Palma, the most sought-after destination for Germans… even in winter
The Balearic Islands lead European interest in year-end travel and consolidate Palma as one of the main tourist destinations.
Palma tops the ranking of most sought-after destinations for German travelers to start 2026. This is according to data from the flight search engine Jetcost, which confirms a renewed surge in European end-of-year tourism and places the Balearic capital as the top choice for the German market between December 26, 2025, and 2025. Interest in traveling during this period continues to rise. According to Jetcost, flight searches for the end of 2025 have increased by 10% compared to the previous year, a trend that solidifies Christmas and New Year's travel as one of Europeans' favorite getaways. And, once again, Spain is positioned as the most searched country to start the new year, ahead of Italy, France, Portugal, and the United Kingdom. The weight of the German market
In this context, Palma stands out strongly. Besides leading the preferences of Germans, the city also occupies prominent positions in other markets: it is the eighth most sought-after destination for the British and French, the ninth for the Dutch, and the eleventh for the Italians and Portuguese. This data confirms the broad appeal of the Balearic capital beyond the peak season.
According to the search engine, the factors explaining this sustained interest are the mild winter climate, the cultural and gastronomic offerings, the Christmas festivities, the quality of hotels and well-established infrastructure, as well as prices perceived as more competitive than those of other European destinations.
The Balearic Islands, a rising winter destination
The appeal isn't limited to Palma. Ibiza is also among the most sought-after destinations for this time of year, with a particular impact from markets such as Portugal – where it ranks ninth – the Netherlands, and Germany, as well as from the UK, France, and Italy. Everything points to the Balearic Islands gradually consolidating their position as a winter destination, especially for city breaks and short stays. Jetcost emphasizes that the data analyzed comes from actual searches performed on its platform, not from surveys, allowing for an accurate reflection of users' travel intentions. With these figures, Palma reinforces its position as one of the main gateways for European tourism outside the summer months, with the German market being the primary driver of this growing end-of-year demand.