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France and its Eiffel Tower, Italy with the Roman Colosseum and the Venetian canals, and England with the Victorian-era Big Ben may all be among Europe’s most sought-after countries, but they’re not what travelers are flying thousands of miles to see this year…
Not according to Airbnb.
Based on their latest data, 5 other European countries are leading booking trends this year, and surprisingly enough, 3 of them are lesser-known Eastern gems that received only a small fraction of Europe’s record-breaking tourism.
Without further ado, here are the 5 countries surging in popularity:
5. Czech Republic
Located somewhere between Central and Eastern Europe, depending on your geopolitical views, the Czech Republic (or Czechia, call it what you like) is a culture-rich nation best known for its beautiful capital city of Prague:
One of the continent’s most beautiful, the ‘City of a Thousand Spires’ lines the fast-flowing Vltava River, and it is filled with stately buildings and well-preserved monuments, including a 14th-century Charles Bridge, an Astronomical Clock, and St. Vitus Cathedral.
Away from the capital, there are countless smaller, just-as-charming cities begging to be discovered, from Český Krumlov, with its picture-perfect cobbled streets, to Karlovy Vary, a colorful spa town, to Kutna Hora, home to an eerie ossuary-church.
According to Airbnb, Czechia is Europe’s fifth fastest-growing destination this year, and if you’re heading there, you should know the Baroque Lysice Castle, a short 2h30 drive from Prague, was recently restored, and it’s now open year-round.
4. Germany
It hasn’t really got the novelty factor, but Germany will continue to draw in millions of visitors in 2025, with tourism spending expected to rise by 6% this year and a host of iconic destinations to its name, starting with Berlin:
Both an open-air museum dotted with World War II landmarks and Europe’s capital of cool, with laid-back beer gardens and edgy techno clubs galore, it is the Old Continent at its most liberal, though if it’s medieval charm you’re seeking, you should add these to your list instead:
Rothenburg ob der Tauber, featuring city walls and half-timbered houses, Quedlinburg, dominated by a UNESCO-protected Collegiate Church and Old Town, and Freiburg im Breisgau, on the edge of the Black Forest, crisscrossed by postcardy alleyways.
If you’re asking Lonely Planet, however, Germany’s trendiest destination for 2025 is the state of Bavaria, Germany’s largest, with the publication highlighting the romantic Neuschwanstein Castle and Munich’s bustling Biergärten as must-sees.
3. Hungary
Formerly one of Europe’s most overlooked countries, Hungary has freed itself from the shackles of 20th-century communism, and it’s now as safe and open a destination as can be, with very low levels of crime and stunning architecture throughout.
Budapest is a bustling metropolis on the scenic Danube, with a red-dome Parliament straddling the riverfront, a hilltop Fishermen’s Bastion, with fairytale-like towers offering panoramic views of the cityscape, and a colored-roof, 13th century Matthias Church.
Other than its material heritage, Budapest is widely popular for its thermal baths, which are sure to keep you warm in anticipation of the next scorching Central European heat, as well as riotous nightlife, with a youth-frequented Király Street boasting a high concentration of bars.
Budapest is arguably where tourists will be spending most of their time, but you’d be wise not to underestimate Hungary as a country: for something a little more offbeat and an authentic Hungarian experience, head out to a resort-packed Lake Balaton in summer.
2. Norway
Second on Airbnb’s list, Norway is the land of winding fjords, rugged coastlines, and breathtaking alpine scenery you won’t easily forget, whether it’s Ålesund and its neighboring Geirangerfjord or the interconnected islands of the Lofoten archipelago.
For the quintessential Norwegian experience, away from the crowds, take a detour to the sleepy village of Flåm at the end of Aurlandsfjord, where you can dine in a Viking-style mess hall, and take the Flåmsbana train to Myrdal, one of Europe’s 4 most beautiful railway journeys.
Not far from Flåm, the port city of Bergen has brightly-painted harbor side houses, its own cable car with scenic views of the surrounding mountains, and Norway’s infamous Magic Ice Bar, a sub-zero venue serving drinks where (almost) everything inside is carved out of ice.
Naturally, all roads lead to Oslo, the modern, eclectic Norwegian capital and a stand-alone destination in its own right, thanks to its timeless streets, imposing palaces, and Bohemian Grünerløkka district, lined with shops and cozy bars.
1. Poland
The fastest-growing destination across the pond this year, with a 29.9% rise in demand, Poland will appeal to tourists keen on beating France’s and Italy’s surging crowds and experiencing a monocultural side to Europe:
Poland is not as culturally diverse as its counterparts, having retained a staunchly Christian character and centuries-old traditions among this century’s rapid globalization, and that’s precisely what makes it so intriguing.
Warsaw is a sprawling capital that never sleeps, centered around a reconstructed, post-war Old Town, Kraków has the largest medieval square in the continent, Gdańsk has pastel-colored buildings flanking narrow pathways, and let’s not forget brick-built, 8th-century Toruń:
A hidden gem in what’s already an under-appreciated country, this UNESCO World Heritage Site was once part of the legendary Hanseatic League, and unlike several Polish cities, it was largely spared destruction in World War II.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
