Locals forced out? Overtourism is slowly changing Greece

Greece, a well-known vacation spot for its crystal clear waters and Mamma Mia dreams, is facing an overtourism problem. This year in Athens and Santorini, tourist numbers have surged to record levels.

For many Greeks, the country’s tourism boom has become a double‑edged sword. Athens, Greece’s most visited vacation hotspot, is now facing an overtourism problem that is changing the way locals commute, shop, and interact with each other.

On a hot June morning, the line to enter the Acropolis, one of Athens' most popular attractions, reached deep into the street as the crowd moved along the line. Among the mountains of people, selfie sticks and loud chatter lingered in the city.

For Emily Iliopoulos, a 24-year-old local Greek and recent university graduate, the impact of overtourism is very real.

“For a lot of Greek people…it can feel like they have reached a tipping point,” she said. “It can get a bit too much at times.”

Iliopoulos was born and raised in Athens. She recently graduated from university in the Netherlands and returned to her hometown in Athens. Upon returning, she said she felt that the city had changed drastically over the years.

“Sometimes it can feel like I’m not at home because it’s getting too crowded and busy…it’s not the best feeling,” she said.

Last year, the city’s airport recorded over eight million tourists, with 90 percent of them staying more than 5 nights, according to Greek Trip Planner Research. Among the tourists, at least two million of them were U.S. residents, exceeding the previous year’s record by 12 percent.

The reason for the surge of U.S. tourists could be explained by direct flights connecting Charlotte and Philadelphia to Athens, which have been operated by American Airlines since last year, according to online airline network Route 360.

In December of last year, Haris Doukas, the mayor of Athens, said in an Instagram post on the PES Group in the European Committee of the Regions account that short-term rentals are "pushing residents out." To combat this problem, he proposed to "stop new Airbnb apartments in Athens" completely. 

Is tourism a double-edged sword?

While the surge of tourists can be too much for locals, it can also be viewed as a great success for the country’s economy and international status. In 2025, Athens received two awards in the World Travel Awards, including the Leading City Break Destination and Leading Cultural City Destination awards.

When asked whether the award was significant to locals, Iliopoulos said, “It’s nice to be recognised by global communities.” “Tourism can be a double-edged sword in that sense,” she added.

In the positive sense, tourism can introduce boosts to the economy as hotel businesses, gift shops, and restaurants flourish. Athens currently leads in hotel business, ranking in the top five in Europe. In 2025, over 70 percent of hotels were completely occupied.

For small businesses such as fruit store owner Andy Papadakis, tourists are needed to sustain their livelihoods.

Papadakis said, “Tourists are my main source of income. If they do not come, I will not have business, so they are important to me.”

Part of our economy depends on tourism, he said, adding that, “It may not be a good thing to hear, but that’s the reality for us."

In terms of the city’s housing market, areas including Plaka and the Acropolis have become a dense market for short‑term rentals, where tourists often have to book early to secure the best location.

“It’s harder for many people to get affordable housing these days because of the rise of Airbnbs,” Iliopoulos said.

The Airbnb problem

Airbnb is a mobile application that allows homeowners to rent out properties for short-term stays. The app’s appeal stems from its affordable price and authentic experience, making it a great alternative to hotels for many tourists.

However, in Athens, “Airbnbs” have put a strain on housing markets by driving up rents. In popular districts like Monastiraki and Plaka, the number of “Airbnb” rentals has doubled in the last decade, according to a 2019 study done by Gourzis and his colleagues.

The tourist demand for housing spaces in Athens far exceeds its supply, which is causing a housing shortage in central areas, said Iliopoulos.

To solve this problem, she suggests the government introduce a price ceiling or limitation on the number of “airbnbs” in the city.

“It is not the tourists’ fault for wanting to visit our beautiful city, but it is our government’s responsibility to make sure our people are treated with dignity and respect,” she said.

Impact on Greeks

Athens welcomed more than 7 million visitors in 2023 according to its Convention & Visitors Bureau, and that number is expected to rise this summer.

Ever since the end of COVID-19, the number of visitors has boomed, according to a research project done by the Foundation for Economic and Industrial Research. From 2021 to 2025, the number of tourists in Greece almost doubled, increasing by 28,000.

For local Greeks, such as Papadakis, the impact is certainly real, especially during peak tourism seasons in summer.

“It’s hard to walk around the areas that have popular attractions because many people go there,” he said, standing near a vending machine at Syntagma Square.

“I don’t dislike tourists because they are usually all happy and smiley, I just wish there was a way to balance my time and their time,” he said.

When asked whether he would move to another Greek island, Papadakis said he would always be loyal to Athens because of his family and connections here.

“It would be stupid to just move when I encounter problems,” he said. “There are bigger problems than having too many tourists in our country that probably should be fixed first,” he added.

The tourist perspective

For many tourists, crowds can be part of the fun.

Mitchell said that she had seen videos on TikTok about the huge summer crowds in Santorini but didn’t fully grasp the scale until she arrived.

“I get why locals are frustrated,” she said. “But for me, I’ve been saving up for this dream vacation. I want to see the famous spots.”

Similar to Mitchell, David Vachirawit, a 21-year-old tourist from Thailand, said that the crowds were similar to those in Bangkok. When asked whether he felt positively or negatively about the crowds, he said, “It can be frustrating at times, but that’s expected.”

He also said that back in Thailand, it would excite him when he saw tourists enjoy his country. “It’s not always a bad thing to be surrounded by people,” he said.

When is it too much?

Tourism accounted for approximately 25 percent of Greece’s GDP in 2013, according to the INSETE, a non-profit organisation run by the Greek Tourism Federation. To put this into perspective, for every 1 Euro of tourism revenue, the country’s GDP grows by 2.65 Euro, according to the organisation.

Sustainability and cultural preservation have been a huge topic of debate in Greece. For many local Greeks, such as Papadakis. Overtourism has heavily disturbed their ways of transport, street cleanliness, and community.

“We’re proud to share our island, but we want people to respect it and we want the government to protect it,” said Papadakis.

Potential solutions

In 2023, the historical landmark of Athens, the Acropolis, introduced a daily limit on the number of visitors that would be allowed to visit the site. The cap was set at 20,000 visitors, where tourists were encouraged to register early online to secure a spot.

“The online registration system works well. I have foreign friends who have managed to reserve a booking fairly well,” Iliopoulos said.

Other than limitations at popular attractions, locals feel like the government needs to do more to protect their emotional stability,” says Papadakis.

He does not feel that a limit on the number of tourists would be a fair policy, because vendors like him depend on tourist expenditure to survive. Yet, he is hopeful for an alternative way to reduce the damage done to the streets and busy transport systems.

“Perhaps our government can do something like what Venice is doing. Have separate lines for locals during rush hours and have signs around the city to ask people not to litter,” he said.

Despite the lack of initiative from the government, Papadakis remains hopeful. “I don’t want to be hateful, you know. I am a very warm person,” he said. “Most Greeks try to be hospitable and friendly if you are nice,” he added.