Moderation in the demand from the main source markets during the summer months

The Barcelona Tourism Observatory in Barcelona: city and region publishes the source market report for the summer months. This report includes a summary of the aerial connectivity, holidays, online interest and positioning, and the state and characteristics of hotel reservations from the main source markets in Barcelona Destination: Germany, Span, the United States, France, Italy, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.

These are the main highlights from this edition of the report:

• The main source markets have registered a reduction in reservations in both Barcelona city and Barcelona region, with the reservations at this time in the previous year being 15pp more advanced than the current year. It is worth noting that whilst all of these markets have shown a decline, some markets already exceed the reservations in the region for some of the six summer months, such as Germany, France, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.
• Despite the generalized decrease in reservations from the source markets during this third quarter, the domestic market presents the most hotel reservations for the next quarter, for both Barcelona city (with a 23,8% quota) and Barcelona region (59,1% quota). The United States is once again the international market with the highest number of reservations for Barcelona city (with a 13,7% quota) and France for Barcelona region (13,7% quota).
• Most of the analyzed markets with enjoy school holidays during the months of July and August.
• Barcelona destination has improved or maintained its positioning in the main origin markets in both online searches for accommodations and flights with respect to the previous summer. As such, it remains in the Top 10 international destinations.
• Sagrada Familia continues to top the list of the most frequent online search terms related to Barcelona city from the main source markets.
• The bookings for these dates are made with an average of 4 months in advance for the majority of these markets, and those who travel as a couple stand out once again.

Below are the main conclusions of the report by source market:

Germany

• The German cities with the highest number of air passengers from/to Barcelona Airport keep being Frankfurt, Munich, and Berlin.
• During the third quarter of 2025, there will be school holidays from 05/07 to 17/08.
• The regions with the highest interest for Barcelona city in the last 90 days have been Bavaria and Berlin, and the most searched terms have been Sagrada Familia and the weather.
• The Destination ranked 7^th in internet searches for accomodations, and 4^th for flights in the ranking of international destinations. This positioning has improved year-on-year.
• Despite hotel bookings for the third quarter of 2025 from Germany being lower, it follows a similar pattern compared to Barcelona city in 2024. In Barcelona region, there’s an increase in reservations between the 14^th of July and 17^th of August.
• Germans have booked with an average of more than 4 months in advance, and the stays will be for around 4,8 nights in Barcelona city, and 4,6 in Barcelona region. Couples will be the most frequent in the former geographical area, while both traveling as couples and as solo for the latter.
• The level of hotel bookings in both Barcelona city and Barcelona region are below the average compared to other international European destinations (excluding London and Madrid).

Spain

• The Spanish cities with the highest number of air passengers from/to Barcelona Airport are Palma de Mallorca, Madrid, and Ibiza
• During the third quarter of 2025, the school holidays will take place until 07/09.
• The region that has shown the greatest interest in Barcelona city over the last 90 days has been Catalonia. The most searched terms have been Sagrada Familia, parks and hotels.
• During the same period of analysis, the Destination has achieved the 2nd position in internet searches for both accommodation and flights, within the ranking of national and international destinations, only behind Madrid.
• Hotel bookings for the third quarter of 2025 from Spain are also behind last year’s same period in both Barcelona city and Barcelona region. It must be highlighted that Spain stands as the first source market in volume for stays in the next few months Destination Barcelona (23,8% of bookings in Barcelona city and 59,1% in Barcelona región).
• Spaniards have booked, for these dates, an average of more than 4 months in advance and stays will be around 2,3 nights long in Barcelona city, and 2,9 in the region. Travelling as a couple will remain as the most frequent way of travelling.
• Hotel bookings for Barcelona region are at a higher level than the average of the other analyzed destinations, but for Barcelona city, they are at a lower level.

United States

• The U.S. cities with the highest number of passengers with flight connections to Barcelona Airport are New York, Chicago, and Atlanta.
•  During the second quarter of 2025, school holidays will be until 03/09.
• The region that has shown the highest interest in Barcelona city during the last 90 days has been the Massachusetts. The most searched terms have been the Sagrada Familia and the Cathedral.
• The Destination has ranked 8th in online accommodation searches and 17th in flight searches within the international destination rankings (it’s important to note that many Americans arrive in Destination Barcelona from other European cities).
• Hotel bookings for the third quarter of 2025 from the United States are significantly below the same period last year in Barcelona city, but slightly ahead in Barcelona region. It should be noted that this is the international market with the most bookings for the upcoming quarter for Barcelona city (with a 13,7% share). The arrival of Americans to the city will be fairly uniform throughout the quarter, whilst for Barcelona region reservation peaks can be observed by mid-September.
• Americans have booked with an average lead time of over 5 months for these dates. Stays will be 3,4 nights in Barcelona city and 4.7 in Barcelona region. Couple trips will be the most frequent.
• Hotel bookings for both Barcelona city and Barcelona region are below the average of bookings for other international European destinations.

France

• The French cities with the highest number of air passengers from/to Barcelona Airport are still Paris, Nice, and Nantes.
• During the third quarter of 2025, school holidays will be until 31/08.
• The region showing the greatest interest in Barcelona city over the last 90 days was Languedoc-Roussillon​. The most searched terms were Sagrada Familia, parks, and beaches.
• During the same period of analysis, the destination has achieved the 1st position in internet searches for accommodation and ranked 3rd for flights in the ranking of international destinations. This positioning has improved slightly compared to a year ago.
• Despite Hotel bookings for the third quarter of 2025 from France being lower than the same period in 2024, it follows a similar trend as 2024. In Barcelona region, these will be superior during July and August compared to the same period in the previous year. It is worth noting that this is currently the international market with the highest number of reservations for the next months in Barcelona region (13,7% of the total).
• The French have booked with an average of over 4 months in advance. Stays will be around 3,3 nights for Barcelona city and 4,2 for the region. Travelling as a couple will be the most frequent.
• The level of hotel bookings for Barcelona city is close to the average of bookings for other international European destinations (excluding Paris), while those for Barcelona region are higher.

Italy

• The Italian cities with the highest number of air passengers from/to Barcelona Airport keep being Rome, Milan and Venice.
• During the third quarter of 2025, school holidays will be until 07/09.
• The region showing the greatest interest in Barcelona city over the last 90 days was Liguria. The most searched terms have been the sea, Sagrada Familia, and hotels.
• During the same period of analysis, the destination ranked 1st in internet searches for both accommodation and 2^nd for flights in the ranking of international destinations, improving its positioning year-on-year in each of the categories analyzed.
• Despite hotel bookings for the third quarter of 2025 from Italy being lower than the same period in 2024 for Barcelona city, they follow a similar trend as 2025. In Barcelona region, these will be lower during July and September compared to the same period in the previous year.
• Italians have booked, for these dates, 4 months in advance. Stays will be 4,2 nights long in Barcelona city, and 3,5 in the region. Couples will be the most frequent travelers in both Barcelona city and Barcelona region.
• The level of hotel bookings for both Barcelona city and Barcelona region are in line with the average of bookings for other international European destinations (excluding Amsterdam).

The Netherlands

• The Dutch cities with the highest number of air passengers from/to Barcelona Airport keep being Amsterdam, Eindhoven, and Rotterdam.
• During the third quarter of 2025, school holidays will be until 31/08.
• The region showing the most interest in Barcelona city over the last 90 days was North Holland. The most searched terms were Sagrada Familia and the parks.
• The destination has ranked 4th in internet searches for accommodation in the ranking of international destinations, and 2^nd for flights only behind London. This positioning has remained stable compared to a year ago.
• Hotel bookings for the third quarter of 2025 from the Netherlands are inferior in Barcelona city, but higher in Barcelona region compared to the previous year. In Barcelona region there will be a peak during the second week of August and a heavy decline during September.
• The Dutch have booked, for these dates, an average of close to 4 months in advance. Stays will be 3,6 nights-long in Barcelona city, and 4,0 in the region. Travelling as a couple will be the most frequent in the former, while both traveling solo and as a couple for the latter.
• Hotel bookings for both Barcelona city and Barcelona region are below the average of bookings for other international European destinations.

United Kingdom

• The British cities with the highest number of air passengers from/to Barcelona Airport are London, Manchester, and Bristol.
• During the third quarter of 2025, school holidays will be until 03/09. There will also be regional school holidays by the end of September, from 25/09.
• The region showing the most interest in Barcelona city over the last 90 days has been Northern Ireland. The most searched terms have been Sagrada Familia, the Cathedral, and the weather.
• The destination has ranked 6th in internet searches for accommodation and it the 8th for flights in the ranking of international destinations, improving the ranking compared to a year ago.
• Hotel bookings for the third quarter of 2025 from the United Kingdom are lower in Barcelona city. In Barcelona region these will be superior during August compared to the same period last year.
• The British have booked around 4 months in advance for these dates. Stays will be over 3,5 nights in Barcelona city and 4,2 in Barcelona region. Couple trips will remain the most frequent.
• Hotel bookings for both Barcelona city and Barcelona region are in line with the average of bookings for other international European destinations (excluding London).