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The Greek islands remain among the most popular destinations for foreign travelers in 2026, with Cycladic favorites such as Paros, Mykonos, Naxos, Santorini and Ios continuing to attract strong demand. Milos retains a strong position among travelers from Australia, France and the United States, while Sifnos stands out in the UK and French markets. Skiathos is also among the leading choices for Italian and British visitors.

The findings come from an analysis by Ferryscanner, the Greek ferry ticket search and booking platform, based on reservations made between January 1 and July 28, 2026, for trips taking place from June through September. The data were compared with bookings during the corresponding period in 2025.

One of the most notable trends is the strong momentum of the Turkish market. Although Turkey ranks 12th by booking volume, it recorded the largest percentage increase among the 15 leading markets, rising 53.9%. The surge coincides with this year’s visa-on-arrival scheme for Turkish citizens visiting 12 Greek Aegean islands, further boosting interest in sea travel to Greece.

Italy, the United Kingdom, France, Australia and the United States remain the five largest foreign source markets. Italy retains the top position, with bookings up 13.8%, while France and the United States recorded increases of 6.9% and 5.4%, respectively. By contrast, bookings from the UK fell 11.1%, although the market remains one of the largest by volume. Australia recorded the sharpest decline among the top five, at 17.9%.

The trend comes amid a period of heightened uncertainty in international long-haul travel, with the escalation of the Middle East crisis since March affecting travel planning more broadly.

Shifting Preferences Across Greek Islands                                                                                                          Travel patterns also vary significantly by nationality. Among Italian visitors, Skiathos recorded a striking 81.4% increase in bookings, while Kos and Sifnos also posted strong gains. French travelers showed growing interest in Naxos, Mykonos, Syros and Tinos.

U.S. travelers, meanwhile, increasingly opted for Aegina and Hydra, with bookings rising 35.4% and 34.1%, respectively.

Santorini was the notable exception, recording a decline in bookings across all five major markets. The steepest drop came from Australia, at 31.6%, followed by the UK at 25.8%, Italy at 21.4%, France at 16.6% and the United States at 14.5%.