Spain Joins Turkey, Italy and Greece as Top Destinations for Germany’s Summer Tourism Revival

Published on December 2, 2025

Germany’s residents embraced travel with renewed energy in 2025, as millions of families, couples and solo adventurers boarded flights to Spain, Turkey, Italy, Greece and several long-haul destinations in search of sunshine, nature and cultural immersion. The summer season felt vibrant again, with airports across Germany’s largest cities witnessing strong outbound movement from April to October. For many travellers, the season offered a welcome opportunity to reconnect with outdoor spaces, warm beaches and historical landscapes that they had long associated with unforgettable European holidays. This renewed enthusiasm helped shape one of the most dynamic tourism recoveries in recent years.

According to passenger movement data published by Germany’s Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) and supported by insights from European tourism agencies, outbound travel from Germany reached 68.5 million passengers in summer 2025. This reflected a 4.6 percent rise from the previous year and signalled a continued return to leisure travel across short-haul destinations. While overall numbers remained slightly below 2019 levels, the steady increase showed that travellers were eager to revisit popular European regions that offered strong safety records, extensive cultural assets and reliable transportation networks.

Spain stood at the top of the list of German travellers’ preferred summer destinations. More than 10.5 million travellers visited Spanish regions during the season, supporting tourism growth from Barcelona to Tenerife. Spain’s tourism authorities continued to promote a blend of beach experiences, heritage attractions and sustainable travel guidelines, which kept the destination compelling for German visitors. The consistent rise in arrivals contributed to stronger hotel occupancy, increased demand for guided experiences and improved revenue for several local tourism economies.

Turkey recorded one of its most impressive years of inbound tourism from Germany. The destination welcomed 7.7 million German travellers in 2025, driven by demand for seaside resorts, cultural excursions and warm weather. Official data from Turkey’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism highlighted robust tourism programmes that focused on affordability and year-round leisure. The spike in arrivals supported economic activity in major tourism regions such as Antalya, Bodrum and Istanbul, reinforcing Turkey’s role as a top value destination for German holidaymakers.

Italy also benefitted from strong travel interest from Germany. A total of 5.3 million travellers flew to Italian cities, lakes and coastal areas during the season. Italy’s national tourism efforts encouraged exploration beyond major cities and helped travellers discover lesser-known villages, culinary trails and cultural festivals. The increased movement supported local businesses and contributed to Italy’s steady recovery across both urban and rural destinations.

Greece emerged as one of the fastest-rising Mediterranean destinations for German tourists. With 4.5 million travellers arriving during the summer period, Greece enjoyed a significant increase in demand across its islands and mainland attractions. The Ministry of Tourism in Greece promoted extended-season travel, which encouraged early-spring and late-autumn visits and supported steady footfall in regions such as Crete, Rhodes and Corfu. The travel rise helped boost hotel income, strengthen small businesses and expand employment opportunities in local communities.

Long-haul destinations also recorded notable activity, with the United States remaining Germany’s top intercontinental market. Approximately 4.5 million Germans travelled to the U.S. during the summer season, according to U.S. travel authorities. Travellers were drawn by iconic attractions, national parks and major cultural cities. Egypt, another strong long-haul destination, welcomed 1.4 million German visitors, supported by consistent travel promotion from the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities. This contributed to stronger tourism performance in the Red Sea region.

Domestic air travel within Germany, however, continued to decline. Destatis reported that domestic flights reached only 5.3 million passengers during summer 2025. This shift suggested that travellers increasingly relied on Germany’s expanding rail network, supported by the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMDV). Many residents preferred rail for internal movement while reserving air travel for international holidays.

The broader picture showed that Germany’s outbound travel patterns played a key role in supporting Europe’s tourism revival in 2025. Short-haul Mediterranean nations experienced significant gains as travellers returned to warm coasts, island landscapes and cultural cities that offered comfort, familiarity and affordable access. This trend strengthened tourism economies, supported sustainable tourism strategies and helped rebuild sectors that rely heavily on international arrivals.

As the season closed, Germany’s return to global travel highlighted a renewed sense of optimism across Europe’s tourism industry. Travellers demonstrated a strong desire to explore, reconnect and enjoy destinations that continued to deliver memorable experiences. The surge in outbound travel not only fuelled tourism recovery but also reaffirmed Germany’s role as one of Europe’s most influential source markets.