The 10 most popular European city breaks this autumn
With the summer holiday season behind us and the leaves starting to turn, UK travellers show no sign of relaxing when it comes to breaks.
Airbnb has revealed its top 10 trending destinations for the autumn, with an estimated 500,000 Brits booking European breaks between now and mid-December for their holiday fix.
Home to artistic and architectural splendour, the Turkish city of Istanbul has been named the most popular destination for UK Airbnb travellers this autumn, with a 141 per cent jump in bookings between now and the middle of December compared to the same period last year. Delicious cuisine and growing affordability have contributed to this beautiful city’s popularity with Brits.
Eastern European cities have seen a boost in popularity, with the Ukranian capital, Kiev; Slovakian capital, Bratislava; and Lithuanian capital, Vilnius, expecting a surge of UK travellers compared to the same time last year, despite average temperatures of -4C predicted over the next few months.
Lithuanian tourism officials hit the headlines earlier this year when they launched a racy new campaign aimed at attracting millennials from the UK and Germany to Vilnius.
The campaign’s tagline, “Nobody knows where it is, but when you find it - it’s amazing. Vilnius: the G-spot of Europe”, featured a young woman lying on a map of Europe with her hand gripping Lithuania, her eyes closed in ecstatic bliss. The campaign attracted criticism after launching just weeks ahead of Pope Francis’ tour of the Baltic region.
Those not wishing to say goodbye to the sunshine just yet have chosen Malta, with UK travellers opting for the resort town of Sliema, and St Paul’s Bay, the largest tourist resort in Malta. Sun-seekers to these destinations can expect a more comfortable average high of 24C over the next few months. The Greek island of Corfu and Serris in France also make the top five.
Hadi Moussa, Airbnb general manager for Northern Europe said: “British travellers are always looking to discover new destinations and it appears the nation is embracing Eastern European hotspots this autumn. We can only expect to see this trend continue over the coming year, as more and more people look to visit new parts of the continent.”
Top 10 trending European destinations on Airbnb for British travellers this autumn
Istanbul, Turkey (141%)
Kiev, Ukraine (107%)
Serris, France (99%)
Corfu, Greece (88%)
Sliema, Malta (87%)
Cork, Ireland (83%)
Bratislava, Slovakia (78%)
Vienna, Austria (77%)
St Paul’s Bay, Malta (75%)
Vilnius, Lithuania (74%)
