Greece is making a strong entry into the new European short-break market, with Corfu and Heraklion securing the top two spots for beach short breaks. Athens also stands out, ranking 8th for city breaks and 7th for coastal short breaks, while Mykonos makes it into TUI’s top 25 overall. This new TUI ranking demonstrates that the Greek tourism product is not only successful in the traditional summer holiday model but also in the newer, faster-paced, and more lifestyle-oriented market of multi-day trips.
Corfu Leads European Beach Short Breaks
Corfu has claimed the 1st position in TUI’s ranking for the best European beach short breaks, achieving a score of 86.25 out of 100. The island combines good prices, an average flight duration of 2.5 hours, 10.7 hours of sunshine from May to September, an average maximum temperature of 29.1 degrees Celsius, and an average sea temperature of 25.3 degrees. Contributing to its appeal are 16 Blue Flag beaches within a 20-kilometer radius and 118 available boat trips.
Heraklion Secures Second Spot
Heraklion, Crete, follows closely in 2nd place in the same ranking, with a score of 83.75. Its strong attributes include good pricing, an average flight duration of 3 hours, 10.7 hours of sunshine, an average maximum temperature of 29.2 degrees, and a sea temperature of 25.1 degrees. Heraklion surpasses Corfu in the number of Blue Flag beaches within a 20-kilometer radius, boasting 18, and offers 49 boat trips.
Athens: A Dual-Purpose Destination
Perhaps the most intriguing finding is Athens’ dual presence in the rankings. The Greek capital ranks 8th in the European city break category with a score of 75.90, and simultaneously appears in 7th place for beach short breaks, tied with Ibiza, with a score of 66.25.
Athens as a City Break Destination
For city breaks, Athens is noted for its affordable prices, an average flight duration of 3 hours, a 35-minute transfer time to the city center, 10.5 hours of sunshine from May to September, 360 attractions, 163 museums, 1,852 restaurants rated at least 4 out of 5, and 300 options for bars and nightlife. These factors place Athens in Europe’s top ten, ahead of cities like Florence, Milan, Paris, Warsaw, Budapest, Seville, and Venice, but behind Prague, Lisbon, Porto, Barcelona, Naples, Amsterdam, and Rome.
Athens as a Beach Short Break Destination
In the beach short breaks category, Athens climbs even higher as a hybrid city and sea destination. With a score of 66.25, low price levels, an average flight duration of 3 hours, 10.5 hours of sunshine, an average maximum temperature of 30.5 degrees, a sea temperature of 25 degrees, 7 Blue Flag beaches within a 20-kilometer radius, and 98 boat trips, Athens proves it is more than just an urban destination.
Mykonos Also Makes the Cut
Mykonos also features in the 20th position for beach short breaks, with a score of 48.00. The island is characterized by low price levels, an average flight duration of 3.25 hours, 11.8 hours of sunshine from May to September-the highest among the Greek destinations in the ranking-an average maximum temperature of 26.7 degrees, and a sea temperature of 23.4 degrees. Although the specific table does not list Blue Flag beaches within a 20-kilometer radius for Mykonos, the island offers 113 boat trips, indicating its strength in experience, sea activities, and lifestyle.
TUI’s Research Methodology
According to TUI’s research, conducted in collaboration with market research firm Appinio, 39.8% of respondents would accept a maximum travel time of four hours for a weekend trip. Therefore, the ranking only considered destinations reachable by plane in less than four hours.
This comprehensive ranking underscores Greece’s versatility and growing appeal as a premier destination for short getaways, catering to diverse interests from cultural city explorations to relaxing beach escapes.
Source: https://tornosnews.gr/featured/tui-i-ellada-poylaei-kai-triimero-kerkyra-kriti-athina-kai-mykonos-sta-koryfaia.html
