New research from the European Travel Commission (ETC) reveals that 76% of Europeans are planning an overnight trip between October 2026 and March 2027 – a 3% increase compared with the same period last year. The findings come from the latest Monitoring Sentiment for Intra-European Travel report, based on a survey of 6,000 respondents across Germany, the United Kingdom, France, the Netherlands, Italy, Belgium, Switzerland, Spain, Poland, and Austria.
Travel intentions are expected to peak around Christmas, with 23% of respondents planning a trip during the festive period. Visiting friends and family is a particularly strong motivation for December travel, cited by 34% of those planning a trip that month, compared with just 10% across other months. After a quieter January, travel is projected to pick up again in February and March, with 29% of respondents planning trips during those months.
Eduardo Santander, Chief Executive Officer of the ETC, welcomed the trend: “It is particularly encouraging to see an increase in intention during February and March, typically quieter periods of the year, as well as a growing interest in off-the-beaten-track destinations. These two trends combined could be leveraged to reduce tourism congestion and create new opportunities for local businesses in established and developing destinations alike.”
Where are Europeans heading?
France, Spain, Italy, Germany, and the UK remain the top destinations, with 64% of respondents favouring intra-European travel. Southern Europe and the Mediterranean continue to attract the largest share, with 53% intending to visit the region. Western Europe is also gaining ground, up 5% year-on-year to 23%, particularly for sun-and-beach holidays, cultural heritage, and city breaks.
Interest in lesser-known destinations is on the rise: 54% of respondents said they are attracted to remote or off-the-beaten-track spots. The Netherlands, Switzerland, Poland, Belgium, and Austria top that list. Among the 4,555 respondents likely to travel in the next six months, Poland, Spain, the Netherlands, and Germany emerged as the most popular choices.
Single-destination stays remain the preferred format, chosen by 60% of travellers, especially for sun-and-beach (69%), skiing (67%), and city breaks (66%). However, 36% plan to visit multiple cities within one country, and 4% intend to cross borders during their trip.
Motivations and concerns
Leisure is the leading motivation, cited by 71% of travellers, with Italy, Belgium, and the Netherlands ranking as top destinations for such getaways. City breaks are particularly popular in October and November (23%), while culture and heritage trips peak from February to March. In both cases, travellers typically budget between €501 and €1,000 for a four-to-six-night stay.
Despite strong intentions, financial pressures (37%) and geopolitical instability (23%) remain the top concerns. Extreme weather (10%) and overcrowding (9%) also feature. Safety is the most important factor when choosing a destination (20%), with Polish (45%), British, and Spanish (both 43%) respondents most likely to avoid direct safety risks. Pleasant weather (15%) and attractive prices (14%) are also key considerations.
Europeans are also booking earlier: 38% have already partially or fully arranged accommodation or transport for their next trip, up 5% from last year. Over the next six months, 56% plan to take two or more trips within Europe, while the share planning just one trip has fallen from 45% in 2025 to 38% in 2026. Stays of four to six nights remain the norm (43%), with longer stays of seven to 12 nights rising slightly to 32%.
The survey also highlights a growing appetite for off-season travel, which could help ease pressure on Europe's most visited cities. As the continent faces challenges such as winter energy concerns, the tourism sector's resilience offers a counterpoint. For those planning a winter break, outdoor ice rinks remain a seasonal draw.
Country-specific preferences show clear patterns: Austrians favour Germany (16%) and Italy (14%); Belgians head to France (20%) and Spain (11%); Britons choose Spain (12%) and France (11%); the Dutch prefer Spain (16%) and Germany (14%); French travellers pick Italy (15%) and Spain (11%); Germans opt for Austria (11%) and Spain (10%); Italians favour France (14%) and Spain (12%); Poles choose Italy (13%) and Germany (9%); and Spaniards head to France (17%) and Italy (13%).
