Despite events in the Middle East, Spanish travellers have turned their attention to international destinations for the upcoming Easter holidays this year, driven by a generalised drop in flight prices of 20% on international routes and 9% on domestic routes, according to data released on Wednesday by the search engine Kayak.
This change in trend is reflected in an increase in searches for flights, hotels and car rentals outside Spain - the only segments that are growing compared to 2025 - compared to the decline in domestic tourism options for this holiday period. The travel platform’s analysis reveals that interest in flying abroad has grown by 3%, while demand for hotel accommodation and car hire outside our borders has shot up by 17% and 16%, respectively.
This dynamic is supported by a notable moderation in transport costs, allowing for savings of up to 30% in high-demand destinations. According to Natalia Diez-Rivas, Kayak’s commercial director for Europe, logistical planning will be crucial to the cost-effectiveness and comfort of the trip, with 28 March identified as the peak date for international departures and 2 April for domestic departures, with a common return date set for 5 April.
On the map of favourite destinations for Spaniards, the major European capitals maintain their dominance for so-called “city breaks”. London tops the list with an average price of 120 euros for return flights, followed by Paris, Rome and Amsterdam, with fares ranging from 150 to 200 euros.
Within Spain, Santa Cruz de Tenerife remains the most resilient option, ranking among the five most sought-after destinations with an average price of €245. At the same time, Edinburgh is consolidating its position as the most popular destination with a 35% increase in searches, followed by Athens, which is up 27% on the previous year.
In terms of inbound tourism, Spain is strengthening its position on the wish list of travellers from Denmark, Germany and Austria, although the most disruptive growth is in Italy and Poland, where searches for travel to Spanish destinations have risen by 97% and 78%, respectively.
This appeal means that cities such as Barcelona and Malaga occupy fourth and fifth place in the ranking of the most sought-after European destinations by international travellers, surpassed only by London, Paris and Rome, confirming the competitiveness of the Spanish tourism market in the global environment for this spring.