The summer of 2025 once again highlighted the strength of Greek tourism, with the islands attracting large numbers of travelers. According to the ferry ticketing platform Ferryhopper, passenger traffic increased in 2025 compared to last year.
Aegina in the Saronic Gulf saw a 27% increase in ticket sales, closely followed by Agistri, which recorded an impressive rise of more than 20%. The data showed a +30% year-on-year increase in the Saronic Gulf Islands as a whole.
The growth was driven largely by Greek travelers, while international visitor numbers rose at a more moderate pace compared to 2024. However, the surge in traffic was not evenly distributed, with shifts, surprises, and early signs of new trends in ferry travel.
Both Greek and foreign travelers this year favored destinations with easy access, low transportation costs, and diverse experiences, though more cosmopolitan choices also remained popular. The Cyclades and the Saronic Gulf islands once again dominated, but the star of this summer was Paros. According to Expedia, searches for Paros rose 45% year-on-year, while Ferryhopper data showed a more than 15% increase in ferry bookings compared to 2024.
Based on Ferryhopper’s booking data, the top 10 islands for summer 2025 were Paros, Aegina, Naxos, Mykonos, Tinos, and Corfu, among others.
Greek travelers favored Tinos, Paros, and Aegina, followed by Naxos, Syros, Mykonos, Andros, Kythnos, Agistri, and Kea. In contrast, foreign visitors preferred Paros, Mykonos, and Santorini, along with other “classics” such as Naxos, Milos, Ios, Corfu, Aegina, Hydra, and Heraklion.
Corfu has been steadily rising in popularity in recent years. For European travelers in particular, the island proved to be a key tourism hub once again in the summer of 2025.
Looking at preferences based on age groups, the data showed that Gen Z, Millennials, and the 45+ generation picked Paros, Mykonos, and Naxos as top summer choices, with significant traffic also toward Aegina and Tinos.
This year, it has become clearer than ever that Gen Z has gained strong momentum, recording a ticket increase of more than 20% compared to last year. Younger travelers focused on destinations close to Athens and took advantage of student discounts.
Millennials remain the largest age group of travelers, but the 45+ generation recorded the highest increase in ticket purchases compared to 2024.
