Travel to Europe is booming in 2026, where to go now
International visitor numbers to Europe rose 5% year-to-date according to the European Travel Commission. Greece, Italy and Malta saw the biggest jumps. If you are planning a late summer or autumn trip, these three countries still have availability outside peak August weeks. Expect crowds in Mykonos and Santorini. Skip them for Naxos or the Peloponnese coast instead.
New flight routes to Europe for autumn and winter 2026
Airlines are rolling out new connections for the colder months. Euronews Travel reports several new routes starting from October 2026. Budapest, Porto and Copenhagen get increased frequencies from North America. Low-cost carriers add links from regional UK airports to southern Spain and the Canary Islands. Book early. October half-term prices will spike.
Surprising beach rules across Europe this summer
You can be fined for peeing in the sea in parts of Spain. Music bans after 8 PM apply on many French Riviera beaches. In Portugal, playing ball games near sunbathers can cost you €200. Euronews Travel has the full breakdown. My advice: check local municipal signs before setting up. The rules vary by town. In Barcelona, smoking on the beach is banned since 2025, the fine is up to €600.
A cinema turned hotel in San Sebastián
One of Spain’s oldest cinemas has been reborn as the Hotel Palacio Bellas Artes San Sebastián. You enter under the original proscenium arch. Rooms start around €220 a night in summer. The location is central, a 5 minute walk to La Concha beach. Skip the generic high street chains. This one has genuine character.
EES border checks still delayed, for now
Nine EU countries have urged the European Commission to ease the planned Entry/Exit System. Airports and airlines also warn of disruption. The system keeps being postponed. For summer 2026, expect manual passport stamps as usual. No practical changes yet. But if you fly via London or a non-Schengen hub, allow extra 30 minutes for potential checks.
What about the UK music tourism boom?
2025 was a record year for music tourism in the UK: 24.7 million music tourists spent £11.2 billion. Glastonbury and Oasis tours drove that. For 2026, big tours are already selling out. If you want tickets for summer 2027 festivals, register for presales now. Hotel prices in London and Manchester double on concert weekends. Stay in a cheaper suburb and take the Tube.
Quick warning: Amsterdam updates
If you are heading to /amsterdam/, remember the city bans cruise ships from the city centre from 2026. Also, new rules limit short-term rentals to 30 nights a year. Book a hotel or a registered apartment.
Final practical tip
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 driver, told Euronews Travel his favourite European spots are the French Alps and Switzerland’s Lake Geneva region. Good advice. Both areas are less crowded than the coast in July. Train access is easy. Accommodation prices drop after mid-August.