet on board, equivalent to around one in every 48 bookings.
The availability of pet ticket reservations directly through the platform has also made it easier for travellers to organise their journeys without leaving their four-legged companions behind.
Overall, the findings highlight the continued popularity of the Greek islands among domestic travellers, alongside growing interest in alternative destinations, longer holidays and more flexible travel experiences.
