Autumn Travel Trend Forecast: mountains, aurora and one-night trips
Key Takeaways
- Searches for Inverness are up 65% year-on-year, as UK guests swap city breaks for homegrown countryside escapes this autumn
- Searches for Bovec, Slovenia are up 134% year-on-year, as Brits head for the Alps long before ski season begins
- Searches for Tromsdalen, Norway are up over 200% year-on-year, driven by appetite for Northern Lights trips
- Almost a third (31%) of stays among Gen Z travellers across EMEA last only one night – the highest share of any generation
Key Takeaways
- Searches for Inverness are up 65% year-on-year, as UK guests swap city breaks for homegrown countryside escapes this autumn
- Searches for Bovec, Slovenia are up 134% year-on-year, as Brits head for the Alps long before ski season begins
- Searches for Tromsdalen, Norway are up over 200% year-on-year, driven by appetite for Northern Lights trips
- Almost a third (31%) of stays among Gen Z travellers across EMEA last only one night – the highest share of any generation
City breaks may be an autumn classic, but Airbnb data reveals another side to the season: outdoor adventures, off-season mountain retreats, celestial travel and Gen Z-led ‘bite-sized getaways’.
Airbnb’s Autumn Travel Trend Forecast is a quarterly snapshot of the destinations, behaviours and cultural moments shaping how British guests are set to travel in the season ahead.
Postcard-perfect UK countryside spots
Travellers are embracing homegrown countryside escapes, with searches rising for national parks and Britain’s open landscapes, as more guests choose active getaways surrounded by autumn colour.
The top trending rural UK destinations are led by Inverness, Scotland, where searches for autumn 2026 are up 65% year-on-year, followed by Powys, Wales (+44%), the Yorkshire Dales, England (+37%), Northumberland and the Scottish Borders (+30%) and Herefordshire and Mid Wales (+25%).1
The Alps before the snow
This autumn, Brits are heading to picturesque mountain towns and regions in the Alps long before ski season begins – swapping snow boots for walking boots. Think glassy blue lakes, dramatic trails and crisp mountain air.
Searches among UK guests for autumn 2026 are up 134% for Bovec, Slovenia, 104% for Bohinj, Slovenia and 93% for Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy.2 Searches are also rising for smaller villages in the Dolomites, including Ortisei (+159%) and Cortina d’Ampezzo (+131%).3
The autumn aurora escape
After this summer’s solar eclipse gave the nation a reason to look up, the appetite for celestial adventures is extending into autumn, with many turning their gaze north towards destinations offering clear night skies and the possibility of witnessing the Northern Lights.
Searches for Tromsdalen, Norway are up over 200% year-on-year for autumn 2026, with Lofoten, Norway up 69% and Hornafjörður, Iceland up 31%.3
Gen Z lead the ‘bite-sized getaways’ trend
With the autumn calendar packed with cultural events – from Noah Kahan’s tour to the Premier League season – Gen Z are embracing event tourism. Almost a third (31%) of stays among Gen Z travellers across EMEA last only one night, the highest share of any generation.4
Football is a particular draw: according to Airbnb research, 18 to 34 year olds are more than four times more likely to have made a football-based trip in the last five years.5
Breakout destinations for the season
Muskoka’s main-character moment
With the Canadian region of Muskoka providing the backdrop to popular TV series Sterling Point and Heated Rivalry, Canada’s cottage country is ready for its close-up. Searches among UK guests are up 138% for autumn 2026.2
Where to stay:
- Designer Waterfront Retreat, Baysville, Canada
- Cheerful Three-bedroom Cottage, Bala, Canada
- Waterfront Cottage, Torrance, Canada
Greece enters its epic era
No doubt partly ignited by its starring role as the backdrop to Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, Greek fever is extending into autumn, as travellers make the most of shoulder season to explore the country’s quieter corners.
Trending destinations include Sifnos (+88%), Folegandros (+68%), Lefkada (+68%), Amorgos (+58%) and Chalkidiki (+47%).2
Where to stay:
Top trending rural destinations for autumn 2026, among UK guests
| Domestic1 | International2 |
| Inverness | Muskoka, Ontario, Canada |
| Powys | Bovec, Slovenia |
| Yorkshire Dales | Atitlán, Lake Atitlán, Guatemala |
| Northumberland and the Scottish Borders | Veneto Mountains, Veneto, Italy |
| Herefordshire and Mid Wales | Bohinj, Slovenia |
| Wiltshire | Trentino-Alto Adige, Northern Italy |
| Stratford-on-Avon | Mosel, Germany |
| Perth and Kinross | Hotton, Wallonia, Belgium |
| South Northamptonshire | Budva, Montenegro |
| East Lindsey | Sifnos, Cyclades, Greece |
Cultural and seasonal moments to watch
From blockbuster film releases to major live events and seasonal trends, these are the moments set to influence travel behaviour over the coming months.
Spooky season casts its spell early
With Practical Magic 2 bringing the Owens sisters back to cinemas this September, spooky season is starting early – from enchanting cottages and woodland hideaways to historic homes steeped in folklore.
The WSL is back
The WSL season is underway and fans are venturing out to support their teams. Airbnb is the Official Accommodation and Unique Experiences Partner of the WSL.
Wine country is having a vintage year
As vineyards across Europe enter harvest season, searches among UK guests are rising for characterful wine regions: Germany’s Mosel region (+89%), the Lot in France (+42%) and West Styria in Austria (+28%).
Alongside vineyard stays, Airbnb Experiences and Services offer wine-focused ways to explore the season.