Europe’s short-term rental market continues to expand at a remarkable pace, with demand for platforms like Airbnb, Booking.com, and Expedia reaching new highs.
Between October and December 2025, travelers spent 172.3 million nights in short-term rental accommodations across the European Union. This represents a 10.9% increase compared with the same period in 2024, and a sharp 30.2% rise compared with the final quarter of 2023—highlighting a sustained post-pandemic recovery in travel behavior.
Looking at the full year, 2025 set a new benchmark. Guests booked a total of 951.6 million nights in short-stay accommodations via online platforms, marking an 11.4% increase from 2024 and an impressive 32.4% jump from 2023. The figures confirm that digital booking platforms have firmly cemented their role at the center of Europe’s tourism ecosystem.
The data, published by Eurostat, is based on monthly reports from major online platforms and provides one of the most comprehensive snapshots of tourism trends in the EU.
At the regional level, southern Europe continues to dominate. In the third quarter of 2025, Croatia’s coastal region of Jadranska Hrvatska topped the list with 27.7 million guest nights. It was followed by Andalucía in Spain (19.5 million) and Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur in France (16.9 million).
Notably, the 20 most visited tourist regions were concentrated in just six countries. France led with six regions, followed by Spain (five), Italy (four), Greece (three), and one each in Portugal and Croatia—underscoring the continued appeal of Mediterranean destinations.
Additional context: EU rental market trends (long-term vs short-term):
The surge in short-term rentals is increasingly shaping the broader housing market across Europe. Cities like Barcelona, Paris, and Amsterdam have seen growing tension between tourism demand and local housing availability.
Rents across the EU have risen steadily in recent years, driven by a mix of factors: urbanization, limited housing supply, and the profitability of short-term lets compared to long-term leases. In many tourist-heavy cities, property owners can earn significantly more through platforms like Airbnb than through traditional renting, which reduces supply for residents and pushes prices higher.
As a result, regulators are stepping in. Several cities have introduced restrictions—such as caps on rental days, licensing systems, or outright bans in certain districts—to balance tourism with housing needs. At the same time, demand for flexible, short-term stays remains strong, fueled by remote work, digital nomads, and changing travel habits.
Overall, Europe’s rental market is becoming increasingly dual-track: a fast-growing, tech-driven short-term segment alongside a tightening long-term housing market. How governments manage this balance will likely define the next phase of urban living across the EU. Photo by Raysonho, Wikimedia commons.