Greece is one of the most popular tourist destinations worldwide.  Annually it welcomes more than 14 million tourists, a figure that places it in the 15th position on the World Tourism Organisation list of countries with inbound tourism (according to WTO data). Over the past decades Greece has witnessed the development of modern and multiform large or small-scale tourist infrastructures catering to the demands and accommodation requirements of every visitor.

Today Greece\'s accommodation potential numbers 670,000 beds, distributed over 352,000 rooms in approximately 8,900 hotel units on most of the Greek islands and mainland Greece, visitors can also find accommodation in private houses (rooms to let) which are operating under the special seal of the Greek National Tourism Organisation. Moreover, there are more than 340 campings all over the country, offering 30,000 camping spaces and 2,500 small houses.

Types of accommodation

Most tourist lodging establishments have been recently renovated and upgraded, thus boasting state-of-the-art facilities. These establishments are licensed by the Greek National Tourist Organisation (G.N.T.O.) and fall in the following categories:

• Hotels (ordinary hotels, traditional guesthouses, agrotourist lodgings, etc.).
• Rooms to let
• Apartments to let
• Self-catering units (tourist residences and villas)
• Campsites
• Youth hostels

Classification

Hotels, as well as rooms and apartments to let, are subject to a rating system determined by the Greek National Tourist Organisation. In particular, their classification is based on:

• Class designation (old rating system): Lux, A, B, C, D, E
• Star ratings (new rating system):  5*****, 4****, 3***, 2**,  1*