Short-haul, domestic stays lead European summer travel
Key Takeaways
- Short-haul, domestic holidays are driving European summer travel in 2026, with domestic bookings growing faster than international in most key markets
- More than half of summer bookings in Germany and France are to rural destinations, as travellers seek out countryside, coastal and mountain escapes
- Group and family travel is surging across Europe as travellers share costs across larger homes
Key Takeaways
- Short-haul, domestic holidays are driving European summer travel in 2026, with domestic bookings growing faster than international in most key markets
- More than half of summer bookings in Germany and France are to rural destinations, as travellers seek out countryside, coastal and mountain escapes
- Group and family travel is surging across Europe as travellers share costs across larger homes
European summer holidays in 2026 are being shaped by a clear shift: closer to home, deeper into the countryside, and shared with more people. Across key European markets, domestic travel is growing faster than international, travellers are booking shorter distances than in previous years, and families and groups are increasingly turning to Airbnb to stretch their summer budgets further.
Domestic bookings outpacing international travel
Domestic trips are growing ahead of international travel in most European markets, especially France, Germany, Sweden, Portugal and The Netherlands, where 25% of guests have chosen to travel in their own country this summer.
Across Europe, the median distance of a summer booking is flat or falling compared to previous years. Sweden shows the strongest shift: the median booking distance has dropped 26% since 2023 and is now well under 500km. France, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Germany are all moving in the same direction.
Affordable group stays on the rise
More travellers are choosing to split the cost of travel across a larger group. Bookings of four people or more are up across Europe, with Portugal, Spain and Sweden leading this trend.
Family bookings are also up, with Portugal again at the front, followed by the Netherlands and Germany.
Rural and nature-based stays increasingly popular
Rural accommodation is a natural fit for group travel. Rural stays attract 49% larger travel groups than city stays,1 making whole-home Airbnb listings a practical and affordable choice for families and friends travelling together.
The shift to shorter distances is also helping open up this rural travel boom, as more Europeans are discovering non urban areas often unserved by hotels. More than half of all summer bookings in Germany and France are to rural destinations. The French countryside is the single largest rural category in any European market, whilst rural coastal and rural mountain bookings are also growing fast.
Airbnb is uniquely placed to serve travellers seeking affordable rural stays. In France, Airbnb listings span more than 26,000 villages and towns,2 while 82% of chain hotel rooms are concentrated in cities.3 Visitor spending flows directly into local communities, with 96% of European travellers prioritising purchases from local shops when they travel rurally.4
Trending destinations in Europe
- Trentino-South Tyrol is trending amongst European travellers, with strong booking growth. The Veneto Mountains are also surging, particularly among British travellers.
- Normandy, France is emerging as a go-to short-haul rural escape, especially for British and Dutch travellers.
- Rural Sweden is increasingly popular with German travellers, with Växjö, Kalmar, Kristianstad and Jönköping all among the top emerging rural destinations.
- Vlorë, Albania has almost doubled in popularity over the past three years, as it emerges as an affordable coastal destination.
- Norway’s southern coast is another example of a trending short-haul stay centred on nature.
- Madeira is attracting growing interest from both Dutch and British travellers.