Three in four Europeans, 76%, plan to travel between October 2026 and March 2027, according to the latest “Monitoring Sentiment for Intra-European Travel” report (Wave 26) from the European Travel Commission. That figure is up 3% on the same period last year, and it signals another busy season ahead for the millions of people whose livelihoods depend on tourism, from hotel workers to local businesses across the continent.
The appetite for travel spans generations. Travellers aged 35 to 44 are the most likely to have plans in place, at 79%, while those aged 45 to 54 and those over 55 both stand at 76%. The sharpest rise comes from the youngest group: intentions among 18 to 24 year olds have surged 10% year on year. By country, Poland leads with 87%, a 5% increase, followed by Spain at 82%, with Germany and the Netherlands both at 79%.
Where people intend to go is shifting in ways that matter for communities on the receiving end. Southern Europe remains the dominant choice at 53%, but Western Europe is gaining ground, with interest up 5% to 23%. As winter sets in, city breaks (19%) and culture and heritage trips (18%) rise to the top of travel intentions, while sun and beach holidays hold their appeal for 18% of intended travellers seeking winter sun. December is the most popular month to travel, cited by 23%, largely driven by the Christmas season. During that month, visiting friends and family becomes a far more prominent motivation, at 32% compared with 18% overall. Autumn holidays in October and November are less popular than in 2025, but intentions climb again in the new year, with growing interest in March getaways, up 6%.
For travellers themselves, the practical questions are about money and safety. Safety is the leading criterion when choosing a destination, cited by 20%, ahead of pleasant and stable seasonal weather (15%) and attractive deals (14%). Financial pressures top the list of concerns at 37%, followed by geopolitical instability at 23%. Those worries are visible in the numbers: 49% of travellers are allocating between €1,000 and €2,500 per person, with budgets edging upwards even as trip lengths stay steady, at 43% planning four to six nights and 32% planning seven to twelve. The report suggests slightly higher budgets alongside unchanged trip lengths may reflect an allowance for rising costs rather than longer holidays. Notably, 55% of travellers have yet to book, meaning many plans remain provisional and final spending may stay sensitive to costs.
How people plan their trips is changing too. Most Europeans now use digital tools, including AI platforms, to find information, compare prices and build itineraries. Younger travellers are at the forefront: among those aged 18 to 34, 56% used generative AI or AI trip-planning platforms when preparing their trips, against 40% of the overall sample and just 26% of those over 55. Online search engines (59%) and travel websites (57%) remain the most widely used tools.
The full report, and the context for these findings, is available at https://etc-corporate.org/news/europeans-seek-city-breaks-and-culture-heritage-trips-as-three-in-four-plan-to-travel-this-autumn-and-winter/
Beyond the headline figures, the report points to a notable shift in tastes, one with real implications for how tourist pressure is spread across the continent. While established destinations with well-known attractions still draw 47% of travellers, interest in lesser-known locations is catching up. Some 44% of surveyed Europeans now favour places less popular among tourists, up 4% year on year, and a further 10% prefer remote or off-the-beaten-track destinations. Meanwhile, 56% of those planning to travel intend to take two or more trips by March, with the share planning just one trip down 7%, reinforcing the strength of demand and a positive outlook for winter destinations.
Eduardo Santander, Chief Executive Officer of the European Travel Commission, responded to the findings by linking them to the Commission’s new Sustainable Tourism strategy. Travel, he said, remains at the heart of the European way of life, but traveller behaviour and industry dynamics are constantly shaped by external factors. He called it particularly encouraging that intentions are rising during February and March, typically quieter periods, alongside growing interest in off-the-beaten-track destinations. These two trends combined, he argued, could be leveraged to reduce tourism congestion and create new opportunities for local businesses in established and developing destinations alike. At the same time, he noted, concerns around cost and safety are clearly shaping travellers’ choices, underlining the importance of offering reliable experiences and services for all budgets.
Whether that shift toward quieter months and lesser-known places actually eases the strain on Europe’s most visited towns and cities will be one of the key questions for the season ahead.