Greek Short-Term Rentals See Surge in Easter Bookings

• 23 March, 25

Bookings for short-term rental properties in Greece have risen by 77 percent for Holy Week compared to last year, according to a recent report by analytics firm AirDNA. Industry experts attribute the surge in bookings to a combination of favorable weather conditions, competitive rental prices, and the fact that Easter falls on April 20 this year for both Catholics and Orthodox Christians. This alignment has sparked strong demand across Greece’s mainland and island destinations.

Demand for Easter in Europe

According to AirDNA’s report, coastal destinations in Europe are seeing the highest demand for Easter getaways. Among the 50 European cities analyzed, seaside locations in Croatia, Italy, and France lead in booking increases, with Dubrovnik more than doubling its reservations compared to last year.

Athens has also experienced a notable surge in demand. According to the report, the Greek capital ranks 13th on the list, with bookings rising by approximately 40 percent for Easter week.

Greece leads in early 2025 bookings

Greece recorded the highest growth in bookings for future overnight stays during January, according to AirDNA. The country saw a 45 percent year-on-year increase, surpassing Poland (36 percent) and Norway (35 percent). The Czech Republic (32 percent) and Germany (30 percent) completed the top five. Other European countries reported more modest growth in bookings, with Belgium (18 percent), Portugal (17 percent), Denmark (16 percent), Ireland (15 percent), and the United Kingdom (12 percent) also showing positive trends.

At a pan-European level, January reservations increased by 23.3 percent year-on-year. Alongside March and July, January is one of the top three months for short-term rental bookings in Europe, according to AirDNA.

Greece’s performance in the European market

In terms of total overnight stays recorded in January, Greece ranked sixth, with a 22 percent increase. Norway led the list with a 40 percent rise, followed by the Czech Republic, Finland, Poland, and Hungary. Greece also experienced a 10 percent increase in available short-term rental properties compared to last year, while occupancy rates rose by less than 5 percent.

Among the 20 European countries analyzed, Greece was one of the 18 that reported double-digit growth in demand for short-term rentals during January.

Across Europe, the short-term rental market recorded 3.2 million available accommodations in January — a 10.2 percent year-on-year increase. Overnight stays totaled 23 million, marking a 16.9 percent rise. The average daily rate climbed slightly to 156 euros (up 1.5 percent), while occupancy rates reached 38 percent — a 3 percent improvement from 2024, though still 4.1 percent lower than pre-pandemic levels. Moreover, revenue per available property increased by 4.6 percent to 60 euros, according to the report.

Cre: news.gtp.gr