Athens is emerging as one of the top 10 city break destinations in Europe, for 2026. In early 2026, Athens was recognized as the fastest-growing airport in Europe among capital cities, with passenger traffic soaring 33% above pre-pandemic (2019) levels. These stats and facts about the city of Athens, and the surrounding Attica region, tell their own success story.
Athens Population & Visitor Numbers
| 643.452 | Athens city centre population |
| 3.404.396 | Attica region population |
| 7,10 million | Number of arrivals at Athens International Airport (2023) |
Athens Airport & Connectivity
| 154 | Airport destinations connected to Athens |
| 67 | Airlines operating out of Athens |
| 27 | Low cost Airlines operating out of Athens |
| 124 | International cities connected to Athens |
| 55 | Countries connected to Athens |
Awards for Athens
World Travel Awards 2025
World's Leading City Break Destination
World Travel Awards 2025
World's Leading Cultural City Destination
World Travel Awards 2025
Europe's Leading City Tourist Board
World Travel Awards 2025
Europe's Leading Cultural City Destination
World Travel Awards 2024
World's Leading Cultural City Destination
World Travel Awards 2024
Europe's Leading City Break Destination
World Travel Awards 2023
World's Leading Cultural City Destination
World Travel Awards 2023
Europe's Leading Cultural City Destination
World Travel Awards 2022
World's Leading Cultural City Destination
World Travel Awards 2022
Europe's Leading Cultural City Destination
World Travel Awards 2022
Europe's Leading City Tourist Board
World Travel Awards 2022
World's Leading Cultural for MICE
World Travel Awards 2018
Europe's Leading City Tourist Board
World Travel Awards 2018
Europe's Leading Tourist Attraction
World Travel Awards 2018
Europe's Leading City Break Destination
Business Destinations Travel Awards 2022
Europe's Best Destination for MICE
European Commission
European Capital of Innovation 2018
Leading Culture Destinations Awards
Best Emerging Cultural City of the Year 2017
Hotels & Social Venues
| 295 | Hotels in Athens city centre |
| 701 | Hotels in Attica region |
| 18.198 | Number of hotel rooms in Athens |
| 34.808 | Number of hotel rooms in Attica |
| 11 | Michelin starred restaurants |
| 26 | Michelin Guide listed restaurants |
Congresses & City Ranking (2024)
| 7th position | ICCA city ranking in Europe 2024 |
| 10th position | ICCA city ranking in the world 2024 |
| 111 | Association meetings in Athens / Attica (ICCA city ranking 2024) |
| 107k+ | Meeting Capacity |
| 470k sqm | Conference & Exhibition space |
| 40.316 | Estimated total participants in association meetings |
| USD$2.335 | Average expenditure per conference delegate |
Culture & History
| 3400 Years Ago | City of Athens established |
| 2 | UNESCO World Heritage Sites |
| 3,9 million | Visitors to the Acropolis (2023) |
| 178 | Museums in Athens |
| 50.000 | Artefacts unearthed during Metro construction |
| 44 | Ancient monuments in Athens |
| 148 | Theatres in Athens |
| 123 | Indoor & open-air cinemas in Athens |
| 12 | Open air sports stadiums in Athen |
| 42 | Arenas in Athens |
Athens Riviera & Weather
| 50km | Athens coastline |
| 18 | Blue Flag beaches in Athens |
| 11 | Number of marinas |
| 300 | Sunny days every year in Athens |
| 24 to 27°C (7 Aug) | Peak sea temperature |
| 14 to 15°C (1 March) | Coolest sea temperatures |
| 18.5°C | Average Temperature |