# European Travel Trends: 2026 Booking Data and 2027 Outlook Spanish cities dominated European travel in 2026 as long-haul interest surged globally. - **Source:** [Euronews – Travel](https://www.euronews.com/travel) - **Published:** 2026-11-03 - **Topic:** [culture](https://brifing.si/c/culture) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/c0d3d7ac-b9da-4d73-a413-a20b5445c689 ## Spanish Cities Lead Bookings In 2026, Spanish cities emerged as the most popular holiday destinations for European travellers. Barcelona, Madrid, and Palma de Mallorca consistently ranked among the top booked locations. This trend reflects a strong preference for Mediterranean climates and accessible urban centers, which remained the primary choice for tourists across the continent throughout the year. ## Surge in Long-Haul Travel Travellers showed a growing appetite for far-flung destinations in the Southern Hemisphere during 2026. Durban saw an 80% increase in bookings, followed by Melbourne at 57% and Cape Town at 55%. These locations attracted visitors seeking a combination of vibrant city life, accessible outdoor activities, and stunning coastal beach environments. ## Hotel Booking Preferences Revealed For the first time, data highlighted specific hotel booking patterns, with Barcelona, Madrid, Paris, Rome, and Amsterdam leading globally. Emerging cities also gained significant traction, as travellers sought new cultural experiences. Cagliari, Dublin, and Tirana recorded impressive growth rates of 78%, 76%, and 74% respectively, indicating a shift toward secondary and tertiary travel hubs. ## British Travel Habits Evolve UK travellers demonstrated a strong preference for short breaks lasting one to two days, with 68% of bookings focused on nearby locations. While Barcelona and Paris remained popular, domestic staycations saw significant growth. Manchester bookings rose by 112%, while Belfast experienced a 56% increase, highlighting a clear trend toward local, convenient travel options. ## French and Portuguese Preferences French travellers prioritized Marrakech, Barcelona, and Lisbon for their 2026 trips, while also exploring domestic spots like Nice. Meanwhile, Portuguese tourists favored Paris as their top destination, followed by Barcelona and Madrid. These patterns underscore a continued reliance on major European capitals for both leisure and cultural exploration among neighboring nations. ## Italian and German Market Insights Italian travellers frequently visited Barcelona, Tirana, and Paris during 2026. German tourists also showed a strong affinity for Spain, with Palma de Mallorca and Barcelona securing the top two spots for bookings. Istanbul also performed well, ranking third among German travellers, reflecting a diverse interest in both Mediterranean and transcontinental city breaks. ## Outlook for 2027 Travel Early booking data for 2027 suggests that Paris, London, Tokyo, New York City, and Bangkok will remain top priorities for global travellers. Search trends for 2027 also include Orlando and Cancun, indicating that the strong appetite for international travel observed in 2026 is expected to continue throughout the upcoming year across various markets. ## Drivers of Modern Tourism Cultural immersion, culinary experiences, and adventure remain the primary motivators for travellers booking trips. As the industry looks toward 2027, the balance between perennial favorites and emerging secondary cities will likely define the market. CEO Dana Dunne noted that early signs point toward another significant year for the global travel sector overall. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.euronews.com/2026/11/03/top-destinations-and-most-bookings-where-did-europeans-travel-to-in-2026 — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._