The summer of 2025 underscored shifting patterns in Mediterranean ferry travel, where traditional hubs and emerging destinations moved at different paces. The Cyclades, often considered the heart of Greek island tourism, showed modest growth, in contrast to the strong gains in the Saronic Islands. International booking data by Ferryhopper reflects these dynamics, with demand from the US (almost +15%), UK (above +20%), and Europe (above +20%) showing strong year-on-year gains, while Australia held steady with a slight increase.

While Italy remained a top choice for international travelers, Ferryhopper’s data for the 2025 summer season also revealed new trends: Croatia surged ahead in bookings on the platform, Sardinia and Corsica emerged as favorites, whereas Greece displayed a more varied performance, with some islands thriving while others leveled off.

This picture is consistent with Eurostat data, which show a 5.5% growth in international nights spent across EU destinations for Q2 2025, led by Spain, Italy and Greece. At the same time, EUROCONTROL reported that flights over the summer were about 5% higher than in 2024 and close to pre-pandemic levels. These trends confirm strong demand for cross-border travel and set the stage for the ferry market’s growth.

The top Mediterranean ferry destinations of summer 2025

Insights from the Ferryhopper’s booking data point to a mix of familiar favorites and fast-rising alternatives. Italy led the rankings, while Greece and Croatia added depth to the list, with Corfu, Split, Dubrovnik, and Bol drawing strong interest.

A closer look at the ferry ticketing platform’s data reveals that the 2025 top 10 Mediterranean ferry destinations for international tourists are:

1. Capri
2. Positano
3. Amalfi
4. Sorrento
5. Paros
6. Naxos
7. Corfu
8. Split
9. Dubrovnik
10. Bol

While the overall picture is clear, the details tell an even richer story, with international travelers
each carving out their own routes this summer.

US travelers: Italy and Croatia in the spotlight

American travelers continued to embrace ferry travel in the Mediterranean, with bookings in
2025 up by almost 15% year-over-year. Italy remained their top destination, with Capri seeing
the most arrivals from the US, followed by Amalfi and Sorrento, while Naples showed stable
demand.

As for Spain, there was a notable increase of bookings from US travelers for Alcúdia, Mallorca
in the Balearic Islands. Similarly, crossings to North African destinations, such as Tangier
Ville and Tarifa also grew, reflecting a taste for broader destination options.

In Greece, Paros was the big winner and Naxos held its ground, while Mykonos and Santorini
dropped slightly compared to 2024. This trend aligns with previous analyses highlighting the
shifting traveler preferences for these iconic Greek islands.

Yet this growth also reflects a broader shift in the preferences of American travelers. According
to a report by the European Travel Commission, US intent to travel to Europe dipped slightly in
2025 due to rising costs and global tensions, however demand for accessible Mediterranean
destinations held up, where ferry links offer flexibility.

These findings are particularly reflected in Ferryhopper’s booking data, where Croatia stood
out: Split, Dubrovnik, and Bol saw explosive growth, cementing the country as one of the
summer’s hottest emerging markets for US visitors on the platform.

UK travelers: expanding beyond the Cyclades

Bookings from the UK rose more than 20% year-on-year, confirming strong interest in ferry
travel. Italy remained the top draw, with Capri, Positano, and Amalfi leading the way.

In Greece, however, British travelers began to look beyond the traditional Cycladic favorites.
While Paros stayed broadly stable and Naxos dipped slightly, other destinations gained traction:
Paxi, Ios, and Corfu all saw notable increases compared to the previous year.

For UK holidaymakers, the Canary Islands continued to attract steady demand, with Corralejo
in Fuerteventura, La Gomera, and Playa Blanca in Lanzarote being the most popular options. On the other hand, the Balearics (especially Ibiza) saw signs of cooling compared to 2024.

Albania also captured British interest, with a major increase in Sarandë that reflects the growing appeal of short cross-Adriatic routes. At the same time, Croatia continued its upward climb in Ferryhopper’s bookings, with Bol and Split showing particularly strong growth.

The trend towards alternatives was also clear in a market analysis from ITB/ForwardKeys, which noted that flights to Central, Eastern and Southern Europe led capacity growth in 2025, while smaller Mediterranean islands such as Menorca in Spain outperformed their peers, echoing the rising appeal for alternatives among British travelers.

Australian travelers: Big moves in Croatia

For Australians, the story this summer was less about the overall volume and more about where they chose to go. Although Greek and Italian classics such as Capri, Positano, and Sorrento or Mykonos, Milos, and Santorini still rate high among long-haul travelers from Australia, there was a notable surge of interest for more laid-back destinations with less-crowded atmosphere, such as Hydra, Sifnos and Aegina.

As for Spanish island destinations, the Balearics saw a slowdown, which was more noticeable in Ibiza, Mallorca, and Formentera. Tangier in North Africa, however, retained some appeal for long-haul visitors, with a significant rise in bookings.

The biggest gains in Ferryhopper’s data, however, came from Croatia, with Split, Dubrovnik and Bol confirming the country’s rising status with long-haul Australian visitors seeking fresh experiences over the usual Mediterranean classics.

European travelers: to Italy, Greece and beyond

Ferryhopper’s bookings from Central European travelers increased by more than 20% year-on-year. Italy remained dominant, but the most dramatic growth came from Sardinia and Corsica: La Maddalena, Olbia and Bastia all grew substantially, highlighting their rapid ascent as Mediterranean hubs.

In Greece, Corfu and Aegina gained ground, even as well-known islands, such as Paros, Naxos and Santorini, saw a drop in bookings. Albania also performed strongly, with a sharp increase in Sarandë ferry bookings.

For European travelers, Croatia confirmed its growing appeal. Dubrovnik and Bol attracted strong demand, while Split and Korcula also grew steadily, even as bookings to Hvar eased back compared to last summer.

The picture in Spain was a bit more mixed: while there were declines in the Balearics, notably Ibiza and Formentera, a trend echoed by The Guardian, which reported mounting concerns about overtourism. Demand grew for Alcúdia, Barcelona, and the Canary Islands, as reflected in the July 2025 data of the Spanish Statistics Office on international tourist arrivals to Spain. Meanwhile, Tarifa and Tangier underscored the growing pull of North Africa for European holidaymakers.

This uneven picture is reflected in hotel industry data. GTP reported that Greece led Europe in revenue per available room growth in July, while Spain posted a modest gain and Italy fell. At the same time, Forbes noted that overtourism is driving travelers to seek out new places, a trend that underpins the shift towards alternative Mediterranean destinations.

The “new challengers” in ferry travel

Beyond the established Mediterranean icons, summer 2025 marked the rise of new challengers across the Mediterranean. Alongside the timeless appeal of Capri, Positato or Santorini, Ferryhopper’s data also shows growing interest in places like Bol in Croatia, Hydra and Sifnos in Greece, Aegina near Athens, Sardinia and Corsica in Italy, and Sarandë in Albania.

Broader travel patterns confirm this trend. Expedia’s Q3 report noted that last-minute international searches surged by 30%, with a particular rise in Mediterranean routes. This helps explain how these smaller, alternative destinations may not dominate the headlines, but are steadily reshaping the map of Mediterranean tourism.

A more connected Mediterranean

Taken together, the summer’s results show that ferry travel is not only resilient but increasingly central to the way travelers experience the Mediterranean. Italy’s icons remain as popular as ever, but Croatia has continued to strengthen its position on the tourist map, drawing more attention from international travelers. Greece continues to attract, with a broader mix of islands, while Spain showed a contrast between declining Balearics and rising alternatives.

Above all, the patterns underline the vital role of ferries in creating a more connected Mediterranean network, linking cultures, coastlines, and travelers across borders. The rise of both established favorites and new challengers points to a region where choice and connectivity continue to expand, ensuring that ferry travel remains at the heart of Mediterranean tourism’s evolution.