Despite flight prices being eye-wateringly high, and a single pint in some European cities now requiring a small bank loan, we are all refusing to stay at home. According to the data boffins over at Amadeus Travel Intelligence and UN Tourism, who spent the last year tracking everyone’s flights, hotels and bookings, Europe is still the king of global holiday destinations.
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Their latest Travel Insights report, covering May 2025 to April 2026, shows that the continent welcomed a whopping 130 million international tourists in the first three months of 2026 alone. That is a four percent bump compared to last year. So, if you thought your favourite Euro-trip spot felt a little more packed than usual recently, you weren’t imagining it.
The reigning champion? Still Spain
The report crowns Spain as Europe’s most searched-for and most booked destination. Along with the US and Germany, Spain forms the holy trinity of major travel markets for the big April-to-September holiday rush. And it is about to break a pretty mind-boggling record. Spain’s tourism minister just announced that the country is on track to welcome roughly 100 million international visitors across 2026. To put that into perspective, Spain’s actual population is only about 48 million. So yes, there are literally twice as many tourists turning up for tapas and sunshine this year than people who actually live there.
Czechia is Europe’s fastest-growing tourist destination
But just because Spain is top dog doesn’t mean it’s growing the fastest. That crown actually goes to Czechia, which has seen an 18 percent jump in bookings compared to last year. Iceland is hot on its heels with an 11 percent increase, and Denmark is putting in a seriously strong showing too. Instead of defaulting to Europe’s usual sun and sand destinations, travellers are swapping the loungers for city breaks and nature-packed trips across Northern and Central Europe.
Who’s travelling to Europe right now?
Japanese tourists are flocking to Europe like never before, with a massive 19 percent jump in bookings, outpacing every other market. Travellers from Denmark and Egypt are also booking Euro trips in droves.
And if you thought European cities were currently being overrun by twenty-something backpackers, think again. The biggest spenders right now are the 46-to-65 crowd. They make up nearly a third of all travel demand across the continent, and that number goes completely through the roof in hotspots like London, Paris and Madrid.
The most booked destinations in Europe
- Spain
- Italy
- France
- United Kingdom
- Germany
- Kazakhstan
- Türkiye
- Portugal
- Norway
- Greece
The most searched-for destinations in Europe
- Spain
- United Kingdom
- Italy
- France
- Germany
- Türkiye
- Greece
- Portugal
- Netherlands
- Poland
Fancy exploring Spain? Here’s ‘s essential guide to the country, from its best cities to its most underrated corners.
And if you’ve got a trip booked, here’s the latest advice on Spain’s summer heatwaves and wildfires.
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