Short-term rentals heat up ahead of peak tourist season

Despite the overall slowdown recorded in the European Airbnb market in April, forecasts for the summer season remain particularly optimistic, with Greece ranking among the markets that continue to attract strong travel demand.

According to the latest data from AirDNA, Greece is entering this year’s summer season with a 9.3% increase in demand for short-term rental bookings for the June–August period, a rate exceeding the European average. Advance bookings for this summer have already reached 3.9 million overnight stays, confirming that the country remains one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe.

At the same time, Greece is recording the highest seasonal increase in prices across Europe. The average daily rate (ADR) for a short-term rental property is expected to reach €174 during the summer months, compared to approximately €113 during the off-season, representing an increase of 54.9%. This reflects the significant pressure created by rising demand in popular destinations, as well as the continued strong pricing strategy adopted by property owners.

Mykonos remains the most characteristic example of the sharp increase in prices. According to market data, the average daily rate on the island during the high season reaches as much as €758 per night, compared to approximately €458 during the off-season, marking an increase of 65.6%. At the same time, the Mykonos market currently offers more than 4,500 active listings, with available supply increasing by approximately 3% year-on-year.

According to market analyses, a typical Airbnb property in Mykonos can generate annual revenues exceeding €56,000, with average occupancy levels of around 70%. These figures confirm that Greece’s leading tourist destinations continue to represent highly profitable markets for investors and short-term rental operators.

At the European level, April 2026 was characterized by a 3.6% increase in accommodation supply, with the total number of available properties reaching 3.71 million. However, demand declined by 5.7%, resulting in occupancy falling to 55.3%, down 8.2% compared to last year. Despite this decline, prices continued to strengthen, with the average daily rate increasing by 6.3% to €127.

The Greek market, however, presented a different picture compared to the rest of Europe. According to data for March 2026, the supply of short-term rental properties in Greece declined by 4%, with available listings falling below 100,000 units to 97,186 properties. At the same time, demand decreased by 8.5%, resulting in occupancy levels settling at 52.1%.

Despite this decline, property returns remained strong due to rising prices. The average daily rate in Greece increased by 7.4% to €89.6, while revenue per available rental (RevPAR) rose by 3.2% to €46.6. These figures demonstrate that property managers are still managing to maintain strong returns despite greater volatility in demand.

Analysts estimate that this year’s season will perform at particularly satisfactory levels, especially from July onwards. July bookings are already showing growth of more than 13%, while August is also demonstrating strong momentum. The increase in demand is attributed both to Greece’s enduring popularity and to the broader trend among European travelers to choose closer and safer holiday destinations.