UK Holiday Searches Surge for Crete Ahead of 2026, Report Finds

 

Crete ranks among the fastest-growing destinations for British travelers in 2026, recording an 18 percent increase in holiday package searches, according to a new report by British Airways Holidays.

This rise ranks Greece as the fifth fastest-growing destination in the report compiled by the subsidiary of the UK’s national airline British Airways.

The findings are included in the tour operator’s 2026 Travel Trends Report, produced in collaboration with Globetrender, a leading travel trend forecasting agency. The report analyzes customer search behavior while also identifying broader trends expected to shape travel choices in the year ahead.

Crete’s strong performance places it among a group of destinations seeing notable growth in interest from UK travelers.

read more:gtp

Athens Wins Two Global Titles at the World Travel Awards 2025

 The Greek capital of Athens received two major distinctions at the World Travel Awards 2025, reinforcing its status on the international tourism map.

The Greek capital was named World’s Leading Cultural City Destination 2025 and, for the first time, World’s Leading City Break Destination for 2025.

Photo source: Athens Municipality

Develop Athens CEO Ioannis Georgizas attended the ceremony in Manama, Bahrain, alongside senior officials, highlighting the city’s efforts to boost its global visibility.

“These awards confirm the strategy we are implementing at the Athens Development Agency to internationally promote the city’s modern, creative, and sustainable identity,” Georgizas said upon receiving the honors.

The new global titles follow earlier European wins in October, when Athens was named Europe’s Leading Cultural City Destination and received the title Europe’s Leading City Tourist Board for 2025.

At a national level, Greek hotels, resorts and tourism companies also received multiple accolades at the World Travel Awards 2025, underscoring Greece’s standing as a global leader in hospitality.

read more:gtp

The Greek Christmas dessert that was named the best in the world

 

Greek melomakarona named world’s best cookies by international taste platform

It has often gone head-to-head with its rival, the kourabiedes (Greek almond cookie), even appearing in a children’s book, and has come out the winner. 

It also wins the preferences of those who try to watch their diet, as while they cannot resist a festive sweet, they at least choose the one with fewer calories. 

Now, melomakarona (Greek honey cookies) have reached the top of the world, according to a new list by the international tasting platform Taste Atlas—though perhaps not in the category we might expect: they are titled “the best cookies in the world,” taking the number one spot on a list of one hundred sweets from around the globe.

Specifically, it is noted that although they were introduced by the ancient Phoenicians, today they are considered a traditional Greek Christmas sweet. 

Made from semolina, they are traditionally flavored with honey, orange zest, cinnamon, and other ingredients such as olive oil and cognac. 

“Immediately after baking, they are soaked in honey syrup and sprinkled with ground walnuts. Although some argue that ‘phoínikia’ refers to a slightly different sweet that may be fried and served without nuts, the two names are often used interchangeably.”

read more:protothema

US Travelers Name Greece World’s Best Tourism Destination for Fifth Time

 Greece has once again been named the World’s Best Tourism Destination, securing the title for a fifth consecutive year at the Global Traveler GT Tested Reader Survey Awards 2025, reinforcing its strong appeal in the highly competitive US travel market.

Organized by US-based travel magazine Global Traveler (FX Express Publications), the annual GT Tested Reader Survey Awards are considered among the most credible distinctions in the American travel industry, as winners are determined exclusively through reader voting.

The 2025 survey ran from December 12, 2024, to August 31, 2025, attracting thousands of responses across 90 categories covering destinations, hotels and airlines.

read more:gtp

Seven Greek islands among the best in Europe, according to the Conde Nast Traveller readers’ awards

Crete is the leader in air arrivals and international tourism awards

Crete tops the ranking of Europe’s best islands, as reflected in the 2024 Readers’ Choice Awards, based on the preferences of travelers from around the world and readers of the leading travel magazine Conde Nast Traveller.

Specifically, Crete is in 4th place, with the Greek islands taking the honors, as 7 are included in this list. Focusing on the Greek islands that the magazine’s readers highlighted in their preferences, these are Paros (3rd place), Skiathos (5th), Rhodes (7th), Zakynthos (12th), Corfu (17th) and Santorini in (18th).

The Greek islands with their excellent accommodation have attracted an international audience, as the authentic experiences they offer continue to attract visitors from all over the world, it was pointed out. Focusing on Crete, the flagship of Greek tourism, based on data released by INSEETE for the eight months of 2024, the development of air arrivals exceeded all expectations

In any case, Crete and the autumn months are moving at a very good pace in arrivals, while many tourist units have already announced that they will extend their operation in mid-November, as a result of the demand for the island in international markets.

more:protothema.gr

Crete: Listed by Lonely Planet as one of the top 10 European destinations for sunny winter holidays

 “The southern regions of Europe offer plenty of blue skies, sunshine, and mild temperatures,” writes Lonely Planet.

Lonely Planet has presented the top 10 best destinations in Europe for sunny winter holidays, and Crete is featured in this list

These 10 destinations evoke summer in winter, according to Lonely Planet. “Europeans do not need to travel far to find places for holidaying in good weather during the winter months,” the publication states.

“The southern regions of Europe offer plenty of blue skies, sunshine, and mild temperatures. Moreover, traveling in the low season means holiday packages at lower costs, as well as exclusive travel experiences, such as beaches and villages without hordes of tourists,” according to Lonely Planet.

Crete ranks 10th on the list, providing moments of tranquility and serenity along with quality services, allowing visitors to enjoy paradise beaches like Elafonissi, explore unique historical sites such as the Palace of Knossos, discover favorite spots in Chania and Heraklion, dine in beautiful restaurants, and have fun in bars and cafes.

more:protothema.gr

Crete Sees Rise in UK Pre-Bookings for 2025, Following Strong 2024 Arrivals

 UK pre-bookings for Crete in 2025 mirror the 10.8 percent increase in air arrivals recorded during the first half of 2024, according to data presented by the Region of Crete at the WTM London 2024 exhibition.

From November 5 to 7, a delegation from the Region of Crete participated in the prestigious London fair, showcasing the island as an ideal luxury destination for spring and autumn travel.

Deputy Governor of Tourism Kyriakos Kotsoglou highlighted the importance of Crete’s strategic presence at WTM London 2024, particularly given the UK’s position as Crete’s second-largest tourism market.

UK market nearing 1 million annual arrivals to Crete

“With air arrivals increasing by over 10 percent in the first half of 2024 and pre-bookings for 2025 reflecting a similar rise, the UK market is steadily nearing the milestone of 1 million annual arrivals to Crete,” Kotsoglou stated. “This growth could solidify its leading position in the region, a status it already holds in Chania.”

more:news.gtp.gr

Eurostat: Crete and South Aegean Among EU Regions with Most Foreign Tourists

 

Over a third of all overnight stays by foreign tourists in the EU are concentrated in ten popular tourist destinations, including several Greek islands, according to Eurostat data for 2023.

Specifically, data analysis from last year, which was a record year for many tourism metrics, shows that the regions with the highest number of overnight stays by foreign tourists were the Canary Islands, with 83.2 million overnight stays, followed by Spain’s Balearic Islands and the Croatian coast.

The top 10 regions also include Spain’s Catalonia and Andalusia; Greece’s South Aegean – which includes islands such as Mykonos and Rhodes – and Crete; the Greater Paris area; Italy’s Veneto; and Austria’s Tyrol.

Collectively, according to the EU’s statistical authority, these ten regions accounted for 37.6 percent of overnight stays by foreign tourists last year.

more:news.gtp.gr

ETC: Greece Among Top 10 European Destinations for Fall and Winter 2024/2025 Travel

 Greece is among the top 10 European destinations that travelers plan to visit between October 2024 and March 2025, according to the latest report from the European Travel Commission (ETC).

Greece in top 10 of preferred countries for vacation

The report positions Greece in 6th place among the preferences of European travelers for intra-European travel. Topping the list are Spain and France, each chosen by 7 percent of respondents, followed closely by Italy at 6 percent, Germany at 4.8 percent, and Austria at 4.7 percent in 5th place. Greece is chosen by 4.5 percent of respondents. Croatia ranks 7th with 4.1 percent, while the top 10 is rounded out by the United Kingdom (3.9 percent), Portugal (3.8 percent), and Belgium (3.4 percent).

more:news.gtp.gr

ABTA Reports Greece as a Steady Holiday Choice for Brits in 2025

 

Greece remains Britain’s fifth most popular holiday destination for summer 2025, securing an 11 percent market share, according to the 2024-25 Holiday Habits report of ABTA – The Travel Association.

Released during ABTA’s 2024 Travel Convention at Costa Navarino in Greece, the report is based on a survey of 2,000 UK adults conducted from July 24 to August 2, 2024, by The Nursery Research and Planning. It examines travelers’ habits over the past year and their plans for the upcoming one.

In the last 12 months, Greece again ranked fifth among Britons’ preferred holiday destinations, with a 13 percent share, following Spain (31 percent), France (22 percent), Italy (17 percent), and the United States (15 percent).

more:news.gtp.gr

World Tourism Organization: Anogia among the 55 best villages in the world for 2024

Awarded as an excellent destination in the field of Rural Tourism

The World Tourism Organization of the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has included Anogia in the 55 Best Villages of the World for 2024, awarding it as an Outstanding Destination in the field of Rural Tourism, giving them credit for everything that the village and the Municipal Authority have committed to in terms of innovation and sustainability in the broad field of society, economy and environment.

More than 260 nominations from more than 60 UN member states were put under the microscope of the experts, whose judgement highlighted Anogia, Crete, among the 55 villages, as a tourist destination that meets the requirements for the future of tourism in small communities. “The ‘Best Tourism Villages’ initiative, which is part of the United Nations’ Tourism Development Programme for Rural Development, not only recognizes the remarkable achievements of these villages, such as Anogia, but also highlights the power of tourism and how it can influence the healthy development of areas such as small villages,” noted Anogia Mayor Socrates Kefalogiannis.

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Easter in Greece: 6 destinations for your travel list (photos)

 Destinations that have their own identity and are governed by a cultural and aesthetic richness capable of satisfying every mood

With March 25th behind us, the next, springtime travel destination for most people mainly concerns the week of Easter. For this destination, which serves the need for contact with nature, a change of scenery, and refuge in tranquility, away from the intense rhythms of large urban centers, there are suitable destinations for us.

Places full of such experiences that will offer you a fruitful and rich Easter experience and will relax you. Places not prohibitive in terms of distance from the capital or other major urban centers.

Responding to this need, travel.gr has compiled a list of destinations synonymous with strolls, relaxed mood, and contact with nature in a mountainous or seaside version. Places that have their own identity and are governed by a cultural and aesthetic richness capable of satisfying every taste as you savor the early joys of religious devotion.

Rethymno

Rethymno, the third largest city in Crete, is a multifaceted, vibrant organism that combines liveliness and a rich past, with its streets narrating a life of centuries and overlapping civilizations. 

The Old Town of Rethymno, with the Venetian Fortress of Fortezza, dominates and invites you to discover the local version of the Cretan soul, while the impression it leaves on the visitor is intense also by the Holy Monastery of Arkadi, with its thousand-year history and its glorious contribution to the cause of national integration. Since you’re in Rethymno, it’s an opportunity for a flavorful introduction to the wine wealth of the region. 

The particular climatic atmosphere shaped by the presence of Psiloritis creates a temperature difference between day and night, which helps the grapes to ripen at a slower pace, developing a rich aromatic profile and a distinctive quality imprint.

And, of course, Rethymno offers you the opportunity for swimming in some of the most stunning beaches, which combine azure waters, dense vegetation, and white or golden sand, such as Preveli, Souda, Ammoudi, and Ammoudi.

read more:themanews

Crete Once Again Promises Authentic Tourism Experiences – Video

 

The Region of Crete once again is inviting travelers to experience the authenticity the island offers its visitors through its tourism campaign running on social media.

Under the slogan “Crete, Sense the Authentic,”  the ongoing campaign aims to promote the authentic experiences the island offers, especially in the summer, highlighting all the elements that make Crete a unique destination.

“Crete opens its heart and is ready for another year to welcome and host millions of visitors from abroad in a unique and authentic way,” said the island’s regional governor, Stavros Arnaoutakis, in an announcement.

“The Region of Crete, with clear and realistic goals, continues to implement its successful and often awarded tourism promotion campaign.”

The region’s tourism campaign was launched for the first time in 2020 aiming to promote Crete’s rich experiences that cover all seasons and included in all tourism forms.

For 2024, the campaign includes a video produced by Indigo View and directed by award-winning Cretan director Thodoris Papadoulakis.

In the video, tourists and foreigners who have moved to the island share their experiences of being enchanted by the beauty of nature, with Crete’s long sandy beaches and picturesque mountains serving as the backdrop.

“Crete is like a continent on an island,” says one traveler while another adds that “it’s the best place we found in Europe, and we never want to leave this island.”

source:gtp

March Special: The Ultimate Greece Carnival Guide 2024

Discover Greece as never before by deep diving into its most exhilarating national festivity, the Carnival, with our 2024 guide. This year, mark your calendar for March 17th as the key date of the thrilling Greek Carnival, or “Apokries,” unfolds, beckoning the adventurous soul to experience a side of Greece widely unseen by the casual visitor. This isn’t your average holiday getaway, it’s an invitation to those looking to explore the authentic essence of Greek culture beyond the tourist paths.

Apokries is a time of Dionysian festivities (pertaining to the ancient Greek god Dionysus, symbolising indulgence in wine and uninhibited revelry). It also marks the period before the solemn 40 days of Lent in the Greek Orthodox tradition, which for the devout, involves not eating meat. Meat in Greek is ‘kreas’, thus the Greek word for Carnival, ‘apokries’ meaning ‘abstaining from meat’.

While they may not mirror the extravagant size and bombastic popularity of Rio’s world famous Carnival, the Greek versions we present here each offer their own brand of rich ambience, unique traditions and thrilling revelry, with reenactments of pagan traditions, spirited dances and satirical jests that capture the essence of special communal gatherings, stories kept alive through the ages and free-flowign fun.

So don your mask and dance into a world where myths and contemporary magic merge in a stunning display.

read more travel.gr

Crete is a Unique Tourism Destination for Germans, Says Ambassador

 Crete is a favorite Greek destination for German travelers, according to German Ambassador to Greece Andreas Kindl.

In a recent meeting on Crete with the island’s regional governor, Stavros Arnaoutakis, Kindl expressed his admiration for Greece and discussed further promoting Crete as a holiday destination to Germans.

He specifically referred to last year’s arrivals of German travelers to Crete which showed their high preference for the island.

“Over 1 million German travelers visited Crete in 2023,” the German ambassador said, adding that many retirees from his country have chosen Crete as their permanent residence.

According to Kindl, the main reasons behind that choice are the island’s landscape, Cretan products, gastronomy, and excellent weather conditions.

Also present at the meeting was the new Honorary Consul of Germany in Heraklion, Dr. Georgios Kaloutsakis, who highlighted that many younger Germans are interested in moving to Crete to live and work.

On his part, Regional Governor Stavros Arnaoutakis referred to the new projects taking place on the island.

“Major projects are currently underway on the island, such as the new airport and the motorway BOAK, which will significantly upgrade the tourism infrastructure and services for the ever-increasing number of visitors to the island,” Arnaoutakis said.

The regional governor closed the meeting, referring to the good cooperation and “long-standing friendly and business relations that have been established between Crete and Germany”.

gtp