Greece Introduces Cruise Tax – How Much Will It Cost Passengers?

Monday, July 21, 2025

Greek islands to impose entry fee for tourists The additional levy will be imposed on passengers arriving on Greek islands from 21st July 2025 as a part of a new government plan to deliver sustainable tourism. This new cruise tax, known as the “sustainable tourism fee,” is aimed at visitors arriving at busy ports like Mykonos and Santorini, which have become inundated with tourists in the past few years.

The change is part of Greece’s effort to manage a flood of visitors and to temper overtourism on its most iconic islands. With more than 1.29 million visitors to Mykonos last year alone, this levy is intended to relieve pressure on local infrastructure and encourage more responsible tourism.

New Charges for Cruise Passengers: Here’s What You Need to Know

From now on cruise passengers will have to pay the new fee whenever they dock at a Greek island port. The price will differ depending on the island and time of year, so travelers will need to check how much they will pay before they leave.

Here are the new charges in detail:

High Season (1st June – 30th September) $200.00 per night for 1 or 2 guests.

Mykonos and Santorini: €20 per customer

Other Islands in Greece: €5 per person

In summer, when the islands are at their most bustling, the costlier price is supposed to help with the islands’ infrastructure, strained after an influx of tourists in recent years.

Shoulder Season: (April 1 – May 31, and October)

Mykonos & Santorini: €12 per pax

Other Ports: €3 per passenger

Even at this lower rate, a cost is represented to keep the islands sustainable, but smaller crowds during shoulder season help temper the blow of the tourism industry.

November 1 to March 31 Without Peak Season (November 1 – March 31)

Mykonos & Santorini: €4 per passenger

Other Ports: €1 per passenger

The fee is much less in the winter, (understanding that there are many fewer tourists), but it still helps pay to keep services and facilities going.

Why the New Tax?

The sustainable tourism fee is part of Greece’s push to manage the growth in tourism with the preservation of its environment and culture. Mykonos and Santorini, two of the country’s most famous islands, have long been faced with the challenges of overtourism. This tax is designed to prevent the influx of visitors from having a harmful effect on local communities, landscapes and resources.

According to the Hellenic Ports Association, last year saw more than 768 cruise ships and over 1.29 million visitors passing through Mykonos. With these islands getting ever more crowded, this charge is one way to relieve pressure on infrastructure and pave the way for a more sustainable future of these pristine lands.

How Will It Be Collected?

It is the cruise companies and their agents in the first instance who is liable to pay the sustainable tourism fee. These firms will declare the dues on a digital platform and pay on a quarterly basis. The fee is charged per visitor or passenger and is valid for every port they stop at; so those calling on the islands could expect to pay this fee at every port on their itinerary.

If the Fee Goes Unpaid.

The fee must be collected from any cruise operators obliged to pay it. And because the companies could be penalized if they don’t, the burden won’t fall on travelers to pay the tax. The entire system is set up to be a well-oiled machine, thanks to digital platforms that let businesses track their payments and that give the government tools to help them comply.

Greek Tourism: Effect and Future Actions

And though the new fee is sure to irk some travelers at first, it plays a vital role in helping to preserve sustainable tourism. It’s not just about crowd control; rather, it involves enhancements to local infrastructure: to guarantee that regionally focused tourism continues to serve the region without at the same time destroying the very landscapes that are the attraction of the travelers in the first place.

Even though Greek Islands tourism is booming, this fee will be just one of the ways in which Greece may take the necessary steps to protect its heritage and environment for generations to come. We want to develop a more sustainable tourism model that benefits the visitors and local communities.

Plan Your Sustainable Getaway

But with Mykonos and Santorini at the top of your travel wish list, you’ll want to stay in the know of the new sustainable tourism fee. It’s a small price to pay for the long-term health of these stunning islands so that they remain open and beautiful for years to come. Reserve your cruise today and experience the magic of Greek islands without the side-effects of mass tourism.

Source: www.euronews.com