European travel destinations in 2026 were led by Spanish cities, with Barcelona, Madrid and Palma de Mallorca attracting some of the highest numbers of bookings, according to new data from online travel agency eDreams ODIGEO.
The company’s “Year in Travel 2026” report examined search and booking activity across Germany, France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, the United Kingdom and the United States to identify where travellers went during the year and which destinations are attracting interest for 2027.
Barcelona ranked first among the world’s most-booked destinations, followed by Madrid, Paris, Palma de Mallorca and London. The results point to the continued popularity of European city breaks, particularly in Spain, where major cities and island destinations featured prominently in international travel bookings.
Search activity, however, revealed a slightly different picture. Paris, London, Tokyo, New York City and Bangkok were the five most-searched destinations in 2026. This suggests that travellers were considering a wider range of international holidays, including major Asian and North American cities, even as European destinations dominated actual bookings.
Some destinations outside Europe also recorded considerable growth. Durban in South Africa experienced an 80 per cent increase, making it the fastest-growing destination in the report’s list of five leading growth destinations. Melbourne followed with 57 per cent, Cape Town with 55 per cent, Johannesburg with 50 per cent and Sydney with 48 per cent.
According to eDreams ODIGEO, the figures reflect growing interest in Southern Hemisphere destinations, where visitors can combine urban experiences with beaches and outdoor activities. The strong performance of Durban, Cape Town and Johannesburg also highlights the increasing appeal of South Africa among international travellers.
The report also offers an early indication of where people intend to travel in 2027. Paris, London, Tokyo, New York City and Bangkok are among the leading destinations for future bookings, while Tokyo, London, Paris, Orlando and Cancun rank among the most-searched locations for next year’s travel.
“People’s appetite for travel is as strong as ever, and we expect 2027 to be another big year based on the early signs,” said Dana Dunne, chief executive officer of eDreams ODIGEO.
For the first time, the company’s annual research also included hotel booking data, providing a closer look at where European travellers are choosing to stay rather than simply where they are booking flights or holidays.
Barcelona, Madrid, Paris, Rome and Amsterdam were the five most popular destinations globally for hotel bookings in 2026, according to the report. However, some smaller European cities also recorded notable growth. Cagliari in Italy saw hotel booking growth of 78 per cent, followed by Dublin in Ireland at 76 per cent and Tirana in Albania at 74 per cent.
eDreams said travellers were increasingly combining familiar European destinations with visits to smaller cities that offer different cultural experiences. The findings suggest that interest in European travel extends beyond the continent’s most established tourist centres.
Travellers from the United Kingdom showed a particular preference for short breaks, with 68 per cent choosing trips lasting one or two days. Barcelona, Amsterdam and Paris were among their preferred hotel destinations. Domestic travel also remained important, with Manchester recording 112 per cent growth and Belfast 56 per cent among the UK’s fastest-growing hotel destinations.
Other cities maintaining strong appeal among international travellers included Rome, Barcelona, Paris, London, Madrid, Bangkok, Rio de Janeiro, Amsterdam and Seville. The report identified cultural experiences, food and adventure as important reasons behind travel bookings.
National booking patterns also revealed differences in how Europeans chose their holidays in 2026. For French travellers, Marrakech in Morocco was the most-booked destination, followed by Barcelona and Lisbon. Porto, Palma de Mallorca, Djerba in Tunisia, Madrid, Rome, Istanbul and Nice completed the top 10. The results show a strong preference for destinations across southern Europe and North Africa, alongside popular European city breaks.
Spanish travellers showed an even stronger preference for domestic holidays. Seven of their ten most-booked destinations were within Spain, including Madrid, Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, Tenerife, Malaga, Seville and Gran Canaria. Paris, Rome and London were the leading international choices on the list, indicating that trips within Spain remained particularly popular among residents.
Among Portuguese travellers, Paris took first place, followed by Barcelona and Madrid. Rome was fourth, while Funchal and Ponta Delgada, both in Portugal, also featured in the top 10. London, Amsterdam, Geneva and Zurich completed the list.
Italian travellers placed Barcelona at the top of their bookings, with Tirana in Albania and Paris taking second and third place. Other popular destinations included Catania, Madrid, Olbia, Amsterdam, Milan, London and Ibiza.
The early booking figures for 2027 suggest that Italian travellers will continue choosing major European cities. Paris, Madrid, London and Barcelona lead the list, while Sharm El-Sheikh in Egypt, Amsterdam, New York City, Budapest, Rome and Valencia are also attracting bookings.
German travellers also showed a strong preference for Spain. Palma de Mallorca ranked first, followed by Barcelona, while Madrid occupied fourth place. Istanbul was third, with London, Vienna, Paris, Lisbon, Athens and Tirana completing the top 10.
Looking ahead to 2027, German travellers appear to be showing greater interest in long-haul destinations, with Bangkok taking the top position in the early booking rankings. Palma de Mallorca, London, Barcelona and Gran Canaria also feature prominently, alongside Rome, Vienna, Tenerife, Athens and Lisbon.
Taken together, the figures show that European travellers continued to favour familiar holiday destinations in 2026, particularly Spanish cities and Mediterranean islands. At the same time, the growth recorded by destinations in South Africa, Australia and other parts of the world suggests that demand is not limited to traditional European holiday routes.
The 2027 search and booking figures provide an early indication of travel interests, although they do not establish how the final rankings will look once the year is complete.
