Greece unveiled its Special Spatial Framework for Tourism on May 11, the country's most ambitious effort yet to address overtourism. The framework includes a daily cap of 8,000 cruise passengers on Santorini and a 20-euro per-passenger fee for arrivals between April and October.

Santorini received over 1.2 million cruise passengers in 2024, with more than 800 ships calling at the island's cliff-side port. The new cap sits well below peak-day arrivals and is enforced through a slot-allocation system that prioritizes earlier bookings and longer port stays.

Mykonos faces the same cruise cap and per-passenger fee, with Rhodes and several smaller islands expected to follow under separate ministerial orders later in 2026. The framework also adds restrictions on new hotel construction in saturated zones and tightens oversight of short-term rentals.

Major cruise lines are already adjusting itineraries for summer 2026, shifting some Santorini stops to less-visited islands such as Milos or Folegandros, or substituting an extra night in Athens. Specific changes vary by operator and sail date.

For independent travelers, the early indicators are positive. Hotel rates on Santorini are tracking below 2024 levels, queues at Oia for sunset have shortened, and walking the caldera path between Fira and Imerovigli is back to a reasonable pace during late afternoon. Booking ferries from Athens remains the most reliable way to reach the island.