Germany travel trends
German residents increased their travel activity in 2025 to the highest level in nearly two decades, while trip durations shortened and daily spending rose amid ongoing cost pressures, according to new German tourism data released this year.
The analysis found that 64% of Germans took at least one leisure trip in 2025, with average travel costs reaching €130 per person per day and €1,636 per trip, reflecting higher accommodation, transport and service prices across major destinations.
The figures point to a shift toward more frequent but shorter holidays, with domestic travel accounting for about one-third of all trips and Spain maintaining its position as the most popular foreign destination, followed by Italy, Turkey and Scandinavian countries. Long-haul travel accounted for 17% of journeys, underscoring continued demand for overseas travel despite economic pressures.
The participation rate reached its highest level since 2006, reversing declines during the pandemic and confirming travel’s return as a household spending priority. While more Germans travelled at least once during the year, the structure of those trips changed, with shorter stays replacing longer holidays that were more common a decade ago.
Daily travel spending climbed to an average of €130 per person, reflecting price increases across hotels, transport and food services. The average trip cost of €1,636 represented a notable increase from pre-pandemic levels, driven largely by accommodation inflation and higher fuel and airfare prices.
Industry analysts note that travellers are increasingly managing budgets by taking multiple short breaks instead of extended vacations, maintaining overall travel frequency while controlling total annual spending. This shift has supported continued high travel volumes even as living costs remain elevated across Europe.
Additional industry outlooks published in early 2026 project sustained travel demand through the current year, with overall German holiday spending expected to edge higher as consumers continue to prioritise leisure travel over discretionary retail purchases. More detail on market forecasts can be found through the German Travel Association.
The trend toward shorter trips is influencing booking behaviour across hotels, airlines and rail providers. Weekend breaks and four- to six-day holidays are increasingly replacing traditional two-week summer vacations, particularly among working-age households.
Accommodation providers in urban and coastal destinations have reported stronger shoulder-season demand, with travellers spreading trips more evenly throughout the year rather than concentrating travel in peak summer months. This has contributed to firmer room rates and higher average daily revenue for many operators.
Transport providers have also adjusted schedules to reflect the growth of short-haul and regional travel, expanding weekend flight frequencies and flexible rail ticketing aimed at short-stay travellers.
Roughly one in three trips taken by Germans in 2025 remained within the country, with Bavaria emerging as the most popular domestic destination. The region’s mix of alpine landscapes, historic towns and spa resorts continued to attract both short breaks and longer seasonal stays.
Domestic tourism benefited from improved rail connectivity and rising interest in lower-carbon travel options, particularly among younger travellers seeking alternatives to short-haul flights.
Abroad, Spain once again ranked as the leading foreign destination for German tourists, supported by extensive flight connections, established resort infrastructure and year-round demand across mainland regions and islands. Italy followed as the second most popular overseas destination, with Turkey and Nordic countries rounding out the top group.
In Spain, recent regional tourism data indicate that mainland destinations gained market share among German visitors, while some island regions experienced softer demand, in part due to higher accommodation prices and overtourism concerns.
Long-haul travel accounted for 17% of total German journeys in 2025, highlighting continued interest in destinations beyond Europe despite higher airfares and longer travel times. North America and parts of Asia remained key long-distance markets, particularly for higher-income households.
Rising travel costs are increasingly influencing destination selection, with travellers comparing accommodation and food prices more closely than in previous years. Value-driven choices have benefited regions offering strong transport links and competitive mid-range hotel pricing.
At the same time, higher-income travellers have continued booking premium experiences and long-haul holidays, contributing to a widening gap between budget-conscious short breaks and higher-spend international travel.
Tourism economists describe the current pattern as a structural shift rather than a temporary response to inflation, with shorter trips likely to remain a dominant feature of German travel behaviour even if price growth moderates.
With participation rates at their highest in nearly 20 years and spending per day continuing to rise, Germany remains one of Europe’s most influential outbound travel markets heading into 2026. Industry forecasts suggest that while trip lengths may continue to compress, overall travel volumes are expected to remain resilient as households adapt rather than retreat from leisure travel.
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