The holiday of Protomayas combined with the following weekend this year, is for Greeks another excuse for short getaways.
Popular Greek destinations are maintaining high demand rates, and even increasing with neighboring countries following suit. Recent data from Booking.com, a member of Booking Holdings Inc, shows a 19% increase in total searches by Greek travellers for stays (within and outside Greece) for the period 30 April to 3 May 2026, compared to the same period last year.
Athens and Thessaloniki remain stable choices, recording increases of 5% and 14% respectively. More “traditional” destinations for spring getaways, such as Nafplio (+84%) and Volos (+53%), are showing impressive growth.
In particular, increased mobility is observed in searches for city breaks in less saturated destinations, with Nafpaktos standing out (+137%), Monemvasia (+88%) and Corfu (+59%) following, confirming the shift of travelers to destinations strongly associated with authentic local experiences. Kalamata is also on the rise (+46%), while Ioannina remains consistently popular (+5%).
Beyond domestic destinations, Rome (+7%), Istanbul (+19%) and London (+16%) are among the most popular choices that have seen growth.
In contrast, there was a slight decline in interest in destinations such as Budapest (-18%) and Vienna (-19%), suggesting a possible shift in preferences towards other cities or an identification with more winter getaways.
According to Booking.com, the overall increase in searches confirms the momentum for short trips and last-minute getaways. The May Day weekend is an ideal opportunity for short “rejuvenation getaways”with travellers choosing destinations that combine easy access,natural beauty and authentic experiences.
