Ferryscanner’s booking data for summer 2026 points to new opportunities for hospitality businesses across Greece’s island destinations. Although the Cyclades continued to attract the greatest interest among Greek travelers, destinations such as Koufonisi, Chios and Limnos recorded the highest percentage increases.
The platform’s data for the June-August period also shows that travelers did not cut the length of their holidays. On the contrary, the share of trips lasting at least one week edged higher, a development of particular importance to hotels and short-term rental accommodation providers.
Overall, bookings made by Greek travelers through Ferryscanner for trips to Greek islands increased significantly compared with summer 2025. However, the company did not disclose the exact overall growth rate.
Tinos ranks first, but Koufonisi grows fastest
Tinos retained first place among the destinations chosen by Greek Ferryscanner users, with bookings increasing by 8% year on year. It was followed by:
- Paros, up 18.3%;
- Mykonos, up 5.6%;
- Naxos, up 21.2%;
- and Syros, up 19.8%.
Aegina, Heraklion, Andros, Kythnos and Agistri also featured in the top ten. The ranking confirms the Cyclades’ strong position, while also highlighting demand for nearby destinations suitable for both short breaks and last-minute trips.
The highest percentage increase among destinations with a significant booking volume was recorded by Koufonisi. Bookings to the Small Cyclades island rose by 43.4% compared with summer 2025.
Chios also posted strong growth of 36.9%, followed by Limnos at 21.4%, Rhodes Town at 21.2% and Ios at 21%.
The figures suggest that, despite the continuing dominance of well-established destinations, part of the demand is shifting towards islands that can offer quieter holidays or a different experience from that available in mass tourism destinations.
How much did ferry tickets cost?
Across the five most popular destinations—Tinos, Paros, Mykonos, Naxos and Syros—families and groups of at least three people recorded the lowest average cost per passenger compared with couples and solo travelers.
In Tinos, for example, the average cost of a one-way journey stood at:
- €27.23 per passenger for families and groups of three or more;
- €31.50 for couples;
- and €30.85 for solo travelers.
The difference is likely linked to the types of tickets and routes selected by each category of traveler, rather than necessarily reflecting special group fares.
There was also a slight shift in the composition of traveling parties. Solo travelers remained the largest category, but their share declined to 42.2%, from 43.4% in 2025.
By contrast, the share of couples rose from 37.4% to 38.1%, while families and groups of at least three people accounted for 19.6% of bookings, compared with 19.2% the previous summer.
Greek travelers did not shorten their holidays
Despite the pressure of higher travel costs on household budgets, Ferryscanner’s data does not indicate a shift towards shorter holidays.
Among bookings that included both outbound and return tickets, trips lasting four to six days remained the most common choice, accounting for 44.8% of the total. Breaks of up to three days represented 33.4%, while stays of at least seven days accounted for 21.8%.
In fact, the share of trips lasting one week or longer increased from 20.6% in 2025 to 21.8% in 2026. Although modest, this is a positive development for the accommodation market, as it shows that a segment of Greek travelers continues to opt for longer island holidays.
Registered users of the platform made an average of 2.3 ferry journeys over the course of the summer.
One in 48 bookings included a pet
Travel with pets is also attracting growing interest, a trend that now affects both ferry services and demand for pet-friendly accommodation.
A total of 2.1% of bookings made through Ferryscanner included the transportation of at least one pet. This is equivalent to approximately one in every 48 bookings made by families or traveling parties.
“Greek travelers are increasingly looking for destinations beyond the established choices,” said Ferryscanner Marketing Director Alexia Kotsi, also pointing to the slight increase in the share of couples, families and larger traveling groups.
For the hospitality sector, the summer 2026 figures depict demand that continues to favor the Cyclades but is becoming more open to alternative island destinations. At the same time, the stability in the average length of stay and the growing share of larger traveling parties create opportunities for targeted accommodation packages, family-oriented amenities and services for guests traveling with pets.
