Where are the best destinations to travel if you’re looking for a leisure getaway? New research from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) suggests Italy, Spain, Türkiye and France are drawing the strongest demand worldwide.
The WTTC’s economic impact report points to the continent’s leisure travel spending growing by 3.7% this year, outpacing the 3.1% global average.
Countries earmarked to have the continent’s strongest growth included Italy, which is expected to have a 4.7% increase in leisure travel spending, followed by Spain, Türkiye and France at 4.3%, 4.1% and 2.6%, respectively.
This comes after a strong 2025, when global leisure travel spending reached $6.15 trillion (€5.31 trillion), up 3.5% year-on-year and accounting for 80.5% of total global travel expenditure, which also includes things like travel for business or to see family. Europe attracted $2 trillion (€1.72 trillion) from that total, which was equivalent to a third of every dollar spent worldwide in leisure travel receipts.
“With summer travel at its peak, Europe continues to set the pace for global leisure tourism, capturing one-third of all spending worldwide and demonstrating the strength, diversity and resilience of its tourism sector,” Gloria Guevara, president and CEO of the WTTC, said.
“Southern Europe remains the engine of this growth. Destinations such as Spain, Italy, France and Türkiye continue to attract strong international demand thanks to their unique visitor experiences, excellent connectivity and competitive tourism offerings.”
The WTTC foresees Europe not only having a busy summer season, but expects its leisure travel competitiveness to have long-term momentum, with Guevara adding that the continent’s outlook for 2026 is likely to continue to stand as a leader in global travel and tourism.
What could your European leisure travel itinerary look like?
With Italy, Spain, Türkiye and France tipped to be among the European destinations forecast to see the strongest growth in leisure travel receipts, here’s how you could turn this trend in your next holiday.
In Italy, Florence was among the destinations that won the number one spot on the Travel + Leisure Best Cities in Europe award for 2026. The Tuscan capital is also the birthplace of the Renaissance, offering a variety of unparalleled experiences.
For an insight into classic Renaissance Italian gardens, take a stroll through the Boboli and Bardini Gardens. Adorned by fountains, grottoes, and statues, this vast green space is an open museum that sits behind the Pitti Palace, which was once the symbol of the Medici family’s power over Tuscany.
For Renaissance art history, the Uffizi Gallery hosts a collection of ancient sculptures and paintings dating as far back as the Middle Ages – including busts from the Medici family. Entry starts at €25, while visitors under 18, university students and teachers as well as persons with disability can enter for free.
After working up an appetite, travellers shouldn’t miss out on a Florentine steak. Travel + Leisure recommends Alla Vecchia Bettola for its no-frills setting, which is ideal for a deep conversation over dinner.
Meanwhile, a recent study by Amadeus Travel Intelligence and UN Tourism also found Spain to be Europe’s most searched-for and booked destination. Beyond hotspots such as Barcelona and Madrid, Spain is also home to western Europe’s oldest city: Cádiz.
With a history that goes as far back as 3,000 years ago, this ancient port city features beaches that offer sweeping views of the Atlantic Ocean. La Caleta, one of the more popular beaches, has golden sand, calm waters and is located between the castles of San Sebastián and Santa Catalina.
Unsurprisingly, the beach city’s food scene celebrates delicacies from the sea, including local favourite frituras, a snack served in a paper cone mixed with fried seafood, which is usually eaten on the go, standing up.
Cádiz’s history can also be unpacked through the Gadir archaeological site, where visitors can explore a rare Phoenician settlement of the remaining eight houses and two cobbled streets.
For travellers to Türkiye, Datça is a must-see destination along the Turquoise Coast. Divided into parts, the charming inland Old Datça is where cobblestone streets and historic stone houses is perfect for slow strolls.
New Datça on the southern shore is where travellers will find an array of restaurants, cafés, as well as the quaint freshwater Lake Ilıca filled with fish and ducks as far as the eye can see.
Before returning home, visitors should try its almonds, some of which are unique to the region. Datça is also a world-class producer of pine and thyme honey.
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