Overview
- Crete remains one of Greece’s most visited islands and won multiple Travellers’ Choice awards in 2026 for beaches such as Elafonissi and Balos, which attract heavy summer demand.
- Local authorities on Crete have stepped up enforcement to stop removal of pink sand at Elafonissi and Balos, deploying personnel to monitor beaches and warning that sand theft is illegal in protected Natura 2000 zones.
- Zakynthos is identified as a centre of overtourism, with very high overnight stays relative to its population and several south‑coast nesting beaches for the endangered loggerhead turtle closed or access‑restricted to protect nests.
- Kefalonia is being promoted as a less crowded alternative, praised for Myrtos Beach, inland attractions and an international airport that keeps it more accessible than many smaller ferry‑only islands.
- Travel demand is shifting toward quieter islands and off‑peak travel even as visitor numbers and tourism revenues rose sharply in early 2026, a trend that may force more access limits, seasonal service changes and expanded conservation measures.