The anticipation of reservations rises in the Spanish market and falls in the international markets for the Destination Barcelona

The Barcelona Tourism Observatory in Barcelona: city and region publishes the source market report for the autumn 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, Spain, the United States, France, Italy, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.

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

• The United States ranks as the market with the most reservations for Barcelona city (19,0% quota) surpassing even the domestic market (15,7%). In Barcelona region, the domestic market will continue to be the market with the most reservations (46,8%), followed by the French market (10,9%).
• Most of the analyzed markets with enjoy school holidays for Christmas. The United Kingdom, Germany, France and the Netherlands will also enjoy mid-term holidays.
• Barcelona destination has maintained its positioning in the main source markets in both online searches for accommodations and flights with respect to the previous autumn. 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. It should be noted that in Barcelona city, all international markets have seen a decrease in the anticipation of reservations of between 0,4 and 6,2 days, while Spain has increased its anticipation by 3,5 days. In the Barcelona region, Spain (+13,7 days), France (+7,8 days), and the United Kingdom (+3,3 days) stand out, while the rest of the countries have decreased their anticipation, especially in the case of the Netherlands (-20,9 days).

 

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 Munich, Frankfurt, and Berlin.
• During the fourth quarter of 2025, there will be school holidays for regional midterms from 06/10 to 07/11, and for Christmas from 20/12.
• The regions with the highest interest for Barcelona city in the last 90 days have been Hamburg and Berlin, and the most searched terms have been Sagrada Familia and the weather.
• The Destination ranked 10^th in internet searches for accommodations, and 4^th for flights in the ranking of international destinations. This positioning has improved year-on-year for flights, but is below last year in terms of accommodation.
• Despite hotel bookings for the fourth 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 3^rd and 16^th of November, which correspond to midterm holidays and to All Saints’ Day.
• Germans have booked with an average of more than 4 months in advance, and the stays will be for around 3,8 nights in Barcelona city, and 4,5 in Barcelona region. Couples will be the most frequent in both geographical areas.
• The level of hotel bookings in both Barcelona city and Barcelona region are below the average compared to other international European destinations, and only ahead of London.

 

Spain

• The Spanish cities with the highest number of air passengers from/to Barcelona Airport are Palma de Mallorca, Ibiza, and Menorca
• During the fourth quarter of 2025, there will be school holidays for Christmas from 20/12.
• 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 and the beaches.
• 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 fourth quarter of 2025 from Spain are also slightly behind last year’s same period in Barcelona city, and ahead in Barcelona region. It must be highlighted that despite the reservation levels being higher than last year in Barcelona region, anticipation has also risen by two weeks. Spain is the market with the most reservations for Barcelona region, with a 46,8% quota.
• Spaniards have booked, for these dates, an average of almost 5 months in advance, the highest amongst the markets in the report. Stays will be around 2,0 nights long in Barcelona city, and 2,3 in the region, and travelling as a couple will remain as the most frequent way of travelling.
• Hotel bookings for both Barcelona region and Barcelona city are at a higher level than the average of the other analyzed destinations, only behind Madrid.

 

United States

• The U.S. cities with the highest number of passengers with flight connections to Barcelona Airport are New York, Chicago, and San Francisco.

• During the fourth quarter of 2025, there will be school holidays for Thanksgiving from 27/11 to 30/11, and for Christmas from 20/12.

• The region that has shown the highest interest in Barcelona city during the last 90 days has been the District of Columbia. The most searched terms have been the Sagrada Familia and the Cathedral.
• The Destination has ranked 8th in online accommodation searches and 21st 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 fourth quarter of 2025 from the United States are slightly below the same period last year in Barcelona city, but ahead in Barcelona region. It should be noted that this is the market with the most bookings for the upcoming quarter for Barcelona city (with a 19,0% share), even ahead of the Spanish market. The arrival of Americans to Barcelona city will be fairly uniform throughout the quarter, whilst for Barcelona region reservation peaks can be observed by the start of October and the end of November, owing to Columbus day and Thanksgiving, respectively.
• Americans have booked with an average of close to 5 months in Barcelona city and almost 4 months for Barcelona region for these dates. Stays will be 3,3 nights in both Barcelona city and Barcelona region. Couple trips will be the most frequent.
• Hotel bookings for both Barcelona city are below the average of bookings for other international European destinations, ahead of Paris, Vienna and Berlin. Barcelona region will only be ahead of Berlin.

 

France

• The French cities with the highest number of air passengers from/to Barcelona Airport are still Paris, Nice, and Nantes.
• During the fourth quarter of 2025, there will be school holidays for midterms in different zones in the country from 18/10 to 03/11, and for Christmas from 20/12.
• 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 4th for flights in the ranking of international destinations. This positioning has remained similar compared to a year ago.
• Despite Hotel bookings for the fourth quarter of 2025 from France being lower than the same period in 2024, it follows a similar trend as 2024 with the exception of weeks 48 and 49, who don’t present the same peaks as the previous year. In Barcelona region, these will be particularly low during October and November 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 (10,9% of the total).
• The French have booked with an average of close to 4 months in advance for these dates. Stays will be around 3,0 nights for Barcelona city and 2,6 for the region. Family trips will be the most frequent in Barcelona city, while couple trips will be the most frequent in Barcelona region.
• The level of hotel bookings for Barcelona city is above the average of bookings for other international European destinations, only behind Paris and Amsterdam. The hotel bookings in Barcelona region are below, only ahead of Vienna.

 

Italy

• The Italian cities with the highest number of air passengers from/to Barcelona Airport keep being Rome, Milan and Venice.
• During the fourth quarter of 2025, there will be school holidays for Christmas from 20/12.
• The regions showing the greatest interest in Barcelona city over the last 90 days were Laci and Liguria. The most searched terms have been the beaches and Sagrada Familia.
• During the same period of analysis, the destination ranked 2nd in internet searches for both accommodation and 3rd for flights in the ranking of international destinations, maintaining its positioning year-on-year in terms of flights.
• Despite hotel bookings for the fourth 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 especially during October and November compared to the same period in the previous year.
• Italians have booked, for these dates, with over 3 months in advance. Stays will be 3,7 nights long in Barcelona city, and 2,4 in the region. Couples will be the most frequent travelers in Barcelona city, while group trips will be the most frequent travelers in the region.
• The level of hotel bookings for both Barcelona city will be at a similar level as the bookings in other European destinations (besides Amsterdam and Rome). In Barcelona region, booking levels are below the average.

 

The Netherlands

• The Dutch cities with the highest number of air passengers from/to Barcelona Airport keep being Amsterdam, Eindhoven, and Rotterdam.
• During the fourth quarter of 2025, there will be school holidays for midterms in different zones in the country from 11/10 to 26/10, and for Christmas from 20/12.
• The region showing the most interest in Barcelona city over the last 90 days was North Holland. The most searched terms were Sagrada Familia, hotels and the weather.
• 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 fourth 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 first three weeks of October, and for All Saints’ Day.
• The Dutch have booked, for these dates, an average of more than 3 months in advance, the lowest in the report. Stays will be 3,4 nights-long in Barcelona city, and 4,6 in the region. Travelling as a couple will be the most frequent in both geographical areas.
• 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 fourth quarter of 2025, there will be school holidays for midterms in different zones in the country from 25/10 to 02/11, and for Christmas from 20/12.

• The region showing the most interest in Barcelona city over the last 90 days has been Scotland. The most searched terms have been Sagrada Familia, the Cathedral and the Cathedral.
• The destination has ranked 5th in internet searches for accommodation and it the 8th for flights in the ranking of international destinations, maintaining the ranking for fights and slightly improving it for accommodation compared to the previous year.
• Hotel bookings for the fourth quarter of 2025 from the United Kingdom are lower during October, but higher in November and December in Barcelona city. In Barcelona region these will be lower during October and especially November, but higher in December compared to the previous year.
• The British have booked around 4 months in advance for these dates. Stays will be over 3,0 nights in Barcelona city and 3,7 in Barcelona region. Couple trips will remain the most frequent.
• Hotel bookings for both Barcelona city will be above the average of other European destinations, behind London, Amsterdam and Madrid. Barcelona region will be below the average.