Popular travel destinations: Greek islands and mountains dominate in 2023!

Popular travel destinations: Greek islands and mountains dominate in 2023!

Current data from the Federal Statistical Office show that the most popular travel destinations in Europe in 2023 are primarily characterized by islands and mountains. This information source points out that the Greek islands in the southern Aegean, such as Santorini, Mykonos and Rhodes, are at the top with 117 tourist overnight stays per inhabitant. The Ionian islands around Corfu are also very popular and record 98 overnight stays per resident.

The trend towards mountain regions is also reflected in the numbers: South Tyrol has a remarkable rate of 68 overnight stays per inhabitant. The Croatian Adriatic coast and the Balearic Islands of Spain follow with 67 and 57 overnight stays per resident. However, a dark shadow lies over the Balearic Islands, where protests against high rents and the cost of living are increasing in Mallorca.

Tourism intensity in Germany

In Germany, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania is at the top in terms of tourism intensity with over 18 overnight stays per inhabitant and ranks 17th out of 237 EU regions. Upper Bavaria, including Munich, was the most visited German destination with an impressive 41.6 million overnight stays.

In another but similarly popular segment, the Canary Islands are the most popular holiday destination in Europe with a total of 95.6 million overnight stays in 2023. Here Tenerife and other Canary Islands have a population of 43 overnight stays per capita, which puts them in 10th place in tourism intensity.

Popular city break destinations

In addition to the popularity of islands and mountain regions, city trips in Europe are very popular. According to the results of the Tripadvisor ranking, Lisbon takes first place among holiday destinations in 2021 with 109,902 votes, while Rome takes third place with 78,124 votes. Cities like Budapest are often overlooked, but they are popular and heavily visited by tourists.

The list of enchanting places in Europe is supplemented by numerous famous attractions such as the Eiffel Tower, Buckingham Palace, the Colosseum and the Brandenburg Gate. The diversity of cultural experiences, architecture and regional cuisine offer city trips a special attraction.

An interesting detail is that the largest island in the Mediterranean, Sicily, is represented in the top 25 of the Tripadvisor ranking for the first time. Other popular travel destinations include Valencia, Ibiza, Prague and Saint Petersburg. The Golden Sands in Bulgaria, on the other hand, attracts many young travelers with its exciting party life.

For travelers looking to experience the beauty of Europe, the list of options is endless. Whether you are looking for the historic magnificent buildings, the UNESCO World Heritage Site or the lively cultural scenes, everyone will find the right destination. Europe remains a first-class travel destination that delights both nature lovers and culture seekers.

You can find more information about the most popular travel destinations in Europe at Swabian and Sunshine Lollipops.