Grenoble has emerged as the summer hotspot for UK travellers, beating a range of long-standing European and international favourites.
According to new data from Holiday Extras1, Grenoble saw a 200% increase in UK visitors this summer, as second cities become an increasingly popular choice for holidaymakers looking for summer destinations to avoid the more crowded and expensive first-tier options.
In second place was Chisinau, Moldova with an 189% increase in visitors – one of the most dramatic numbers on the whole list and reflecting an Eastern push as holidaymakers search for cities that still feel undiscovered in a way that Prague and Krakow did a generation ago.
Jerez came in third place with a 93% increase in popularity among UK holidaymakers, as Spain remains the UK’s default holiday country. Visitors are, however, swapping the Balearics or Costa del Sol for Andalucia’s interior and the quieter Canary Islands, as calmer alternatives.
Holiday Extras analyses the increase in UK visitors to holiday destinations between summer 2025 and 2026 to identify the most popular choices. These exclusive stats highlight some of the biggest factors influencing holiday choices, from ethical rankings to cultural events – foreshadowing travel trends to come.
UK travellers’ top 20 risers of summer 2026:
1. Grenoble, France (+200%)
2. Chisinau, Moldova (+189%)
3. Jerez, Spain (+93%)
4. Ljubljana, Slovenia (+60%)
5. Nowy Dwor Mazowiecki, Poland* (+59%)
6. Santa Cruz De La Palma, Spain (+48%)
7. Almeria, Spain (+46%)
8. Preveza/Lefkada, Greece (+43%)
9. Colombo, Sri Lanka (+42%)
10. Seattle, United States (+42%)
11. Palermo, Italy (+40%)
12. Montpellier, France (+37%)
13. Shanghai, China (+36%)
14. Bari, Italy (+36%)
15. Beijing, China (+35%)
16. Verona, Italy (+32%)
17. Nashville, United States (+31%)
18. Melbourne Australia (+31%)
19. Phuket, Thailand (+30%)
20. Chambery, France (+30%)
*Not a destination in its own right, but the location of the budget airport Ryanair flies into.
The Good Trips Effect
Two of this summer’s risers are also risers in Holiday Extras’ five year Good Trips Index2: Poland and Sri Lanka.
The Index ranks countries on a number of ethical criteria including LGBTQI+ rights, women’s rights, sustainability, democracy and quality of life and the correlation suggests that the destinations are climbing because they are genuinely becoming more attractive places to visit on ethical and wellbeing measures.
Colombo’s appearance here looks to be part of a longer, slower trend, rather than a one-summer blip – after a period of political upheaval in 2022, the country is once again a peaceful place to kick back and enjoy a genuinely warm welcome.
World Cup and Blue city bonus
As swathes of fans following the World Cup 2026 tournament, it’s unsurprising to see host cities Seattle and Nashville feature among this summer’s risers. However, Seattle’s rise looks like more than that.
As the country’s current administration has been a significant deterrent for UK travellers over the past year – with 37% citing the political climate as a reason to cancel or reconsider travel plans in March 20263 – many are finding comfort in the reliably Blue city.
For holidaymakers wary of politics but not put off America altogether, a host city that feels furthest from Washington – in every sense – is an easy way to square that circle.
Elizabeth Hogg, Chief Operating Officer at Holiday Extras, said:
“This year’s list is less about single breakout stars and instead highlights a pattern in which clusters of places move together.
“Second cities and quieter islands offer a calmer and more budget-friendly alternative to overcrowded capitals where local protests and public policy are increasingly deterring visitors.
“Furthermore, we’re seeing ethical risers becoming increasingly popular choices, as holidaymakers seek destinations that don’t compromise their moral standings.
If this summer’s data is any guide, we expect to see the next year of UK travel continue to tilt towards less well-known summer destinations, and those that score well on our Good Trips Index.”
For more information, visit the Holiday Extras Destination Leaderboard to discover the most popular travel destinations: https://www.holidayextras.com/travel-news/rising-destinations-in-2026.html
Images courtesy of unsplash.com and pexels.com
