- Spain captures 27.9 to 43pc of autumn bookings
- 17pc of Spaniards choose September holidays
- Average spending budget of €737 per person
- Leading competitor Greece at 17pc, Italy at 10pc
- Older demographics driving shift to shoulder season
Spain leads the September travel choices for holiday makrers, capturing between 27.9 and 43pc of total autumn reservations on platforms according to ObservaTUR data. This boom reflects a massive shift toward Super September shoulder-season travel as both domestic and international tourists chase warm weather with fewer crowds. Spain leads the European shoulder-season tourism market for September 2026, capturing 43pc of total European bookings via platforms like eDreams and 27.9pc of international flight-and-hotel bookings on eSky.
September has grown in popularity for Spanish travellers looking to avoid the intense summer heat and peak August crowds while taking advantage of lower off-season prices. Seventeenpc of Spaniards choose September for their holidays, with a strong preference for domestic destinations and an average spending budget of €737 per person. The vast majority choose coastal or rural destinations within Spain, with primary motivations including quieter beaches, cheaper booking rates and more pleasant temperatures compared to July and August.
Data from travel associations indicates older demographics of 55 and over and childless travellers are heavily driving the migration out of July and August peaks into September for milder weather and better value. Spain holds the top spot for September travel bookings, leading competitors like Greece at 17pc and Italy at 10pc. Average daily hotel rates have reached €156.92 according to the Spanish Hotel Index, with September no longer completely off-peak as popularity continues to rise.
ObservaTUR shared: “September has grown significantly in popularity for Spanish travelers looking to avoid the intense summer heat and peak August crowds while taking advantage of lower off-season prices.”
