How Spain, Italy And France Are Leading The Charge For Off-season Travel Among Europeans, Here’s All You Need To Know

Published on November 6, 2025

Traveling for leisure promoted by friends and family still is nan main motivator for Europeans. People opportunity nan level of encouragement received from family and friends is astatine an all-time high. European families support their superior leisure activities astir travel. This is besides promoted by nan readiness of low-cost recreation and precocious aerial traffic. The closing of nan summertime vacation play successful Europe does not effect nan intent to travel. In truth aerial recreation Europe shows an summation for nan months of autumn October and November for nan past 4th of nan year. Reported findings bespeak October is nan period which brings successful for nan past 4th which is besides nan autumn play arsenic nan astir celebrated period to recreation successful each of Europe.

Off-Season Travel Gains Popularity

According to nan ETC‘s latest findings, 73% of Europeans scheme to recreation betwixt October 2025 and March 2026. This fig has remained accordant from nan erstwhile year, signaling a beardown and resilient desire to travel, moreover arsenic nan seasons change. The summation successful off-season recreation is particularly pronounced successful Southern Europe, pinch nan Mediterranean region seeing a important surge successful interest. In addition, 63% of Europeans are looking beyond their location countries, marking a 3% emergence successful world recreation wrong Europe compared to nan erstwhile year. This displacement points to a increasing inclination of Europeans seeking caller and divers recreation experiences during nan off-season months.

Resilient Travel Budgets: A Strong Focus connected Travel Spending

Despite financial uncertainties and world economical concerns, recreation remains a apical spending privilege for Europeans. The study reveals that 82% of Europeans are maintaining aliases expanding their recreation budgets, acold up of different leisure activities. This indicates that, moreover amidst financial constraints, Europeans are committed to allocating costs for travel, seeing it arsenic an basal portion of their lifestyle. However, for those who are not readying a trip, financial limitations (36%) and a deficiency of clip (27%) stay nan superior barriers.

A Shift Toward Fewer but More Meaningful Trips

One of nan cardinal findings of nan study is nan displacement successful recreation behavior, peculiarly among older Europeans. While wide recreation intentions stay high, nan number of trips planned has decreased. Nearly half of Europeans (45%) scheme to return only 1 vacation successful nan adjacent six months, a seven-point summation from past year. Only 34% expect to recreation twice, and conscionable 16% scheme 3 aliases much trips, marking a six-point drop. This diminution successful travel wave suggests that Europeans are focusing connected less but much meaningful holidays, prioritizing value and acquisition complete quantity.

The information shows that mature travelers, peculiarly those aged 45–54, are nan driving unit down this trend. Older travelers are besides much apt to for illustration a single, well-planned travel compared to younger adults. Among those complete 55, astir half for illustration taking conscionable 1 holiday, a stark opposition to nan astir one-third of younger adults pinch nan aforesaid preference. This displacement reflects a alteration successful mindset, pinch an accent connected memorable, immersive recreation experiences alternatively than nan wave of travel.

The Rise of Immersive, Single-Destination Travel

Another important inclination emerging from nan study is nan expanding penchant for single-destination travel. About 60% of Europeans scheme to enactment successful 1 destination for nan long of their trip, signaling a desire for deeper immersion successful a circumstantial location. This penchant is peculiarly evident among city-break (71%) and sun-and-beach (68%) travelers, who are choosing to settee successful 1 spot alternatively than hopping betwixt regions.

This increasing request for immersive recreation experiences reflects a desire to link much profoundly pinch a destination’s culture, people, and lifestyle. For taste and practice travelers (44%), arsenic good arsenic quality and outdoors enthusiasts (42%), multi-destination trips stay popular, arsenic these types of vacations often require exploring aggregate regions wrong a country. Regardless of nan type of travel, location is simply a clear displacement towards much thoughtful and enriching recreation experiences, encouraging a deeper relationship pinch nan chosen destination.

The Role of Transportation: Air Travel Dominates

When it comes to transportation, aerial recreation remains nan preferred mode of carrier for Europeans. With 57% of Europeans opting for aerial recreation (+4 points from past year), it is by acold nan astir celebrated measurement to scope destinations, peculiarly for world trips. However, car recreation remains a beardown 2nd choice, pinch 25% of Europeans readying to recreation by car, and a mini but increasing number (4%) opting for electrical vehicles. Train travel, while still a cardinal mode of carrier for some, continues to play a secondary domiciled (13%).

The convenience and velocity of aerial recreation are peculiarly important for Europeans readying trips to Southern Europe, wherever destinations for illustration Spain, Italy, and Greece are attracting ample numbers of visitors during nan off-season months. For those looking to research much section aliases location destinations, car recreation offers flexibility, while environmentally conscious travelers are progressively choosing electrical vehicles arsenic a greener option.

Southern Europe Sees Off-Season Travel Surge

Southern Europe has emerged arsenic nan standout destination for off-season travel, pinch 52% of Europeans readying to sojourn nan Mediterranean region betwixt October and March, marking a seven-point summation from past year. Spain has knowledgeable nan sharpest emergence successful popularity, pinch a 12% summation successful travelers heading to nan country, followed by Italy and France, some of which proceed to pull a beardown number of visitors. This emergence successful request for Southern Europe reflects nan entreaty of its mild wintertime weather, beautiful landscapes, and affordability, making it an perfect destination for European travelers looking for warmth and comfortableness during nan colder months.

In contrast, Eastern Europe has seen a driblet successful interest, pinch only 4% of travelers readying to sojourn nan region, a important alteration of six points year-on-year. This displacement suggests a broader accommodation successful recreation behavior, pinch much Europeans opting for destinations that connection some worth for money and pleasant upwind during nan off-season months.

A Balanced Approach: Iconic Destinations vs. Hidden Gems

Travel decisions proceed to beryllium shaped by a assortment of factors. Safety remains nan apical information for 20% of Europeans, while pleasant and unchangeable upwind has gained importance, rising 3 points since past year. In addition, charismatic deals and destinations pinch a little costs of surviving are progressively important, influencing Europeans’ choices connected wherever to travel.

Interestingly, nan study besides reveals a equilibrium betwixt visits to awesome tourer destinations and off-the-beaten-path locations. Half of Europeans intend to sojourn iconic tourer hotspots, while nan different half are seeking retired lesser-known destinations that connection a much authentic, section experience. This inclination highlights a displacement toward a much divers and thoughtful attack to travel, wherever travelers are looking to research some nan well-known attractions and nan hidden gems of Europe.

A Resilient Travel Market pinch Shifting Preferences

The European Travel Commission’s astir caller study sees optimism successful nan region’s tourism industry, reporting beardown recreation intentions on pinch a increasing liking successful off-peak travel. Southern Europe stands to summation nan astir pinch Spain, Italy, and France expecting accrued visitors during nan wintertime months.

As Europeans recreation more, businesses successful nan tourism manufacture will request to understand and incorporated nan caller marketplace demands. With greater liking successful experiential travel, much extended vacation periods, and a little frenetic recreation approach, nan various components of nan manufacture – hotels and airlines successful peculiar – will request to recalibrate their offerings. High-value, elastic recreation packages will beryllium basal to guarantee continued marketplace viability.