BEYOND THE BUCKET LIST

The shift from seeing more to experiencing more

What defines a great holiday today? For many Europeans, it is no longer about seeing as much as possible, but about making the most of the time spent away.

Following The Longing for Ease and Finding Balance, the final part of the European Travel Trend Report explores how changing traveller priorities are reshaping the way people travel. Slow travel, digital detox holidays and solo travel are no longer niche behaviours; they increasingly reflect a broader desire for more time, greater flexibility and deeper experiences. Rather than focusing on quantity, travellers are increasingly looking for opportunities to disconnect from daily pressures, move at their own pace and engage more deeply with the places they visit

Combining survey data from 8,000 respondents across 13 European markets, DERTOUR Group booking insights from 16 source markets and expertise from the travel brands behind millions of European holidays each year, the report provides a pan-European perspective on how travel behaviour is evolving.

The European Travel Trend Report 2026 explores changing travel priorities across Europe through three interconnected chapters:

Part 3: Beyond the Bucket List

Explores how these changing priorities are influencing travel behaviour. Slow travel, digital detox holidays and solo travel are becoming increasingly mainstream, reflecting a broader preference for experiences that offer more time, greater flexibility and deeper personal meaning

Part 2: Finding Balance

Looked at what travellers want to gain from their time away. The findings highlighted the growing importance of wellbeing, recovery and movement, showing how holidays are increasingly viewed as an opportunity to recharge physically and mentally.

Part 2 of the European Travel Trend Report 2026 is available here.

Part 1: Longing for Ease

Examined why people travel and identified a growing desire for simplicity, convenience and peace of mind. Travellers increasingly seek holidays that make life easier, reduce stress and create space to switch off.

Part I of the European Travel Trend Report 2026 is available here.