Rising jet fuel prices are reshaping how Europeans plan their summer holidays, with a clear shift toward shorter journeys and domestic getaways. New data from Airbnb, based on bookings made between January and March 2025 for travel from June to September 2026, reveals that 25% of travellers in France, Germany, Sweden, Portugal, and the Netherlands are opting for staycations this year.
The trend is particularly pronounced in Sweden, where the median booking distance has fallen by 26% since 2023, now sitting under 500 kilometres. Across the continent, travellers are also pooling resources: bookings for groups of four or more have increased in Portugal, Spain, and Sweden, suggesting a cost-sharing approach to holiday expenses.
Rural and Coastal Retreats Gain Ground
Accommodation in the countryside, along coastlines, and in mountain areas is increasingly popular. In Germany and France, more than half of all summer bookings are now for rural settings, a shift from the traditional city-break model. This aligns with broader European travel patterns highlighted in our recent piece on eight European destinations to beat the summer crowds.
Airbnb’s data also points to specific emerging hotspots. In Italy, the Trentino-South Tyrol region—famous for the Dolomites and its network of hiking trails and alpine lakes—is drawing increased interest from European travellers. British tourists, meanwhile, are showing a particular fondness for the Veneto Mountains.
France’s Normandy region is seeing a surge in bookings from British and Dutch visitors, especially for rural stays. The area boasts seven of France’s most beautiful villages, including Beuvron-en-Auge, Blangy-le-Château, and Veules-les-Roses, offering a mix of heritage and countryside charm.
German travellers are heading to rural Sweden, with destinations like Växjö, Kalmar, Kristianstad, and Jönköping all reporting increased demand. The coastal city of Vlorë in Albania has nearly doubled in popularity since 2023, reflecting a broader appetite for less-crowded, affordable alternatives along the Adriatic.
These shifts come as European policymakers debate the impact of short-term rentals on local housing markets. The EU’s proposed short-term rental rules aim to strike a balance between tourism revenue and housing affordability, a tension that will only intensify as more travellers choose domestic and rural stays.
For those planning a summer trip, the data suggests that booking early for rural or coastal properties is wise, as demand is outpacing supply in many regions. With airfares on key European routes dropping despite fuel cost pressures—as we reported in our analysis of summer airfares—the short-haul trend may also benefit from more affordable flight options to nearby destinations.
Ultimately, the 2026 summer season looks set to be defined by proximity, nature, and shared experiences. Whether it’s the Dolomites, the Swedish countryside, or the Albanian coast, Europeans are rethinking what a holiday means—and how far they need to go to find it.
