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Greece still stuns — but in 2025, many travellers are looking elsewhere. Credit: Maridav via Canva.com
Greece is still beautiful and more travellers will choose not to visit in 2025. Two, the ones who have flocked to Mykonos Santorini and other postcard-like islands, are now booking somewhere else. Turkey is leading the way in summer. Prices are rising at hotels and beach clubs. Even loyal tourists can pay more for a Greek holiday than they would with a Turkish one.
Europeans and British travellers do not boycott their budgeting. In 2025, that means looking to the east, where the prices of food, hotels, and beaches are all cheaper.
Tourists have started to leave Mykonos.
Signs show that locals are starting to acknowledge that this is happening. In June 2025 there are fewer people in areas of Mykonos where it would normally be busy or relatively quiet. The beach bars also have more tables.
Not only British tourists are leaving Greece, but also Germans, Dutch and Scandinavians who used to be a major part of the Greek Islands are now choosing other destinations.
Travel agents are noticing a trend. Even Santorini is seeing less independent travellers in this month, despite it still being a popular destination for cruisers. Even a slight dip in a seasonal market can be devastating. The question is where and why travellers are heading instead.
Greece is driving people out.
A Greek island holiday in 2025 won’t cost just more. It’s too expensive for many. Basic hotel rooms in Mykonos and Santorini are now comparable to luxury stays in Portugal or Turkey. A dinner for two is easily affordable €80 without wineEven access to the beach is usually subject to a large minimum spending.
Tourists don’t ignore it. They check online reviews to see what people are saying about the place. €20 sunbeds, €8 bottles of waterMenus without prices.
Others call it inflation. Others call it exploitation. It’s odd that people aren’t just frustrated but walking away. The allure of Mykonos and Santorini has faded.
Often to places where the beauty is similar but there’s no sticker shock. For the first time since years, Greece is no longer a “default destination for summer”.
Turkey seizes the opportunity.
In cities like Marmaris, Bodrum. Book hotels in Antalya with the EU and UK The price of Mykonos weekends has risen dramatically. These tour operators often have full bookings and offer packages for less than the price of Mykonos weekends.
The weak lira is part of it — in 2025, your money stretches further in Turkey. Even high-end resorts are affordable when compared with what Greece charges for a basic hotel room.
It’s not just about price. Turkey’s made quiet moves — better airport transfers, Cleaner beaches. Package deals that make sense. Families take note. Families are also aware.
It’s not just flashy advertising. It’s not flashy marketing. Feel free to contact us if you have any questions. Your holiday won’t try to squeeze you.
Turkey is a relatively new trend, but it offers a different experience.
Greece is watching this shift.
Mirrors, Mykonos Santorini and Paros acknowledged that the tourism numbers for June 2025 were lower than expected.
- Some are trying to implement measures that will last only a short time, like tax breaks.
- Rent caps on short-term rentals to curb the price spiral
The Greek tourism board, at the national level continues to promote the islands as premium destinations, highlighting that quality and experience are the most important factors. For many visitors this does not justify the price.
Tension is growing and brewing.
- The hotel owners Want to lower VAT
- Local workers Want more stable salaries
- Returning Tourists They want to remember the Greece that they know, not a place where beach towels cost extra.
Summer season
For Greece, tourism is an emotional thing. People return places they like, places that make them feel good. Greece is currently testing this trust. The beaches are still the same, and the food is world-class. But if you feel like every meal is a ripoff, or that every hotel room is too expensive, your memories will fade.
Turkey is not trying to be Greece. Turkey is just trying to offer a holiday which feels fair. If Greece does not adapt quickly, and not only with words but also with real changes, then it could lose a lot of bookings for this summer. It could lose a whole generation of tourists, who will find their summer getaway elsewhere.
