Greece’s Carnival and Clean Monday weekend is emerging as one of the busiest periods for domestic travel, with high demand affecting hotels, short-term rentals, and local businesses. Traditional celebrations and city parades drive thousands of visitors to cultural hotspots, pushing occupancy rates close to—or even above—90% in some areas.
According to E-Real Estates, a nationwide real estate network, this year’s Carnival period is marked by early bookings and limited availability, especially in regions with strong Carnival traditions. The network’s president, Themistoklis Bakas, confirmed that pre-bookings for Clean Monday weekend are already at very high levels, highlighting the period’s economic significance.
Patras Leads in Popularity
The Patras Carnival, Greece’s largest, attracts tens of thousands of visitors each year. Short-term rental occupancy in the city center reached 75% by the opening ceremony, with pre-bookings climbing to 85% for the parade weekend (Friday, February 20 to Monday, February 23). Limited availability in central Patras has driven up accommodation costs, while neighboring areas like Vrachnaika, Rio, and Agios Vasileios offer slightly lower prices and more options.
Rethymno and Xanthi See Strong Demand
In Rethymno, Crete, where Carnival is a major tourist draw, 86% of Airbnb properties are booked, according to AirDNA. Short-term rental prices for a full property over the three-day weekend range from €271 to €459.
Similarly, Xanthi’s Thracian Folk Festival and the burning of the “Tzaros” have pushed occupancy rates to 90%. Rentals for a two-bedroom home accommodating six people cost between €712 and €1,016 for the long weekend.
Traditional Festivities Boost Regional Tourism
Smaller towns with long-standing Dionysian traditions—such as Naousa, Drama, Skyros, Tyrnavos, and Kozani—report pre-bookings ranging from 65% to 100%, leaving few accommodations available. In Naousa, short-term rentals are fully booked for parade weekend, centered around the “Genitsaroi and Boules” tradition. In Drama, prices range from €185 to €423, while Skyros rentals start at €273. Tyrnavos sees many visitors staying in nearby Larissa, with three-day rental costs of €150–€300. Kozani, with 98% pre-bookings, has one-bedroom properties starting from €648.
Alternative Destinations
In the Argolis region, the Venetian Carnival in Nafplio draws visitors, with many choosing nearby Tolo for accommodations due to better availability and value. Local hoteliers note that Carnival festivities increase bookings across the area, making Argolis an attractive short-trip option from Athens.
Capital Observes a Shift
Athens experiences a slight drop in activity during the long weekend, particularly midday Sunday. Restaurants in suburbs like Kifisia and Marousi report fewer patrons, though those remaining continue to frequent eateries.
Overall, Greece’s Carnival and Clean Monday period reinforces its role as a key driver of domestic tourism, creating high demand and elevated accommodation costs, particularly in cities with large-scale parades and traditional festivities.
