As of July 2025, over one million Turkish citizens have visited the Greek islands using the “visa on arrival” system[^1]. These travelers, who pay departure taxes, obtain foreign currency, and typically plan short holidays lasting three to seven days, are increasingly drawn to the Greek islands for their charm, affordability, and accessibility.
The visa-on-arrival is only valid for a single designated island, meaning island-hopping is not permitted under this program[^2]. So what exactly is it that these islands offer, which Turkish coastal destinations seemingly do not?
To begin with, there is a wide range of reasonably priced, clean, and efficiently run guesthouses and hotels. When lounging on the beach, tourists aren’t immediately approached by staff demanding payment for sunbeds. Beaches are public and freely accessible, giving visitors the liberty to say, “The waves are rough here, let’s go to another beach,” without being charged again.
Instead of the over-familiar and often limited offerings of Turkish kebabs and lahmacun, Greek cuisine presents a refreshing alternative: tables adorned with meticulously prepared seafood meze, grilled or steamed fresh fish, and the country’s signature anise-flavored aperitif—ouzo. The overall bill is usually very reasonable. Service staff are known for their courtesy and professionalism—rudeness or aggressive behavior is virtually unheard of. In many places, communication in Turkish is also possible[^3].
A unique historical context adds to the islands’ character. The Dodecanese islands, for example, were under Italian occupation from 1912 to 1945[^4]. During this period, the Italians built administrative centers, schools, hospitals, and stone houses that remain standing today. These structures provide natural insulation from the heat, unlike modern reinforced concrete buildings that absorb and trap it. There are no high-rise apartment blocks or sprawling residential complexes creeping up into the hills. Construction is tightly regulated—there is no equivalent of Turkey’s “zoning amnesties” or unplanned urban sprawl. The islands remain verdant and serene. Public transportation is reliable, making it easy to reach remote coves and beaches.
Interestingly, during the Italian occupation, these islands were designated as “hardship zones,” which exempted their residents from compulsory military service. For over 30 years, Turkish and Greek islanders lived peacefully side by side under Italian rule[^5].
In 1945, following the end of World War II, the Italians withdrew, and the islands were ceded to Greece as part of war reparations[^6]. Had they been annexed by Turkey instead, it’s likely they would have suffered from the same haphazard urban development that characterizes much of the Turkish Aegean coast today.
For travelers with a valid Schengen visa, it is also possible to cross into mainland Greece through the İpsala border gate and continue onward to Thasos Island, Thessaloniki, Athens, or even the Peloponnese peninsula. From Patras, a major port city on Greece’s western coast, ferries run regularly to Bari, Ancona, and Venice in Italy[^7].
In short, the Greek islands continue to attract Turkish visitors with their rich historical legacy, natural beauty, and human-scale, harmonious lifestyle.
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Footnotes:
[^1]: Hürriyet Daily News, “Over 1 Million Turkish Tourists Visit Greek Islands in 2025,” July 2025.
[^2]: Greek Ministry of Tourism, “Visa-on-Arrival Rules for Turkish Citizens,” 2025 update.
[^3]: Local hospitality workers in popular islands such as Kos, Rhodes, and Lesbos often speak basic Turkish due to frequent interaction with Turkish tourists.
[^4]: The Dodecanese islands were occupied by Italy following the Italo-Turkish War (1911–1912) and formally annexed in 1923 under the Treaty of Lausanne.
[^5]: Oral histories and regional studies confirm a relatively peaceful coexistence under Italian administration.
[^6]: Treaty of Peace with Italy (Paris, 1947), which formally transferred the Dodecanese from Italy to Greece.
[^7]: Greek ferry operators such as Superfast and Minoan Lines operate international routes from Patras to multiple Italian ports.