- Wellness and sports trips are the new rising trend among Greek travellers
- Hiking is the number one choice, with cycling, skiing, and climbing rounding out the top motivations
- Greeks set clear spending limits for these trips, favouring affordability over extravagance
- Exclusive offers and interest-free instalment options are high priorities for making travel feasible
- Physical and mental health benefits top the list for travel motivation, especially reducing stress and improving overall well-being
Some buy scented candles, others book plane tickets in search of wellness and sports. In modern Greece, the urge to connect with nature, throw a yoga mat in a backpack, and inform friends about their “transformative spa journey” isn’t a passing trend. It’s the unofficial national sport.
Seven out of ten Greeks say they’ll likely choose to travel with an athletic or wellness theme over the next year. Only a few years ago, these same people would have scoffed at “wellness tourism” as a marketing stunt for upscale hotels and influencers who wake up at sunrise (for the photo opportunity, not the fresh air). Now, it turns out, Greeks crave a mental reset and a chance to break a sweat somewhere that isn’t their living room.
The Klarna survey, conducted with Appinio in May 2025, did not ask respondents if they own more hiking boots or actual hiking memories. Still, nearly 1,000 Greek consumers shared their travel intentions: 67.5% are eyeing sports-focused getaways, while 52.5% plan to travel for downtime, sleep improvement, or some unspecified idea of “renewal.” Because nothing says escape from stress quite like spending hours scrolling for deals that promise inner peace through group Pilates.
Hiking leads the pack, with 41% of respondents selecting it as their most likely reason for taking a sports trip in the next year. The rest seem motivated by peer pressure, Instagram, or perhaps an aversion to having any free weekends. Cycling lags behind at 14.2%, followed by skiing (12.6%) and climbing (11.2%), all activities proving that Greeks will try anything for a glimpse of a mountain view or an excuse to skip family lunches.
When it comes to wellness-centric escapes, the numbers are just as telling. Almost four out of ten Greeks seek travel that lets them bond with nature, while over a quarter look for ways to de-stress (possibly from planning the trip). Surprisingly, 17.6% are focused on trips for mental health, which is a polite way of saying, “If I don’t leave soon, I’ll lose it.”
The Art of Wellness Without Breaking the Bank
Let’s not mistake any of this for extravagance. The average Greek traveller eyes their wallet the way a chaperone watches rowdy teens at prom: with suspicion and a list of rules. Nearly 70% refuse to spend more than €500 on a wellness and sports adventure, whether they plan to hike, chill at a spa, or both. Only the brave (or perhaps the forgetful) are willing to spend over €1,000, a group so small that their travel stories are considered urban legends.
Affordability comes first, with most tourists keen to snatch exclusive discounts on travel and lodging. About 45% crave tailored deals. One-third want savings plans, as if setting aside coins might one day turn into a yoga retreat in Mykonos. Around a fifth hope to pay for tickets in three or four installments but without interest—because who would want to pay interest on relaxation? Flexible payment options, Klarna-style, come third in popularity among these determined, budget-conscious explorers.
Wellness travellers show near-identical preferences. They want special offers, a financial plan, and monthly payments that don’t trigger a call from the bank. It’s wellness, but make it economically plausible.
