Greece is on track to rank sixth in Europe for Airbnb-style accommodation rentals, buoyed by strong forward bookings for summer 2026, according to research presented at the Short Stay Conference in Athens by AirDNA analyst Camilo Schmid Rivas.

Since 2023, Greece has outpaced the wider Mediterranean slowdown, exceeding 130,000 active listings and hitting a record 160,000 in 2025 before the usual fourth-quarter dip.

After surging in 2024, growth slowed in 2025 as new October regulations raised entry barriers. The deceleration was milder than in Spain, where listing removals were sharper, and contrasted with Italy’s temporary supply boost linked to the Winter Olympics.

At the city level, Athens and Thessaloniki remain the main engines of growth. Demand is increasingly spilling over into Piraeus, Marousi and Glyfada, while emerging markets such as Chios, Lesvos, Kalymnos, Katerini and Alexandroupoli are gaining momentum—clear evidence that short-term rentals have expanded well beyond the country’s traditional tourist hubs.

The market remains dominated by small units, with studios and one-bedroom apartments making up the bulk of listings, alongside a balanced mix of apartments and villas. New entrants are more cautious, and AirDNA data show review scores tend to fall as portfolio size grows.

Demand surged from the first to the third quarter of 2025, adding nearly one million more peak-season booked nights compared with 2019, before leveling off toward year-end. Travelers are also booking earlier, with June and July remaining the busiest months.

Shoulder-season travel continues to expand, effectively extending Greece’s tourism season to nine months. International visitors account for about 90% of bookings, with U.S. demand rising, Germany steady and France weakening amid economic uncertainty.

Summer occupancy held firm year-on-year and remains 7.8% above 2019 levels. Mid-range properties have been the most resilient, while luxury units have outperformed across Europe.

Performance diverged by region: Corfu and Crete saw higher occupancy and ADR, while Athens and Mykonos declined, with Mykonos cutting rates by about 15% as it adjusts to softer demand.

Bookings for summer 2026 are rising strongly—up 16% in July and 11% in August—led by luxury properties, while February to April show a slight dip.

Major concerts in Athens by Iron Maiden and Metallica have already lifted bookings by 40% to 80% around event dates, highlighting the growing impact of live entertainment on the short-term rental market.