Belgium Travel trends for summer 2023

Guests from Belgium are seeking destinations where they can spend time outdoors, with the top five booked¹ categories this summer including Amazing pools, Beach, Countryside, National parks and Farms.

According to searches by Belgian guests in the first quarter of 2023² Belgium’s northern region of Flanders with its rich history and preserved nature are particularly popular as the trending national destinations for this summer reveals:

1. Hasselt, Flanders
2. Liege, Wallonia
3. Blankenberge, Flanders
4. Boom, Flanders
5. Rotselaer, Flanders
6. Ghent, Flanders
7. Antwerp, Flanders
8. Bruges, Flanders
9. Knokke-Heist, Flanders
10. Koksijde, Flanders

When they’re traveling abroad, Belgians are seeking close destinations in Europe and Marrakech in Morocco standing out. Airbnb’s top trending travel spots for 2023 summer international³ travel includes:  

1. Marrakesh, Morocco
2. London, England
3. The Hague, Netherlands
4. Tarragona, Spain
5. Boulogne-sur-Mer, France,
6. Dublin, Ireland
7. Portofino, Italy
8. Gerardmer, France
9. Paris, France,
10. Le Touquet, France

“Our data shows that Belgians holidaymakers are especially exploring the nearest corners of Europe for their 2023 summer escapes, with Flanders proving particularly popular for domestic holidays, while cities and coastal destinations stand out in the trending international list. As Belgians are facing soaring costs for energy and household goods, traveling on a controlled budget is more than ever topical. We  recently launched the « Rooms » category, a revisited approach to the original concept of the platform, by staying with locals which provides an affordable and authentic way to travel this summer.”

Emmanuel Marill, Airbnb EMEA Director

Rooms are often more affordable than hotels, and they’re the most authentic way to experience a city. In 2022, Rooms remain one of the most popular options with travelers, the number of nights spent in private rooms increased by around 40%⁴. 

Indeed, it’s the third most booked category since Airbnb launched Airbnb Categories in May 2022 – with solo travelers and millennials most likely to book private rooms. These represent an affordable solution for solo or duo travelers. Last year, more than 80% of private room stays were priced below $100 a night. More than 47,000 cities worldwide had at least one listing with an average price below $50 last year.

According to a recent global study, more than half of respondents said they saved money on accommodation by staying within a listing on the platform and nearly nine in ten said the price was an important criteria of choice at the time of booking, whether it is an Airbnb listing or another type of accommodation.