Greece’s short-term rental market entered August with strong momentum, as demand continues to climb and property owners keep raising rates despite a modest slowdown in the spring, partly driven by geopolitical uncertainty.
Robust demand from both domestic and international travelers has pushed Airbnb pre-bookings to exceptionally high levels, reaching as much as 95% in some of the country’s most popular island destinations. According to the latest data from AirDNA, Greece remains one of Europe’s strongest markets, outperforming the continental average and maintaining solid growth throughout the peak summer season.
The strongest gains are being recorded during the busiest holiday months. Demand in July rose by 13.5% year-on-year, followed by an 11.4% increase in August, while September bookings are also up by a healthy 12.4%. The figures reinforce the trend of country’s tourist season extending well beyond the traditional summer peak.
Industry sources report that advance bookings have reached 95% in Paros, Naxos and Santorini, while occupancy stands at around 93% in Milos and Skiathos. Rhodes, Crete and Kefalonia are also performing strongly, with pre-bookings hovering near 91%.
Recent figures from the Short-Term Rental Companies Association show that average occupancy across short-term rental properties has climbed to 41%, up from 38.2% in the summer of 2025, marking a year-on-year increase of 7.1%, with demand expected to remain particularly strong throughout July and until August 19.
However, the market follows a familiar seasonal pattern. After August 28, occupancy rates decline sharply, accompanied by lower nightly rates, with prices in premium destinations falling to between 190 and 215 euros. This late-summer slowdown has become a structural feature of Greece’s tourism season.
Early September, meanwhile, remains an underutilized opportunity. Search data points to growing traveler interest—up roughly 2% around September 1—but this has yet to translate into bookings, with occupancy lingering at just 22%. The gap suggests that more flexible and competitive pricing strategies during the transition from peak to shoulder season could help convert interest into confirmed reservations and further extend tourism season.
Source: tovima.com
