Croatia Joins France, Spain, Italy, Greece and Portugal as European Tourism Soars with Nearly One Billion Short-Term Rental Nights Booked in 2025 Led by Adriatic, Andalucia and French Riviera – New Update You Need to Know

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Croatia has surged alongside France, Spain, Italy, Greece and Portugal as European tourism skyrockets, driven by record demand for short-term rentals. The Adriatic coast, Andalucia and the French Riviera led this boom, attracting millions seeking flexible, online-booked stays in 2025.

Between October and December 2025, people in the European Union spent an astounding 172.3 million nights in short‑term rental properties booked through major online platforms such as Airbnb, Booking and Expedia, according to official data published by Eurostat. This figure represents a 10.9 % increase compared with the same period in 2024, and a massive 30.2 % rise versus late 2023, showing a strong and sustained surge in demand for platform‑bookable accommodation across the EU toward the end of 2025.

For the entire calendar year of 2025, the growth story becomes even more dramatic. A total of 951.6 million nights were spent in short‑stay rentals across the bloc — an 11.4 % jump on 2024 and a remarkable 32.4 % increase compared with 2023. This record‑breaking total underscores how deeply online booking platforms have become entrenched in European travel behaviour.

These figures are drawn from the most recent monthly statistics on short‑stay accommodation supplied directly by major online platforms under a data‑sharing agreement with Eurostat, the statistical office of the EU. This agreement allows transparent, comparable reporting across EU member states, shining a light on how digital platforms are reshaping tourism and accommodation patterns.

The fourth quarter totals also form part of a broader upward trend observed throughout 2025 that reflects both recovery from pandemic disruptions and renewed growth in leisure travel demand. As travellers increasingly favour alternative accommodation options over traditional hotels — drawn by flexibility, price diversity, space and local experiences — online platforms have captured growing market share across the EU’s tourism ecosystem.

Regional Hotspots Reveal EU Travel Priorities in 2025

Diving deeper into regional patterns from the third quarter of 2025, the coastal areas of the Adriatic Sea in Croatia emerged as the most popular destination for visitors booking accommodation online, with 27.7 million nights spent in short‑term rentals in that region alone — the highest of any EU region. Spain’s Andalucia came second with 19.5 million nights, followed by France’s Provence‑Alpes‑Côte d’Azur with 16.9 million nights.

Importantly, all of the top 20 most visited tourist regions in this ranking were concentrated in just six EU countries: France (six regions), Spain (five), Italy (four), Greece (three), and one region each in Portugal and Croatia. This clustering highlights not only the appeal of Mediterranean climates and culture but also the strength of platform‑driven travel in southern and western Europe.

Across the EU, the meteoric rise in nights spent through online platforms reflects profound shifts in how people travel, where they choose to stay and how digital technology connects guests with hosts. Unlike traditional hotel stays, short‑term rentals accessed via platforms provide options ranging from city lofts to countryside villas, often at competitive prices — and these choices show up clearly in the aggregate data as steady record growth year after year.

Tourism Trends: A Broader Look at EU Travel Patterns

While the data on platform‑booked nights tells a powerful story, it also sits within an even bigger context of EU tourism activity. In 2025 overall, all types of tourist accommodation — including hotels, holiday parks and campsites alongside private rentals — saw roughly 3.1 billion overnight stays by visitors across the EU, according to separate statistics from Eurostat. This reflects the continued popularity of Europe as a destination for international and domestic travellers alike, and tourism demand that has rebounded and grown since the pandemic.

Short‑stay rental nights represented an increasingly large slice of this total, illustrating how consumer tastes and travel habits have evolved. Many travellers now treat platforms like Airbnb, Booking and Expedia not simply as a convenience, but as their primary gateway to booking accommodation — particularly for stays that emphasise local living, extended stays, or group travel.

The sustained growth in nights spent also suggests solid economic ripple effects for local economies in high‑demand regions. From hospitality spending to local transport and retail, the increase in overnight stays booked online supports jobs and income in many EU destinations. However, it also brings policy challenges in some areas, where rapid growth in short‑term rentals has been linked to housing affordability concerns and regulatory debates.

Comparisons Through Time: A Clear Upward Trajectory

Contextualising these 2025 figures against earlier years highlights how dramatic the growth has been. In 2024, for instance, short‑term rental nights booked online reached **854.1 million — already a record high — which was itself an 18.8 % increase on 2023 figures. This prior trend laid the groundwork for the record totals seen in 2025.

The steady increase in nights booked through digital platforms also suggests that the short‑stay segment is becoming more mainstream and robust. Unlike the pandemic era when occupancy plunged sharply, consistent double‑digit growth year‑over‑year demonstrates a resilient travel sector with strong consumer demand for flexible accommodation options.

What This Means for the Future of EU Travel Accommodation

The record growth in platform‑booked nights across the EU in 2025 has multiple implications. First, it confirms the enduring role of online booking platforms as central infrastructure in the tourism economy. Second, it underscores the attractiveness of diverse destinations across the EU, from coastal regions to cultural capitals. Finally, it sets a new baseline for future growth as technology continues to enable seamless travel planning and booking experiences for visitors worldwide.

As the EU tourism sector continues to evolve toward greater digital engagement, stakeholders — including local authorities, industry players and policymakers — will be watching these trends closely. Balancing the economic benefits of short‑term rental growth with concerns over housing availability and sustainable tourism will likely remain a key focus in the years ahead.

In summary, the surge to nearly one billion guest nights booked through Airbnb, Booking and Expedia in 2025 demonstrates how digital platforms now shape the heart of European travel, with lasting impacts on destinations, travellers and local communities alike.