Europeans booked their holidays closer to home in 2026, with Spanish cities leading the charge. New data from online travel agency eDreams ODIGEO, which analysed search and booking behaviour across Germany, France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, the UK and the USA, puts Barcelona, Madrid, Paris, Palma de Mallorca and London as the five most-booked destinations worldwide for the year.

The more interesting numbers sit in the growth rankings, though. The fastest-rising destinations were all far-flung Southern Hemisphere cities: Durban in South Africa led with 80% growth, followed by Melbourne (57%), Cape Town (55%), Johannesburg (50%) and Sydney (48%). The report credits this to the appeal of places combining city life, beaches and outdoor activities — a shift worth watching if you like being ahead of the crowd.

Hotel booking data, included for the first time this year, tells a similar story of familiar favourites plus emerging second cities. Barcelona, Madrid, Paris, Rome and Amsterdam topped the global hotel list, but Cagliari in Sardinia (78% growth), Dublin (76%) and Tirana (74%) all posted big gains. Tirana also cracked the top three for Italian travellers and the top ten for Germans — the Albanian capital is clearly having a moment.

National quirks are everywhere in the data. French travellers headed first to Marrakech, with Barcelona and Lisbon rounding out their podium, plus the Tunisian island of Djerba further down the list. Spanish travellers stayed put: seven of their top ten destinations were domestic, including Madrid, Tenerife, Malaga and Gran Canaria. Portuguese travellers favoured Paris, Barcelona and Madrid, with Swiss cities Geneva and Zurich making their top ten. Italians chose Barcelona, Tirana and Paris, with domestic picks Catania, Olbia and Milan also popular. Germans put Palma de Mallorca and Barcelona first and second, with Istanbul third.

British travellers stand out for short-haul habits. Two-thirds (68%) opted for quick one-to-two-day breaks to nearby cities, with Barcelona, Amsterdam and Paris the top hotel picks. But the staycation is strong too — Manchester saw hotel bookings jump 112%, with Belfast up 56%.

Early 2027 bookings suggest the momentum isn't slowing. Tokyo, London, Paris, Orlando and Cancun lead searches for next year, and CEO Dana Dunne expects 2027 to be 'another big year' based on early signs. Italians are already booking Sharm el-Sheikh, Budapest and Valencia alongside the usual city-break staples, while Germans are looking towards Bangkok. Cultural immersion, food and adventure top the list of reasons people give for booking.

If you're planning ahead, the takeaways are practical. Classic European city breaks will stay busy and pricey, so booking early matters. Meanwhile, the growth destinations — Durban, Cape Town, Tirana, Cagliari — offer the chance to visit places while they're still relatively under-the-radar. Currency, exchange rates and flight capacity will likely push more travellers towards these emerging picks through 2027.