Ferryhopper reveals the Mediterranean destinations gaining ground in summer 2026

Ferryhopper reveals the Mediterranean destinations gaining ground in summer 2026

• Ferry bookings from selected Central and Western European markets increased by almost 36% year-on-year.
• British travelers turned decisively to Italy’s Naples–Amalfi Coast, with Sorrento rising to first place.
• Paros remained the leading choice for US, Australian and Central and Western European travelers.
• Croatia strengthened its appeal among US travelers, led by Dubrovnik, Split and Hvar.

Athens, Greece - Summer 2026 revealed a Mediterranean ferry travel landscape shaped by both enduring favorites and increasingly distinct preferences across traveler markets. Booking data from Ferryhopper shows that while destinations such as Paros, Capri, Sorrento, Split and Hvar continued to attract strong international interest, travelers from the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and continental Europe followed noticeably different patterns.

Overall summer bookings made by US travelers increased by almost 12% compared with 2025, while bookings from the United Kingdom rose by more than 25%.

The strongest momentum came from selected Central and Western European markets France, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Austria and Belgium, where bookings increased by almost 36% year-on-year.

European travelers broaden their Mediterranean horizons

Travelers from the selected Central and Western European markets recorded the strongest overall growth among the groups analyzed.

Greece remained their leading ferry destination country, with bookings increasing by approximately 30%, while Italy grew by 57%. Croatia also recorded growth of around 31%, and Spain saw an increase of almost 75%, although from a smaller base.

The Cyclades remained at the heart of European ferry travel. Paros ranked first, followed by Naxos, which moved into second place after bookings increased by almost 53%. Mykonos rose to third position, supported by growth of 38%, while Milos and Sifnos also recorded strong gains of approximately 41% and 35%, respectively.

Italy’s coastal destinations also advanced significantly. Positano increased by approximately 50%, Amalfi by 49% and Sorrento by almost 45%. Together, these results point to growing interest in combining iconic Greek islands with Italian coastal destinations during Mediterranean trips.

UK travelers turn to the Amalfi Coast decisively

British travelers displayed one of the clearest shifts of summer 2026. Italy was the strongest-growing major destination country for this market, with Ferryhopper bookings increasing by more than 42%.

Sorrento rose from third to first place among British travelers, recording growth of almost 44%. Positano moved from tenth to seventh place, with bookings up by approximately 40%, while Amalfi also increased by around 40%.

Ischia and the smaller destinations along the wider Amalfi Coast recorded even faster percentage growth, although from lower booking volumes.

Croatia remained central to the British summer travel mix. Split ranked second and Hvar third, with bookings increasing by approximately 18% and 11%, respectively. Dubrovnik also advanced by almost 33%.

In Greece, Paros and Naxos strengthened their position, while Paxi entered the Top 15 following growth of approximately 45%. Santorini remained broadly stable but fell three positions in the ranking as other destinations grew more quickly.

US travelers combine Greek favorites with Italy and Croatia

US bookings increased by almost 12% compared with summer 2025, with Greece, Italy and Croatia continuing to dominate traveler preferences.

Paros retained first place, growing by approximately 18%. Mykonos and Santorini remained among the leading destinations, although both were broadly stable compared with the previous summer. Naxos, by contrast, increased by almost 17%, while Milos grew by 16%.

Italy remained highly prominent in the US market. Positano rose to second place, while Sorrento moved into third after recording growth of almost 22%. Amalfi also increased by approximately 15%, while Ischia grew by almost 26%.

Croatia recorded some of the strongest gains among established US destinations. Dubrovnik increased by approximately 28%, Split by 22% and Hvar by 19%, reinforcing the country’s position alongside the traditional Greek and Italian favorites.

Australia remains loyal to the Cyclades

Australian ferry bookings remained broadly stable overall, but the Cyclades continued to dominate destination preferences.

Paros retained first place after growing by approximately 9%, while Milos remained second with growth of around 6%. Naxos climbed from sixth to third position, also increasing by approximately 9%.

Sifnos stood out as the fastest-growing established destination among Australian travelers, with bookings up by more than 55%. This increase brought the island into the Australian Top 15 for the first time.

Other traditional Cycladic favorites recorded a soft summer. Bookings for Ios declined by approximately 9%, while Mykonos and Santorini decreased by around 12% and 11%, respectively.

Outside Greece, Sorrento and Positano recorded modest growth, while demand for Croatia’s Hvar and Split eased slightly compared with 2025.

Different markets, different Mediterranean maps

Ferryhopper’s summer data shows that international ferry travel cannot be reduced to one common Mediterranean trend.

British travelers increasingly favored Sorrento and the wider Amalfi Coast. US travelers continued to combine the Cyclades and Italy with a strengthening Croatian itinerary. Travelers from Central and Western Europe recorded broad-based growth across Greece, Italy, Croatia and Spain, while Australians remained closely connected to the Cyclades, with Sifnos emerging as a notable riser.

Across markets, Paros remained one of the Mediterranean’s most consistently popular ferry destinations. At the same time, the rise of Naxos, Sorrento, Positano, Dubrovnik and Sifnos illustrates how established favorites and smaller alternatives are developing side by side.

The findings underline the growing role of ferry connectivity in enabling travelers to build more varied Mediterranean journeys, combining islands, coastal cities and multiple countries within a single trip.