For many Europeans, the Easter holiday marks the first opportunity of the year to take time off from work or studies and enjoy a much-needed vacation. And with such a diverse choice of destinations only a short-haul flight away, many travellers opt to stay local — planning trips within the region.
Travel patterns during this period are particularly insightful, as Easter travel often acts as a key indicator of European travel demand ahead of the summer holidays. As Easter falls on a different date each year, traveller behaviour tends to shift in response. 2025 is no exception. Intra-European travel during the Easter period reveals some changing trends compared to 2024.
More travellers are planning a springtime getaway
European flight searches made for Easter travel (7-21 Apr 2025) have increased by 36% compared with the comparable period in the previous year (18 Mar – 1 Apr 2024). This suggests that with the holiday falling later in the year — and more time having elapsed since the Christmas holiday period — international travel is a more attractive prospect.
Europeans flock to the beach for the Easter break
A later Easter means warmer weather, especially in southern Europe, and this is reflected in a surge in interest for “sun & beach” destinations — with flight searches up 59% over the same period in 2024. This may also reflect a desire amongst travellers to take advantage of the Mediterranean sunshine before peak temperatures occur later in the year.
Balearics and Eastern Mediterranean see the largest increase
Palma de Mallorca has seen the most notable increase in travel intent for the period, with a 0.7 percentage point rise in share size following a +79% YoY growth in searches. Further east, Greek and Turkish destinations — Heraklion, Thessaloniki, Istanbul, and Antalya — also see strong performance increases over 2025, gaining between 0.4 and 0.5 percentage points.
City destinations attract a lower share of Easter tourism
Urban (+28%) and shopping (+26%) destinations have also gained traction but at a rate somewhat below the overall 36% growth trend. Some major European cities will see their relative share of intra-regional visitors decline — albeit by less than one percentage point — including Amsterdam (-0.9 pp), Geneva (-0.6 pp), London (-0.6 pp), Paris (-0.5 pp), and Berlin (-0.4 pp).
Anticipating market trends helps destinations stay ahead.
Anticipating shifts in travel trends is vital for destinations and travel-focused businesses aiming to stay ahead of the market, explains Luis Millan, Head of Research at ForwardKeys:
”“While classic hotspots like urban centres continue to attract visitors, surging interest in beach and Mediterranean destinations reflects broader seasonal and behavioural changes. These evolving preferences, influenced by factors like Easter’s later date this year, highlight the commercial importance of accurate travel intelligence. With our advanced forecasting tools, destinations can better adapt their marketing, connectivity, and operational strategies — seizing growth opportunities while addressing potential challenges early, and with precision.”
Luis MillanHead of Research at ForwardKeys
”“Experiences are becoming increasingly important with travelers as they plan their travel and choose where to go, especially with younger travelers. Two in three European travelers aged 18-54 say activities and travel experiences are very influential in the destination decision. While iconic cultural landmarks and attractions continue to top the list of things to do, more and more travelers – especially Gen-Z and Millennials – are seeking more active, immersive experiences, including wellness, amusement parks, outdoor activities, festivals and events. Destinations seeking to tap into the Easter travel opportunity and summer season travel planning should lean into experiences and ensure they are front and center in their travel marketing and promotions.”
Douglas QuinbyCo-founder & CEO at ARIVAL
