‘The Odyssey’ Sparks a Tourism Surge for Greece, Puts Ithaca on the Map

Christopher Nolan’s blockbuster “The Odyssey” is fueling a wave of interest in Greece, blending literary tourism with set-jetting as fans chase the footsteps of Homer’s hero. The film opened to $264.1 million globally, including $124.5 million in the US, and tour operators are already capitalizing on the momentum.

Tour operator ‘Unforgettable Greece’ reports bookings up 76% year-over-year and has launched 22 new itineraries, including a 15-day Odysseus-inspired route running from Athens through Corfu to Ithaca.

Other operators including Audley Travel, Goway, EF Go Ahead Tours and Timothy’s Family have rolled out similar mythology-themed trips spanning the Peloponnese, Mycenae, Lefkada and the Ionian Islands.

While islands like Santorini and Mykonos have spent the year capping cruise arrivals to manage overtourism, Ithaca, the legendary homeland of Odysseus, is hoping for the opposite problem. The small, relatively untouched Ionian island wasn’t used as a filming location, but local officials say the film’s global publicity has been “tremendous.

” Ithaca’s mayor expects the real tourism impact to show up in the 2027 season, as international audiences continue discovering the film and start planning trips.