Spain’s Ronda Tops Europe’s Autumn Holiday Hotspots with 80% Rise in Popularity, New Study Finds

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Spain’s Ronda Tops Europe’s Autumn Holiday Hotspots with 80% Rise in Popularity, New Study Finds, as travellers explore destinations beyond summer. Research by Popsa identifies rising interest in historic towns, coastal resorts and scenic landscapes across Spain, Turkey, Italy and Malta, highlighting changing seasonal preferences among its customers in Europe.

Spain’s Ronda Leads Europe’s Autumn Holiday Rankings as Historic Towns and Coastal Destinations Gain Interest

Spain’s historic town of Ronda has emerged as Europe’s fastest-rising autumn holiday destination in a new ranking by memory curation platform Popsa, recording an 80% increase in customer user volume between July and October 2025.

The research highlights changing seasonal patterns among Popsa customers, with destinations across Spain, Turkey, Italy and Malta recording increased activity outside the traditional summer holiday period.

Turkey’s Side secured second position with a 41% increase, followed by Italy’s Assisi at 34%.

The findings suggest that destinations known for cultural heritage, historic architecture, natural scenery and coastal experiences are attracting attention during the autumn months.

However, the figures represent changes in Popsa customer activity rather than official international tourist arrival statistics.

Ronda in Spain Records the Largest Autumn Increase

Ronda, located in Spain’s Andalusia region, topped the ranking with an 80% increase in user volume.

The town is recognised for its dramatic El Tajo gorge, historic streets and the Puente Nuevo bridge, which connects sections of the settlement across the deep ravine.

According to Popsa’s destination guide, October temperatures of approximately 20°C can provide comfortable conditions for exploring Ronda’s architectural landmarks and surrounding landscapes.

Its combination of cultural heritage, mountain scenery and walkable historic areas offers an alternative to conventional summer beach holidays.

Spain secured four positions in the top ten, demonstrating strong representation among destinations recording increased autumn activity within Popsa’s dataset.

Europe’s Top 10 Autumn Holiday Hotspots

Source: Popsa, comparing customer photo-location activity in July and October 2025. These percentages do not represent growth in total tourist arrivals.

Turkey’s Side and Göreme Attract Autumn Interest

Side, on Turkey’s Mediterranean coastline, ranked second with a 41% increase.

The destination combines beaches with archaeological attractions, including the Temple of Apollo and its ancient amphitheatre.

Popsa notes that restaurants and bars continue operating throughout the year, supporting visits beyond the peak summer season.

Göreme, in Cappadocia, secured fourth position with a 22% increase.

Its distinctive volcanic formations, cave churches and hot air balloon experiences make the destination particularly attractive to visitors interested in landscapes and cultural exploration.

Italy’s Historic Destinations Feature Prominently

Italy placed three destinations in the ranking, led by Assisi with a 34% increase.

The Umbrian hill town is closely associated with Saint Francis, whose feast day falls in October.

Its historic basilica, religious heritage and medieval architecture provide reasons for visitors to explore the destination during autumn.

Pompeii ranked sixth with a 17% increase, reflecting greater activity among Popsa customers visiting the archaeological destination.

Ravello, overlooking the Amalfi Coast, secured eighth position with a 7% increase.

Together, these destinations demonstrate the variety of Italy’s cultural and scenic attractions outside the busiest summer months.

Malta and Spain Complete the Autumn Ranking

Malta’s Mdina completed the top five with a 20% increase.

The historic fortified city offers medieval streets, traditional limestone buildings and architectural landmarks that appeal to cultural travellers.

Spain’s Puerto de la Cruz ranked seventh with a 12% increase, while Mijas and Los Cristianos each recorded 7% growth.

These destinations combine coastal scenery, established visitor infrastructure and opportunities for outdoor exploration.

Their inclusion suggests that both historic inland towns and established seaside resorts can generate increased customer activity during the autumn travel period.

Popsa Research Highlights Shoulder-Season Opportunities

Liam Houghton, co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Popsa, said autumn offers travellers an opportunity to experience familiar destinations differently.

“Autumn can offer a different perspective on places people often associate with summer holidays,” he said.

The research used customer photo-location metadata to compare destination user volumes in July and October 2025.

Popsa’s data science team then ranked destinations according to their percentage increases.

The findings provide a useful perspective on customer travel-related activity, although they cannot establish the causes of changing destination preferences or measure overall tourism growth.

Popsa’s research highlights growing autumn activity across selected European destinations, with Ronda leading the ranking ahead of Side and Assisi. Historic landmarks, coastal landscapes and cultural experiences provide compelling reasons to travel beyond summer. The findings offer useful seasonal inspiration while reflecting customer behaviour rather than official tourism arrivals.