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Athens has emerged as one of the most popular international destinations for American travelers over the upcoming U.S. Independence Day holiday. The ranking underscores the Greek capital’s growing momentum within the competitive U.S. tourism market.
According to the latest data from AAA Travel, the full-service travel agency branch of the American Automobile Association, the holiday travel window spans nine days—from Saturday, June 27, through Sunday, July 5—and is projected to set an all-time domestic record. It estimates that 72.2 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles from home, edging past the previous record of 71.8 million set in 2025.
Athens captured the number nine spot on AAA’s top ten international destinations list, alongside major European travel hubs like Rome, Paris, London, Amsterdam, and Barcelona. This strong performance reflects a multi-year trend of high demand from the United States, which continues to be a primary source of inbound tourism spending for Greece.
Globally, Vancouver topped the international list, followed by Rome, Dublin, Paris, and London. Rounding out the top ten alongside Athens were Calgary, Reykjavik, Amsterdam, and Barcelona.
“For many Americans, traveling the week of July 4th is a tradition,” said Stacey Barber, Vice President of AAA Travel. She noted that the nine-day forecast captures both full-week vacationers and travelers capitalizing on a long holiday weekend.
Related: American Tourists Ditch Single-Stop Getaways for Island Hopping in Greece
