Editorial Team
Our content team
6 min read
5.95 million Germans flew to Greece in 2025. That was 10.2% more than the year before. And 2026 is shaping up to be even bigger.
According to TUI Group, Greece is now virtually tied with Spain in summer 2026 bookings. Over 10,000 bookings came in on the first day of the early bird phase alone. Crete at number 3, Rhodes at 4, Kos at 5 among the most-booked individual destinations. Greece instead of Spain isn't a question for many Germans this summer. It's the plan.
Quick answer: Yes. TUI's 2026 booking data shows Greece tied with Spain for the first time. Crete, Rhodes, and Kos dominate German booking lists. As a Greece travel destination summer 2026, the islands win on variety and character. The downside: a climate tax up to 70 euros, Ryanair baggage fees up to 120 euros per person. Flying carry-on only saves you up to 190 euros.
I honestly saw this coming. Once you've been to the Cyclades, you don't rebook Mallorca.
What's Driving the Greece Instead of Spain Shift
TUI now transports around 4 million holidaymakers to Greece annually and offers roughly 180 weekly flight connections to Crete, Rhodes, and Kos. Smaller islands like Samos and Corfu are also being booked "earlier and more frequently" than in previous years, according to TUI.
TUI product chief Steffen Boehnke put it simply: "Round trips are no longer a niche product. People want experiences and local connection." That's exactly what the Greek islands deliver. TUI's 2026 travel trends confirm it: Greece offers something Spain can't match in this form. Crete alone has more coastline than all of Mallorca. You notice that when you're there.
If you're flying via Eurowings or interline routes, it's worth knowing the baggage traps on Greece flights before you book. Rules differ significantly from standard TUI flights.
Greece has a flip side. A one-week family holiday on Crete averages 4,860 euros as a package according to HolidayCheck data. Rhodes and Kos aren't far behind (4,500 and 4,510 euros). Those are the package prices. Without extras. Without the climate tax.
Climate Tax and Hidden Costs: What 2026 Adds Up To
Greece's climate tax hits you with every night's stay. According to ADAC, you'll pay between 2 and 15 euros per night during peak season, depending on hotel category. A typical 4-star hotel means 10 euros per night. Over a week, that's 70 euros extra.
Flights are running about 8% higher than last year. Hotels roughly 6% more. And then there are the baggage fees.
Ryanair charges up to 59.99 euros for a 20 kg suitcase per leg. Round trip, that's easily 120 euros. A family of four? Up to 240 euros just for checked luggage. For a full breakdown of what's allowed and how to make the most of the Ryanair hand luggage rules 2026, we've covered it in detail.
Let me add that up: 70 euros climate tax plus 120 euros baggage fees. That's 190 euros you can partly avoid by packing smart.
Island Hopping with Carry-On: Why Less Luggage Means More Vacation
The growing trend toward island hopping makes the luggage question even more pressing. Anyone taking a ferry from Crete to Santorini or Rhodes to Samos quickly learns: a big hardshell suitcase on cobblestones, narrow ferry stairs, and uneven harbor grounds is a genuine pain.
If you're planning island hopping, you'll regret the big rolling suitcase by the first ferry. The stairs on Greek ships are steep and narrow. The cobblestone lanes in Naoussa on Paros even more so. A compact backpack in the Ryanair carry-on format (40x30x20 cm) flies free and goes straight into the ferry cabin with you. The Ryanair Handgepäck 40x30x20 Rucksack - Leichter Kabinenrucksack mit 14 Zoll Laptopfach und Diebstahlsicherung does exactly that. For a full comparison of bags that actually fit the right dimensions for Ryanair, we've put together a dedicated guide.
Experienced island hoppers travel carry-on only on purpose. What that looks like in practice is something we cover in our carry-on only through Europe experience (Coming Soon). No waiting at baggage carousels, no stress during ferry transfers. On Greek ferries, large luggage goes in the ship's garage. Your backpack or small bag you just take into the cabin.
When you choose Greece instead of Spain and hop between islands by ferry, you don't need a rolling monster. If you want to pack more without switching to checked luggage: the SZLX Vakuum Rucksack Ryanair Handgepäck 40x30x20 - Reiserucksack Flugzeug mit Schuhfach und Vakuumpumpe has a built-in vacuum pump that squeezes out a few extra liters of packing room.
A foldable G4Free Strandtasche XXL 35/50/80L - Faltbare Badetasche Familie, Groß Wasserdicht Leicht für Strand und Schwimmbad as a beach bag for Crete or Rhodes takes up almost no space in your backpack. And if your return flight involves more souvenirs than planned, the Flintronic 35L Faltbare Reisetasche - Weekender Gepäcktasche Wasserdicht für Damen und Herren is foldable, weighs next to nothing, and fits in any pocket. Our foldable travel bags comparison shows which models genuinely disappear into your carry-on as a second bag.
The ideal Crete-Rhodes packing list for island hoppers: a carry-on format backpack, a foldable beach bag, and a compressible travel bag for the return flight. That's it.
Ryanair Handgepäck 40x30x20 Rucksack - Leichter Kabinenrucksack mit 14 Zoll Laptopfach und Diebstahlsicherung
4.6
(1,611)
EUR 23.99
Amazon
Greece Instead of Spain: What This Means for Your Next Trip
Greece didn't overtake Spain by accident. The islands offer more variety, more character, more of what a 2026 vacation should mean: real experiences instead of mass tourism. No wonder bookings are exploding. Greece instead of Spain is the travel destination of the summer.
Only: it's not getting cheaper. Climate tax, pricier flights, baggage fees. Anyone who shows up unprepared pays for it. Fly carry-on only and you save 25 to 60 euros per person per leg. For a family, that quickly adds up to 200 euros saved. Enough for a seafront dinner on Crete. Maybe with wine, too.
