Norwegians’ First Summer Holiday Destination Choice

Greece is Norwegians’ first choice when going on a summer holiday, according to charter company Apollo. “Greece sells by far the most in the summer,” says press officer Linn Granvold in NTB. Greece is the Norwegians’ first summer holiday destination choice.

Greece is a well-known and beloved travel destination that is often chosen every year. The country has good temperatures, a mix of sun, beach, local food, and reasonable prices. Eighty percent of the approximately 200,000 boarders who traveled with Apollo this summer traveled to Greece.

While Crete, Rhodes, and Epirus are the favorites of Norwegians in Greece, something else is now capturing Norwegians’ interest. There is a growing trend that Norwegians want to go to places that are less affected by tourists.

Linn Granvold is not sure why this trend is happening. “We are seeing a phenomenon in social media called “destination dupes”. In short, the trend is a hunt for genuine and local travel areas without completely emptying the wallet. We think the phenomenon is magnificent because it contributes positively to the local population. And it is cheaper to vacation on such trips.

At the same time, Apollo sees another trend. Norwegians and extended families like to travel to the same places and hotels as they did the year before.

This is one of the reasons why Daily Scandinavian, in collaboration with our travel partner TAKs verden, is heading towards Drama (Δράμα), located in northeastern Greece near the border with Bulgaria, a place rich in natural beauty, cultural heritage, and historical depth.

I discovered Drama as a travel destination through my good friend and co-editor of our new debate section, Raymond Sebergsen. His great passion is paragliding, and 13 years ago, he discovered Drama for the first time. The city has perhaps the best conditions in the world for paragliders, both in terms of geography and flight conditions.

However, over the years, he found that this city with its 40,000 inhabitants has so much more to offer than paragliding: The food, the nature, the culture, the sights, and not least the genuine people who live there.

In summertime, you can fly directly with Norwegian Air Shuttle to Thessaloniki. From there, it is just under two hours to Drama by car. The rest of the year, you can easily get there with a stopover by plane. Drama has something to offer all year round.

From early December to early January, the city transforms into a Christmas village with lights, wooden stalls, activities for children, and festive music. It’s especially magical at night and draws visitors from all over northern Greece. Drama is turned into a festive wonderland called “Oneiroupoli“ (“Dream City”).

We will for sure tell you more about Drama in future reviews.

Norwegians’ First Summer Holiday Destination Choice, written by Tor Kjolberg
All images © Tor Kjolberg/Daily Scandinavian