At Least Twice More Than Athens: The Two Regions in Greece with the Largest Increase in Airbnb Bookings for Easter

Earlier, we mentioned Corfu, which consistently ranks as the top destination with the highest occupancy every Easter. This is due to its well-known customs, which attract tourists from all over the world. Now, we’ll focus on two regions that, while not reaching the same occupancy rates, have seen a significant increase in bookings for 2025 compared to 2024—so much so that they have surpassed both Athens and Thessaloniki.

According to data from AirDNA regarding bookings made in February for the Easter week, the second half of the month saw a 67% increase in bookings compared to the first half. February overall showed a 24% increase in bookings compared to 2024.

This year’s coincidence of Orthodox and Catholic Easter has allowed many foreign tourists to visit Greece to experience the religious fervor from the perspective of a different faith, resulting in a significant boost in bookings compared to 2024.

Top Regions and the "Black Sheep"

In terms of numbers, Athens, Thessaloniki, and Crete are the top three regions for short-term rental bookings. However, the increase in bookings compared to last year places them outside the top three. Athens saw a +21% increase, Thessaloniki +19%, and Crete +16%.

Above the top three, which, alongside Rhodes and Corfu, drive the tourism industry, are five other regions. Volos (+38%), Patras (+37%), and Nafplio (+35%) have double or nearly double the growth of the top three regions. Particularly impressive is the surge in Ioannina and Kalamata, with increases of +53% and +50%, respectively—2.5 times higher than in Athens, Thessaloniki, and Crete.

The Two Regions with the Largest Increase in Airbnb Bookings: More Than Double the Growth of Athens and Thessaloniki

Even more striking, however, are the negative percentages—those belonging to the “black sheep” destinations this year (and last). Mykonos saw a 46% drop compared to 2024, while Santorini dropped by 15%, though the latter can be explained by recent seismic activity. Unexpected declines were also recorded in Rhodes (-18%) and Zakynthos (-37%)!

Of course, when March is concluded and additional data is collected, these percentages may change significantly, especially for Santorini, where a relative calm seems to be returning.