Greek resorts are experiencing their best October on record, with occupancy levels in many cases surpassing even those of August. Despite the month starting with rain and cooler temperatures, international travelers are embracing the “coolcation” trend — vacations in milder climates that offer relaxation, authenticity, and sustainability away from peak-season crowds.
Crete, Rhodes, and Corfu Lead the Way
Crete is the undisputed star this autumn, with occupancy reaching 90% and several hotels reporting higher bookings than in mid-summer. Rhodes follows closely, operating at full capacity, while Corfu also posts strong results. Other popular destinations are seeing similarly positive figures, extending the tourist season well into late autumn.
In Halkidiki, over half the hotels are expected to stay open until the end of October, marking one of the region’s most successful years.
Coolcation Success in the Peloponnese
In the Peloponnese, Costa Navarino continues to perform exceptionally well, with all its resorts operating through October. The Westin Resort Costa Navarino will even remain open into November, capitalizing on the “coolcation” momentum and a packed calendar of sports and themed events.
Highlights include the Messinian Open Water Swimming, the AEGEAN Messinia Pro-Am, and other activity-based tourism events that have significantly boosted autumn demand.
Rising Air Capacity and International Demand
According to INSETE data, scheduled airline seats for October have increased by 5.3% compared to last year. The UK, Germany, France, the Netherlands, and the U.S. remain Greece’s strongest travel markets, while arrivals from Israel have surged, particularly to Crete and Rhodes.
Corfu Tops the Growth Charts
Corfu shows the biggest rise in scheduled airline seats (+14.4%), followed by Thessaloniki (+12.4%) and Heraklion (+9.2%). Although Rhodes and Santorini see slight declines, the overall outlook for Greek tourism remains highly positive — confirming that the holiday season no longer ends with summer.
Source: tovima.com
