While booking a trip well in advance gives you something to look forward to, we’re huge fans of a last-minute getaway. Bad day at work? Time to look at Skyscanner. Good day at work? We’re straight on Google Travel. To be honest… we don’t need a reason to add to our air miles.
If you’re the same and you need a little inspiration for where to go on your next unexpected break, you might just want to take a look at lastminute.com’s latest Travel Horizons Report.
Based on traveller departures from the UK, Italy, France, Germany and Spain, the travel company has revealed the destinations with the biggest growth in bookings in 2025 compared to 2024.
Eastern Europe dominated the top five, but the Baltics and Balkans also made the cut.
Gdansk, Poland
Gdansk experienced the biggest rise in bookings in 2025, with an increase of 97% year-on-year.
This pretty Baltic coast city was a key port for the Hanseatic League, and many of the buildings in its Main City – where most tourists head – date back to this time.
Admire the view over the skyline from the Main Town Hall before going for a stroll along the Motława river front.
Bucharest, Romania
Romania’s capital city also saw a big influx of last-minute visitors, with the number going up 71% compared to 2024.
One for architecture fans, the city has a real mix of styles, from Art Deco and Art Nouveau to styles popularised under communism.
The Palace of the Parliament, which is the largest parliament building in the world, is a real highlight, and you can book a guided tour or visit the National Museum of Contemporary Art which is housed here.
Kraków, Poland
According to the data, Kraków saw a 58% uptick in visitors in 2025, compared to 2024.
The UNESCO-listed Old Town, which was among the first 12 sites inscribed on the list back in 1978, is a great place to start your exploration.
Here, you can wander the Main Market Square, which is the largest in Europe, pay a visit to St. Mary’s Church, and learn about Polish royal history at Wawel Castle.
Just outside of the city, you’ll also be able to explore the UNESCO-listed Wieliczka Salt Mine too.
If you want to visit both Kraków and Gdansk in one trip, the two are connected by sleeper train.
Albanian coastline
The Albanian coast has been trending for a few years now thanks to influencers touting it as the “Maldives of Europe”, so it’s little surprise that trips to the region were up 53% in 2025.
Popular destinations to visit include Ksamil, which is probably the best known spot on the Albanian Riviera, Sarandë, which is close to the UNESCO-listed archaeological site of Butrint, and Dhërmi, which has a lively nightlife scene.
Be sure to tag a trip to the capital Tirana onto your itinerary to learn about Albania’s fascinating history.
Riga, Latvia
Last but not least, Baltic capital Riga saw bookings rise by 40% last year.
Found along the Daugava River, Riga is also a former Hanseatic League city and has the UNESCO-listed medieval Old Town to match.
Another option for architecture lovers, outside of the historic centre’s cobblestone streets Riga is well known for its Art Nouveau architecture, with around a third of the buildings in the city centre decorated in this style.
You can also visit the National Library of Latvia where you can see the UNESCO-listed cabinet of folk songs, or explore the city’s lively craft beer scene.
Read the full article here
