The biggest travel trends for 2026 and trend travel destinations for Germans

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The “Travel Trends 2026″ report from Skyscanner reveals the seven trends that will shape travel in the coming year. From travelers choosing their destination based on beauty experiences or culinary discoveries in the supermarket, to literary-inspired trips and multigenerational family vacations. The report also reveals the trending destinations for travelers from Germany, including previously less-visited destinations in Mexico, Romania, and the United Arab Emirates. It also reveals significant price drops in popular destinations such as Argentina, Morocco, and Finland.

The seven travel trends

Global Glow is very popular – the beauty trend

By 2026, beauty rituals will determine not only where Germans travel, but also how they travel. According to the Skyscanner* survey, 26% of respondents buy local products they can’t find at home while on vacation, and 22% purchase makeup, perfume, and skincare products in duty-free shops. 32% of Gen Z even plan to book beauty treatments and visit skincare stores during their trip – compared to just 14% of Baby Boomers. This reflects the continued rise of beauty tourism.

On Supermarket Safari – The Food Trend

From vending machines in Tokyo to geothermally baked bread in Iceland, food tourism is increasingly evolving as travelers increasingly yearn to immerse themselves in local culture. A supermarket safari offers a unique insight into local life. Two-thirds of Germans always or often visit local supermarkets when abroad. 44% want to discover new foods not available at home, 32% want to try local versions of familiar products, or experience what everyday culinary life is like in that country (35%).

Catching Flights & Feelings – The solo trend

More and more people are relying on real encounters rather than swipes when dating and finding new acquaintances. According to the survey, 56% have already traveled abroad or considered traveling to meet new people, for example, to make new friends or to date. 41% of people are more open to meeting others while traveling, and 22% say they feel freer to be themselves there. Hotel search data confirms this: Skyscanner recorded an 83% increase in the use of the “solo traveler” filter worldwide last year.**

On tour with the family – The family trend

Multigenerational travel is also becoming increasingly popular. 40% say that family travel is about creating unforgettable memories with parents, grandparents, or children. 40% of Generation Z adults have traveled with their parents in the last two years, and 29% of (younger) Generation Z have traveled with their parents and grandparents. Nevertheless, for 22% of Generation Z adults, the most important motivating factor remains financial savings and shared travel costs.

Hotel “Somewhere Else” – The Hotel Trend

In the coming year, hotels will no longer just be a place to stay; they will become a destination in themselves. Travelers prefer unique accommodations, whether with breathtaking architecture or exceptional design. According to Skyscanner, hotel bookings using the “unique accommodations” filter also increased by 60% worldwide compared to the previous year. 35% of respondents have chosen their vacation destination based solely on the accommodation. Younger generations, in particular, are following this trend. In addition to value for money (25%), the opportunity to escape from everyday life (18%) is also a priority.

Mountain Moments – The mountain trend

Travelers are aiming for high altitude in 2026 – and not just for winter sports. Data shows that hotel bookings with the “mountain view room” filter increased by 103% worldwide compared to the previous year. From the Dolomites to Annapurna to the Canadian Rockies, the survey shows that 62% of travelers are planning or considering a mountain getaway for summer or fall 2026. The main reasons are clean air and cool weather (55%), scenic hikes and lakes (53%), and beautiful, remote accommodations (42%).

Of bookworms and book packers – The literary trend

From a leisurely reading holiday to discovering the most beautiful bookstores and libraries to hiking in the footsteps of fictional heroes – travel and literature are an incentive for many people to escape everyday life. For example, 43% of travelers have already booked a literature-inspired trip or would consider doing so. Reading time is extremely important to 58% of survey participants on a trip. 22% are considering visiting a destination mentioned in a book, while 17% can imagine visiting a famous bookstore or library on vacation, or going on a writing or reading trip (14%).

Trend travel destinations 2026: From “Hawaii of the Rising Sun” to Dubai’s quiet cousin***

Next year, German travelers will prefer less well-known, more authentic destinations that may not be on everyone’s radar, but that offer something new. Beyond the most popular classics, the following destinations are enjoying increasing popularity. The reasons are usually new flight connections, smaller airports that are increasingly gaining attention, or affordable alternatives to otherwise heavily visited cities.

1. San José del Cabo, Mexico: +275% increase in searches
2. Oradea, Romania: +156% increase in searches
3. Sharjah, United Arab Emirates: +101% increase in searches
4. Sanya, China: +92% increase in searches
5. Foggia Gino Lisa, Italy: +91% increase in searches
6. Okinawa, Japan: +75% increase in searches
7. Paphos, Cyprus: +69% increase in searches
8. Kochi, India: +69% increase in searches
9. Rovaniemi, Finland: +65% increase in searches
10. Bergen, Norway: +64% increase in searches

Skyscanner’s “All Places” search helps you find new destinations

Anyone who wants to can now become a trendsetter in travel. More than three-quarters of travelers (77%) visit the same places on at least 20% of their vacations – often because they simply don’t know where else to go. Skyscanner’s “All Places” search should provide a welcome solution: It shows all available travel destinations worldwide, sorted by the cheapest price from the chosen departure airport.

Affordable destinations 2026****: Northern Finland not only more popular but also more attractively priced

For anyone looking for a good-value travel destination, Skyscanner’s travel experts have selected the cheapest holiday destinations where airfares have dropped the most compared to last year. The price drops on these routes from Germany are often due to new connections or a wider range of flights.

1. Rovaniemi, Finland – Price drop of 40%
2. Buenos Aires, Argentina – Price drop of 34%
3. Fez, Morocco – Price drop of 28%
4. Rijeka, Croatia – Price drop of 27%
5. Reggio Calabria, Italy – Price drop of 26%
6. Nice, France – Price drop of 25%
7. Giza, Egypt – Price drop of 25%
8. Melbourne, Australia – Price drop of 25%
9. Denpasar, Indonesia – Price drop of 22%
10. Sydney, Australia – Price drop of 22%

Cheap flight connections are only part of the bigger picture: Skyscanner is observing an overall increase in travel desire for 2026 – and, at the same time, a significantly higher willingness to pay worldwide. Regarding people’s general travel behavior in the coming year, Cat King, VP Commercial at Skyscanner, commented: “The coming year will be exciting: Our data indicates that traveler demand and spending will increase. 84% of the 22,000 global survey participants stated that they plan to travel more in 2026. Not only is demand rising, but so is spending. 37% state that they will spend more on flights, 31% are increasing their hotel budget, and 16% are investing more in rental cars. It also shows that additional spending among global travelers is increasing, with the most money being spent on tours and activities (45%), multi-city travel (33%), and seat selection on the plane (30%).”

* Survey conducted in Germany among 1,000 travelers by OnePoll from June to July 2025. Global survey of 22,000 travelers worldwide.
** Data compares global hotel redirects from Skyscanner using the “Solo Traveller”/”Unique Accommodations” filter, “Mountain View Rooms” filter between June 1, 2024, and May 31, 2025, and the same period last year (June 1, 2023, to May 31, 2024).
*** Destinations that experienced an increase in flight searches for travel in 2025 between January 1, 2025, and June 30, 2025, compared to the same period in 2024, and were then selected based on their travel suitability.
**** Based on the percentage price decrease for round-trip economy class flights booked between January 1, 2025, and June 30, 2025, for travel in 2025 and then selected for travel suitability, compared to the same period in 2024.